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Gen Robt.M. Evans. 



HISTORY 



OF 



TANDERBURGH COUNTY 



INDIANA, 



FROM THE EARLIEST TIMES TO THE PRESENT, WITH BIOGRAPHICAL 
SKETCHES, REMINISCENCES, ETC. 



ILLUSTRATED. 



BRJVNX e- KULLBR, 

18S9. 



\ 



£)EMOCRAT PRINTING CO., . . . 
PRINTERS AND ELECTROTYPERS, 



MADISON, WIS. 



P(^ ^ S'G 






PREFACE. 



After more than a j'ear of almost ceaseless labor on the part of a large force of skilled 
employes, the publishers are enabled to present their patrons with the History of Vander- 
burgh County. The compilation of the matter which is contained in this volume has been 
conducted with more than the usual care, and not only the publishers, but all those engaged 
in the work, have been animated by a desire to have this historj' excel all local histories 
heretofore issued in the state. Neither time nor expense have been spared which gave 
promise of enhancing in any way the value of the book as a work of reference on all sub- 
jects treated. 

In many fields that were explored during the progress of this work, there had been 
but little, if any, former effort to rescue the fast fading facts of early times. The city of 
Evansville, it is true, had been previously treated of in several smaller publications, but in 
each instance the commercial, rather than the historical, interest was the main theme of 
the writers. 

It has been a constant care to have the historical matter divested of any bias or par- 
tiality that might depreciate its value. Official records, newspapers, public documents, 
miscellaneous publications, private correspondence, personal recollections, the records of 
the Historical Society, and other sources of information have been drawn upon freely. 
Not only facts, but liberal quotations have been incorporated in this volume. The leading 
desire has been to obtain accuracy, and no pretension is made to originality of expression, 
nor to ornate stjle. 

In the chapter on militarj- matters the Adjutant General's report for the state has been 
abundantly quoted as the best authority attainable on such subjects, but as that is known 
to contain many errors, there can be no doubt that some of them have found their way into 
this work. 

Perhaps the most notable feature of the book is the portion which contains biograph- 
ical sketches of leading citizens, both dead and living. The practice of publishing biog- 
raphies of living men has been condemned by some, but to question it seems like preferring 
doubtful information and the uncertainties of memory to positive personal knowledge. The 
neglect of personal and family history in the United States has become a matter of public 
comment. A recent call for a meeting at Indianapolis of descendants of Revolutionary 
sires met not a single response. This alone is a significant witness that family genealogy 
has been neglected, and that few people can trace their ancestry more than two genera 
tions. If biographies of living men were more frequently published, true modesty would 
not exceed the bounds of truth, and the eulogistic exaggerations that so often find apology 
in death, would be avoided. Should an excessive self-applause unduly proclaim its own 
achievements it will be best judged by a contemporaneous public. 

Grateful acknowledgments are due the county and city officers, the newspaper men, 
he officers of the Historical Society, and many citizens, for valuable assistance. 

THE PUBLISHERS. 

Madison, Wis., April, 1889. 



INDEX. 





CHAPTERS. 


Page. 


I. 


Geology and Topography. . 


17 


u. 


Indian History 


'*7 


III. 


County Organization 


41 


IV. 


The City of Evansvillb 


94 


V. 


City- Governmen-t 


1S4 


VI. 


Banks 


207 


VII. 


The Medical Profession. . . 


223 


Vlil. 


Religious History 


269 


IX. 


Schools 


S07 


X. 


Libraries j^ 


315 


XT. 


Bench and Bar 


3*7 


XII. 


Secret and Benevolent Or 








381 


XIIT. 


Personal History 


400 


XIV. 


Military History 


4B8 


XV. 


Newspapers 


558 


XVI. 


Early Settlement 


572 



GENERAL INDEX. 



Agents, county 

AKrieultural societies . 
Altitude above the sea. 

Amusements 

Ancient Order United Workmen . 



52 

82 

17 

577 

390 



Animals, native 575 

Artesian well 25 

Attorneys, list of 353-355 

Auditors, county 51 

Avondale section 25 

Banks — 

Canal 207 

Citizens' National 210 

First National 209 

German National 210 

Merchants' National 21 1 

Old National 207 

Peoples' Savings 211 

State, branch of 207 

Bar, the 351-355 

Benevolent Institutions 397 

Boundary of county 17 

Brotherhood of St. Andrew 396 

Building and loan 212 

Cathohc Knights 302 

Cemeteries 305 

Cholera in 1832 119,225 

Churches — 

Baptist. First 289 

Baiitist, German 291 

Baptist. General 291 

Baptist, Liberty 291 

Baptist. JIcFarland Chapel 292 

Baptist. Missionary 292 

Baptist . New Bethel 292 

Baptist, Old '291 

Catholic 293-299 

Disciples of Christ. 303 

Episcopal Chapel 2S9 

Episcopal. Holy Innocents 289 

Episcopal, St. 'Paul's 2&> 

Free Methodist 284 

German EvangeUcal 300-303 

German Lutheran 299 

German Reformed 30;^ 

Jewisli 304 

Metli.«li-it Episcopal 270 

Metlio.iist Episcopal. African. ... 284 
Methodist Episcopal. African Zion 2H1 
Methodist Epi.scopal, First Ger- 
man 283 

Methodist Episcopal, Fifth 284 

Methodist Episcopal. Second Ger- 
man 284 

Methodist Episcopal, Ingle Street. 282 

Metliodist Episcopal, Kingsley 28* 

Mel h. .(list Episcopal, Trinity 281 

Methodist Episcopal, Simpson 

Chapel 283 

Presbj-terian, Cumberlaii<} 275 



Churches— Page. 

Presbyterian, First Avenue 274 

Presbyterian, Grace ' 272 

Presbyterian, Walnut Street 269 

Unitarian 303 

CniL War-^ 

Bounty and relief 555 

Colored t roops 541 

Drafts 554 

Flag presentation 480 

First company in 477 

Militia companies 55t> 

Morgan raid 552 

Legii »n 549 

Public sentiment during 472-477 

Sumter, fall of 474 

Clerks, county 52 

CotTRT, Circuit — 

Districts 348 

Fu-st terms of 327,328 

Seal of 348 

Trials, important 330, 

331,335,336,340,341,314,345 

Coal 22-25 

Code of 1852 343 

College, Evansville Medical 229 

College, Hospital Medical 231 

Commissioners, county 48 

Common pleas court 348 

Coroners, county 52 

Court of conciliation 349 

Court-houses 54-57 

County agents 52 

County seat, location of 42,47,97,103 

Criminal circuit court 3.50 

Darlmgton, town of 98 

Dentistry 266 

Detective association ; 85 

Diseases, early 224 

Druids 392 

Election statistics 67-69 

Election, corruption of 337 

Election, first 574 

Evansville — 

Adversity, period of 113 

Amusement, places of 193 

Brick house, first 114 

Business review 130-146 

Capital of Vanderburgh county. . . 103 

Capital of Warrick county 42.97 

Census in 18;38 127 

Censusin 1S50 i:30 

Census in IStW 134 

Census in 1870 1:35 

Census in 1880 135 

Census in 1888 (estimated) 145 

City charter 129 

City government 188 

Cla'rk, Amos, letters ot 126.137 

Condition in 1820 107 

Electric light 193 

Fire department 189 

Firein 1842 138 

Gas works 193 

Halls, public 193 

Incorporation of ItXj 

Laying out of 100-104 

McGary, Hugh, influence on, 42-45,94-96 

Manufactures 142-143 

Meivh,auts in 18.38 127 

Naming of 97 

Opera-houses 194 

Police 188 

Public building 191 

Public improvements 192 

Residents in 1831 116 

Store, fii-st. in 98 

Valuation of property 114, 

V&, 181, 137, 140, 144 

View of, in 1836 123-i:H 

Water works 190 

Wharf, building of 129 

Finances 59 



Page. 

Flood of 1832 119 

Fraternal Legion 392 

Free Masonry 381-:185 

Gaming, era of 339 

Glacial deposits 20 

Grand .\rmy Republic 657 

Grass, Daniel 44, 101 

Hanigari 3B5 

Hebrew orders 395 

Home for the Friendless 399 

Homeopathy. 263 

Hospital for insane 629 

Hospital, St. Mary's 398 

Hospital, U. S. marine 399 

Indian treaty 30 

Indian tribes , 29 

Iron Hall 395 

Jails 67-69 

Judges, Associate — 

Dunham, John M 331 

LilHston, John W 331 

McCrary, John 329 

Olmstead, William 331 

Shook, Wilham 343 

Staser, Conrad 342 

Stephens, Silas 943 

Judges. Circuit Court — 

Battell. Chas. 1 338 

Burke. M. F 346 

Daniel, Richard 329 

Embree, Elisha 338 

Goodlett, J. R. E 330 

Hall, Samuel 337 

Hart, David 329 

Hovey, Alvin P 342 

Jones, James G 347 

Laird, D. T 347 

Lockhart, James 341 

Niblack, William E .345 

Parrett, William F 346 

Richardson. R. D 347 

Smith, Ballard ... 345 

Judges, common pleas 349 

Judges, probate C48 

Jury, Grand, action of 337 

Jury, Grand, first 328 

Jury, petit, first 328 

Knight, Isaac, capture of 31 

Knights of the Golden Rule 396 

Knights ot Honor 391 

Knights and Ladies of Honor 392 

Knights of Pj-thias 388-390 

Lania-sco 131 

Lands, public 573 

Library, Catholic 3^ 

Library, city 321 

Library, county 324 

Library, Willard S21 

McGaryton 97 

Medical journals 231 

Medical societies 206 

Merom .sandstone 19 

Mexican veterans 472 

Mexican war 470 

Militia, early 469 

Mound builders 27-29 

Newspapers — 

Advance 571 

A. O. U. W. Recorder 571 

Bulletin 570 

Call 570 

Courier 562 

Demokrat 567 

Gazette, Evansville 113, SS'i 

Indiana Post 570 

Journal 120,558 

Pilot 571 

Public 567 

Tribune 607 

Odd Fellowship 886-388 

Parks 195 

Pensions, reTolutionary 337 



u 



HISTORY OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY. 



Page. 

Physicians, early 233 

Physicians of note 231-233 

Physicians, roster of 234 

Pioneers, character of 5T2 

Pioneers, dress of 5TG 

Poor, expenses of 63-67 

Port of entry 187 

PostofBce, establishment of 184 

Practice, medical, hardships of... . 224 

Probate court 348 

Pubhc square 53 

Railroads 77to82,]30 

Recorder, county 52 

Regiments — 

Fourteenth 482 

Twenty-fourth 485 

Eleventh 481 

First battery 491 

Twenfy-flfth 496 

First cavalry (28th) 603 

Thirty-second 507 

Thirty-fifth 512 

Sixth battery 513 

Forty-second 516 

Sixtieth 530 

Eighth battery 53:3 

Sixty-fifth 535 

Fourth cavalry C77th) 528 

Ninety-first 633 

One hundred and twentieth 534 

Tenth cavalry C135th) 535 

One himdred and thirty -sixth 537 

One hundred and forty-third 539 

Miscellaneous 544 

Representatives, state 53 

River commerce, early 75-77 

Roads 70-74 

Royal Arcaniun 391 

Salt well 25 

School Fund 307 

Schools — 

Armstrong township 308 

Center township 308 

Evansville 310 

Free, first ... 309 

German township 309 

Knight township 309 

Perrv township 307 

Scott township 308 

Pigeon township 310 

Union township 310 

Section, geological 21 

Senators, state 53 

Sheriffs, county 53 

Steamboat construction 133 

Surface features 18 

Superior court 350 

Surgery 235 

Surveyors, county 53 

Townships, creation of 63 

Township History — 

Armstrong 668 

Center 599 

German 659 

Knight U26 

Perry . . 650 

Scott 678 

Union 639 

Treasurers, county 51 

United Brothers of Friendship 396 

United Order of Honor 393 

Vanderburgh county, creation of. . . 4(j 

Voters, first in Evansville 575 

Wabash & Erie canal 121, 128 

War of 1813 4i;8 

Warrick county, jurisdiction 42 

Willard library .331 

Young Men's Chj'istian Association. 304 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Alexander, WiUiam 263 

Alleon, John 604 

Archer, Samuel M 217 

Arnold, Jacob 459 

Artes, Charles F 4:13 

Ashbv. J. W 421 

Audubon. John J 44,101 

Augermeier, A. J 663 

Bacon. C. P 2.59 

Bahr, William 4.19 

Baird, L.M I.i6 

Baker, Conrad 364 

Barker, Samuel 64;! 

Bamett, Henry H 629 



Page. 

Baumann, G. W 605 

Bawden, Manuel 440 

Becker, Michael 170 

Beierlein, George C 583 

Beierlein, Herman 58.3 

Bernardin, A 41.3 

Binklev, John T 260 

Bittrote, GeorgeA 460 

Blakey, William M 380 

Blemker, H. E 435 

Boehne, J. W 415 

Boetticher, Edward 458 

Bohannon, W. S 584 

Boon, Ratliff 43.101 

Bowen. George D 6:W 

Bower. William 5S4 

Bowles. Edward 417 

Brandenberger, Fred 605 

Brandenberger, .lohn .*. 606 

Brandenberger, Henry 606 

Brandis. Joseph H 655 

Bra.y, Madison J 2.37 

Breiitano, August 173 

Bridwell, T. C 433 

Bromm, Adam 442 

Browning, George B 585 

Browning. Richard 585 

Brose, Louis D 8.58 

Brose, George 444 

Buchanan, J. S 366 

Buclianan, Cicero 367 

Bullen, Thomas 417 

Bultniann, Joseph 606 

Burggrabe, Henry 586 

Burnes, W. E 433 

Burtis.J.T 463 

Butterfield, O.H 374 

Butts, Henry 449 

Byrnes, T. B 402 

Byrne, J. J 630 

Calvert, Leroy 678 

Capelle, William 463 

Carpenter, Willard 315 

Carson, F. P 435 

Casey, John J 4.36 

Casselberry, Isaac 242 

Chandler, John J 363 

Chandler, W. H 559 

Clark, G. W 6.30 

Compton, John W 2;39 

Conlen, F. J 413 

Cook, Fred W 170 

Cooke, E. B , 407 

Corlew, R. M 261 

Cox, J. B 197 

Crane, James F 607 

Crisp, Daniel 587 

Crisp,R.F 586 

Crisp, Wilham 586 

Croft, Benjamin F 164 

Curnick. S. M 430 

Culler, James H 221 

Dannettelle, John H 199 

Darby, W. J 276 

Daussman, George M 171 

Davis, F. L 365 

Da.y, Benjamin J 352 

Da.V. Robert 456 

Dean. William 439 

DeBruler, James P 344 

Denby, Charles 370 

Denby, G. F 371 

Diehle, John G 4.50 

Di.xon, H. T 363 

Dow, J. L 363 

Dinsnioor, J. W 444 

Dyer, Azro 370 

Edmond, John F . . - 646 

Edmond, Michael 616 

Edmond, Sophie 646 

Ehrman, E. J 364 

Ehrman. F. J 419 

Ehret. Joseph 4:11 

Eissler. Henry 607 

Ellert. C. H .". 454 

Elliott. Thomas 587 

Ellis, Nichola-s 182 

Emery, Frank B 4:10 

Enz. Stephen 435 

Erskine, Levi 607 

Euler, Jacob, jr 6'IS 

Evans, Robert M 43,100 

Evans.S. G 4.53 

Ewing, F. M 6.33 

Ewiug, William D 406 

Fare.s, J. V 663 



Page. 

Farrar. J J. 414 

Fendrich, Herman 466 

Ficka-s. S. R 634 

Fink, John H 451 

Fischer, Jacob 414 

Foster Family, The 149 

French, William E 178 

Frey, Philip W 379 

Fritsch, L 457 

Froelich, Henry F 172 

Gantner, Charles 663 

Garvin, Thomas E 361 

Gerard, R.J 646 

Gilbert, John 215 

Gilbert. F. M 568 

Gilliland, L. M 272 

Goeke, Adolph 202 

Goldsmith, D. W 664 

Goldsmith, M. R 609 

Goldsmith, Oliver 608 

Goodge, George W 443 

Goodwin, J. J 448 

Gould, Charles F 570 

Graf, J. P 634 

Grainger, Samuel., 635 

Grammer, G. J.. . .. 404 

Graves, R. E 410 

Gra.v. Robert 588 

Grese, Herman 438 

Grill, Edward 410 

Grimwood, James G 688 

Grimvvood, John F 689 

Grimwood. S. N 589 

Grote, Fred 441 

Guerich, Louis 466 

Gumberts, Henry, sr 664 

Haas; 1 266 

Hacker, William . ... 436 

Hallock, A. C 407 

Happe, Andrew 647 

Harden, R. W 410 

Harrison, Ed 412 

Harrison, J. B 412 

Hartig. Simon . . . 667 

Hartloff, Richard 246 

Harwood, A. W 423 

Hawkins, Anthony C 91 

Hayden. A. M 249 

Haynie, George W 434 

Haynie, Henry 456 

Ha.vs, JohnJ 91 

HeUman, William . . . 146 

Heldt, Henry 439 

Helfrieh, Adam 167 

Henry, James 609 

Henry, Robert R . . .610 

Henze, Charles 667 

Herr, L. S 26« 

Hess, Peter 439 

Heubner, Peter 610 

Hinkle, W. B 162 

Hodge.F.T 451 

Hodson, George P 252 

Hoefling, George, sr 673 

Hoffman, Christot 6T4 

Hooker, Henry 589 

Hopkins, John S 212 

Hornby, C. K 611 

Hanning, Theodore 609 

Hornby, Dr, William SS5 

Hornby, William 610 

Howell, Lee 405 

Hulvershom, Emil 434 

Hulvershorn, F. W 424 

Hulvershom, H. E . . . 485 

Hurst, W. S 3:9 

Huston. E.P 402 

Ichenhauser, Louis 1..5 

Iglehart, Asa 3c6 

Ingle, John 164 

Jack, Alexander 169 

Jacobi, Otto F 174 

James, John 635 

Jenkins, Charles T 87 

Johann, Albert 205 

Johnson, M. S 365 

Jones, James W 43,100 

Kaiser, Philip 611 

Kamp, A. C 647 

Kamp, B. A 647 

Kamp, Leopold 645 

Karges, A. F 440 

Keene, S. W •. 442 

Kellogg, Charles H 458 

Kellogg, K. H 459 

Kevekordes, Leo 409 



INDEX. 



16 



Page. 

Kiechl, PYed 4115 

King, James L Mj 

KiUK, R. W... .^ 648 

Kirkpatrick. W. H o'-f 

Klamer, Herman 65b 

Klee, J.ihn 450 

Knapp. Charles fcT 

Knapp. Emil fjs 

KniKbt, Joliu H 6ia 

Knoll, Otto 43i 

Knowles. J. W 5»'J 

Kolb, Micnael 6*8 

Kratz, C. W 61-J 

Kratz, John R 61; 

Kreipke, Henry 65b 

Kreipke, John H 449 

Kimz. Jacob 620 

Lahr A. P 1 

Lane', Joseph.'.'.'.'.'.'."... ..'. 44, 101, 627 

Lant, George 454 

Lauer, James W 1"8 

Laubseher, Jacob 613 

Laubsc-her, John W 614 

Lauer. H. W ^3 

L,aw, John 361 

Lawton, John 4I5S 

Legler, Louis 9- 

Leich, August 8« 

Lennert, George 41b 

Lewis, S. B 267 

Liidley.H. M 45' 

Lewis, Walter J 445 

Limlley, James F 45< 

Linthieum, Edward 259 

Liuxwiler, George OId 

Linxwiler, Isaac W 615 

Little, Samuel W 163 

Lockwood, C, S 4»4 

Lockwood, JohnM 119 

Loewenstein. F 567 

Longbine. S. C 610 

Lorenz, George 447 

MacClenient, David 420 

McCorkle. Johns 168 

McCoy, John N 419 

McCoy, P. Y 256 

McCutchan. M. C 201 

McGarv, Hugh 42,45,94,95,96,116 

Mc Johnston, Charles F 616 

McLean, William 465 

McNecly, James H 561 

Mackey, D.J 400 

Maddux, Alexander 636 

Maghee, WiUiam H 265 

Maidlow Family 690 

Marke"-, Peter 418 

Marlett, John J 200 

Martin, William 674 

Masters, G. L 421 

Mattison, H. A 368 

Menke, Herman G 409 

Metcalfe, J. G. 4.36 

MiUer.A.J 569 

Miller, Emil G 450 

Miller, Jacob 177 

Miller, W. D 591 

Miller,W.H 441 

Minnis, J. S 464 

MolTett, John F 6h 

Morgan, Daniel 245 

Morgan. Emerson B 156 

Moore, John H 204 

Morris, C. J 454 

Morris, Frank 4:35 

Muhlhausen, Matthias 247 

Muiphy. C. J *2 

Myerhoff, Charles H 15" 

Myers. Jacob 164 

Myers, Michael 164 

Neale, John A 648 

Newitt, George W 205 

Nonweiler, Philip 437 

Nugent, John 445 

Nurre, Joseph A. 166 

Orr, Samuel 150 

Ortmeyer, John H 408 

Osborn, John H 175 

Oslage. E. F 443 

Otte, Charles H. W 443 

Owen, A. M 241 

Owen, John E 255 



Page. 

Page, William A 92 

Pan-ett, Robert ■ 277,279 

Parrett, William F 363 

Parvin, James D 86 

Patrick, E.W 404 

Peck. William 692 

Ptaftlin, August 89 

Pittman, Charles 267 

Poggemeir, William 657 

Pollock, Robert A 636 

Pollard, William S 248 

Potts, John G 592 

Powell, T, E 261 

Pritchett, Frank 89 

Pruitt, John F..'. 674 

Puder, Philip P 172 

Purdue, Rachel H 617 

Puster, Louis 408 

Rahm, Emil 417 

Rahm, Ernst 417 

Rahm, William, jr 176 

Ralston, William G 216 

Read. Hiram E 159 

Reavis, William 374 

Reid, J. W 429 

Reid, M. J 429 

Reiman, William 665 

Reitmau, Henry 163 

Reitz, John A., .S: Sons 163 

Rheinlander, John 216, 497 

Rice. Laban M 161 

Richardson, R. D 371 

Ritchey, James S 593 

Ritchey, Simpson 593 

Ritchey, William 593 

Ritter, Charles H , -1'' 

Robertson, John 649 

Rose, Conrad 657 

Rosencranz, A. 165 

Roth, Anna B 649 

Ruark, Dr. S 619 

Ruff, F. W 451 

Runck, Rev. C. L. C 302 

Ruston. George 594 

Ruston, John 594 

Ruston, Richard 593 

Ruston, Robert 619 

Ruston, Walter 424 

Ruston, William H 438 

Sample, Joseph R 409 

Sansom, John 594 

Sansom, S. B 455 

Saunders, James D 204 

Saunders, James F 6i9 

Scantlin, James 181 

Scantlm. Thomas 180 

Scott, GrandviUe 693 

Scott, Richard 595 

Scott, Samuel 693 

Scott, W. J 595 

Schaeffer, Michael 218 

Schlag, C. F 620 

Schmidt, Andrew 667 

Schmidt, Conrad 621 

Schmidt, J. H. P 622 

Schmitt, Anton 621 

Schmitt, August 464 

Schmitt, Charles 622 

Schnelle, H. William 620 

Schomburg, William 69b 

Schor, R. F 218 

Schrader, Charles 415 

Schroeter. Ulrich 622 

Schulte, Charles 16b 

Schuttler, Bernard 16^ 

Schultze. Henry A 169 

Schwartz, C. F. W 623 

Schwartz, E. H 62:1 

Seitz, Lewis 162 

Shackelford, J. M 376 

Shanklin, G. W 566 

Shanklin, John 147 

Shanklin, John G 666 

Sherwood, Marcus 180 

Slierwood, William B 180 

Sihler, Louis 88 

Sirkle, A. J 649 

Slayback, C. A 416 

Smyth, H. B 637 

Spiegel, Philip 414 

Staser, Clinton 378 



Page. 

Staser, Conrad 596 

Staser, J. C., jr 696 

Staser, John C 695 

Steiner, John N 65T 

Steinmetz, Fred 634 

Stinchfield, Washington 658 

Stinson, Harry... 420 

Stoltz, Henry 440 

Stone, Jesse 31 637 

Stroud, Calvin H 6W 

Sweetser, H. M 403 

Swormstedt, William L 221 

Tardy, Frank 451 

Taylor, T.H 265 

Thiele, I. A 448 

Thompson. James L 658 

Thuman, Charles H 169 

Thuman. John H 169 

Tratton, William 235 

Uhl, August 467 

Uhl, Louis 467 

UUmer, Charles William 17.1 

Ulrich, John 624 

Vanderburgh, Judge Henry 45 

Vann, William R 638 

Venemann, T. W 433 

Verwavne, A 463 

Viele, Charles 213 

Viele, George B 183 

Yolkmaun, Carl 634 

Walker, Edwin 251 

Walker, E. F 273 

Walker, George B 343 

Walker, James T 375 

Walker, Joseph B 426 

Wartman, J. W 198 

Weaver, C. A 426 

Weber, Michael 625 

Wedding, C. L 372 

Wedding, C. V 258 

Weever, John B 2.50 

Wells, George N 200 

Werkuianu, Fred 668 

Wheeler, Joseph ... 280 

Wills, JamesS 659 

Wilton, Isaiah 261 

Wiltshire, J. W 453 

Wollenberger, Andrew 172 

Woods, Charles E 44« 

Woods, J. S 281 

Woods, William H 446 

Wunderlich, Christian 90 

Young, B. S 625 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Baird, L. 31.. facing 202 

Barker, Samuel, facing 648 

Bray, Madison J., tac«g 2.37 

Buchanan, Cicero 393 

Buchanan, J. S.. facing 66 

Carpenter, Willard 313 

Carpenter, Homestead 319 

Compton, J. W., facing 410 

Cook, Fred W., facing 168 

Cox,J B 185 

Davis, F. L 461 

Evans, Robert M Frontispiece 

Heilman, William 1.51 

Herr, L. S., facing 270 

Iglehart, Asa 359 

Jenkins, Charles T 83 

Leich, August 597 

Mackav, D. J 401 

Mattison, H. A 376 

Jlverhoff, C. H., facing 478 

Oir. Samuel 631 

Parrett, William F , facing 342 

Parvin, James D 49 

Rheinlaniler. John 49S 

Roseiicran/.. A. C 629 

Shackelford, J, M 28? 

Shanklin, John 117 

Ullmer, C. W 427 

Viele, Charles 219 

Wedding, C.L 683 

Weever, J. B 253 

Willard Library 325 

Wunderliea, Christian 605 



HISTORY OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY, 



CHAPTER I.* 



ToPCXiRAPHY AND GeOLOIJV CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES FORMATION AND ErOSION 

OF THE Surface — Glacial Remains — Connected Geological Section — The 
Coal Measures — Actual Sections. 



rANDERBURGH, except one, is the German 
extreme southwestern count\' of the 




state of Indiana, and is bounded on the 
west by Posey, north by Gibson, east by 
Warrick. The southern boundary is the 
Ohio, the " belle riviere" of the early French 
ad\enturers, the " beautiful river " of our 
own poets, the "great commercial artery" 
of our economic writers. Its picturesque 
beauty and its fleets of busy steamers are 
e(|ually deserving subjects of admiration. 
Evansville, the city of the county, and one 
of the principal cities of the state, lies i8o 
miles distant from Indianapolis. To be geo- 
graphically precise, its latitude is 38" 8' 
north, its longitude 10^ 30' west from Wash- 
ington. 

The altitude of the Ohio at low water at 
Evansville, is 320 feet above sea level. The 
elevation of Main street is 50 feet above 
low water, and consequenth', tlie average 
altitude of the city above tide water is 370 
feet. 

Though the northern line of the county 
is but thirteen miles from that re-entrant 
curve of the Ohio which approaches the 
geographical center of the county, the drain- 
aire of its territory is not wholly into the 
great river. Running from the northern 
part of Scott and along the northern line of 



•Adapted for this volume from the Geoloyic.il Report on 
Vanderburgh county, by John CoUett, A. M., in " Geolog- 
ical Survey of Indiana, 1875." 



township, is a high ridge with a 
spur of lower land running down through 
Perry, which di\id'j; the county into two 
systems, the northwestern being drained 
through Big creek and its forks into the 
Wabash river. The eastern and central 
parts of the county have their water-shed 
by Bluegrass, Locust and Little creeks 
through Big Pigeon into the Ohio. 

The topography of the county is delight- 
fully \aried. The characteristic features of 
a river countr\-, the river bottoms, are here 
from two to six miles wide. Composed of 
a light, sandy loam, they are very fertile, 
and produce profitable crops of corn, wheat, 
potatoes, tobacco, and meadow grass. In 
the forests upjn this soil we tind black and 
white walnuts, red, white and burr oaks, 
red and white elms, white and black gums, 
Cottonwood, hickory, maple, willow, syca- 
iTiore, cypress, pecan, etc., with many shrubs 
and vines. The small brooks flowing across 
the county, from northeast to south and south- 
west, of no great capacity, and often nearly 
dry in summer droughts, run through val- 
leys one to three miles wide. These 
"bottoms" are le\el, and characteristically 
argillaceous, or hard and compact, and de- 
mand underground drainage for successful 
tillage long continued. Good crops of hay 
are grown upon them. The timber here 
comprises white, burr, water and jack oaks, 



18 



GEOLOGY. 



.^aim. e-liii, niaplf and sycamore, with beach, 
sugar tree, poplar and walnut on sand}- 
loams. From the creek and river valleys 
the ascent is sometimes gentle, often bv 
abrupt bluffs, to the table lands. In the 
central and northern parts, these attain an 
elevation of from 150 to 350 feet, and aver- 
age a height of 225 feet above low water in 
the Ohio: and being formed as a whole. 
from fine sands or loam, the soil is compact, 
and to a degree impervious to air or moist- 
ure unless drained or well mixed with vege- 
table matter. The Hat areas are wet and 
have characteristic openings, or prairies, 
but the shghtly une\en surfaces are clothed 
with a thick growth of timber, in which 
post-oak, persimmon and sweet gum are 
characteristic. White, red and Spanish 
oaks, black gum, maple, white and black 
hickories are connnon. The rolling up- 
lands are richer on account of an admixture 
of red calcareous soil, and adds to the for- 
ests poplars, sugar trees, black walnut and 
ash. Roth varieties of upland vield good 
crops of corn, wheat, oats, and meadow 
grass. The hills and hi<>h rid<res are ex- 
empt from sudden changes of temperature 
and are admirably adapted to the culture of 
tender fruits and vines. Consequently the 
wide-awake agriculturists have extensive 
and profitable orchards and vinevards, which 
are sure sources of income. The bluff soil 
is the American equivalent of the I^oess of 
the Rhine, which produces the generous 
wines of France, and with the same care 
will as richly reward. The climate is in the 
neutral zone, between uncomfortable warmth } 
and cold, not subject to the extreme chanjres ! 
which renders culture hazardous further j 
north. The tender peach, apricot and grape '\ 
may be grown to perfection along with the \ 
sturdier apple and quince. The vineyards j 
yield wine rich in boucpiet and spirit. The | 
walnuts and hickory nuts are produced in 1 



I profusion, and the pecan mav be easily and 
prolitably cultivated. Wild grapes, plums, 
etc., crown the hill tops and cluster in the 
\alleys, but the luscious persimmon, "God's 
fruit," is the best and most abundant, and it 
is believed, by cultivation could be made to 
ri\-al the date. 

The surface of the county affords man\- 
instructive texts to the geologist, for the ap- 
plication of his theories to account for the 
' present configuration. By a vast accumu- 
lation of obser\ati(jns in all parts of the world, 
and the tornudation of theories based upon 
them, he is able to recount an interesting 
story of the past of this region, and much of 
j the geologist's narrative is not "caviare to 
the general,"' nor i^econdite. There are plain 
records in the valleys and bluffs of phenoniena 
concerning which all men who have thought 
upon the subject are prett\- well agreed. 
The briefest statement of the geology of the 
county would mention as the oldest strata 
which has been brought to general notice, 
the coal measures, later the limestones de- 
posited in the bed of an ancient ocean which 
overspread the region after the coal was in 
the first statres of formation, and more recent 
than all this, overlying it and the cause of 
many b;iautiful features of landscape, the 
Meroiu sandstone. Without treating of the 
formation of coal, of which much has been 
W]"itten, and which is \-er\- likel}' identical in 
different localities, nor of the limestone, let 
us consider more at length the Merom sand- 
stone, and then the later phenomena which 
caused the presjnt configuration of the 
country. 

The Merom sandstone is well developed in 
Vanderburgh and adjoining counties, capping 
the tops of the highest hills in the northeast- 
ern and forming the surface rock in all the 
uneroded parts of the central and western 
regions. In deep, niu^row gorges, witii pre- 
cipitous and overhanging sides, it gives a ro- 



GENERAL FEATURES. 



m 



mantic boldness to the scenery, and also 
affords good exposures for its stud\'. In 
Section 17, Scott township, this niassi\e 
sandstone overhangs the brook which flows 
by the base, and the softer rock has disap- 
peared below, leaving a rock house which 
was once a favorite resort of the Indians. The 
rock is always ferriferous, containing small 
partings and veins of iron, which being harder 
than the sandv matrix, fret the sides and o\er- 
hanging arches of the gorges with an irreg- 
ular tracerx' of network in relief. In this 
count\' the stone is regular in sequence, un- 
interruptedlv covering the coal measures. 
But in the relation of proximit\- to the coals, 
it is regular onlv in irregularitv. Sometimes 
all the coal seams are below it, elsewhere all 
tlie older rocks down to the Ingleside coal 
have been cut away by ancient floods, and 
then the sandstone lies directly upon that 
coal, and sometimes includes in its lower 
layers, rounded pellets and pebbles of coal, 
which reveal the extensive action of the 
water which preceded the deposition of the 
sandstone. There is therefore good ground 
for the belief that it is the record of a geo- 
logical era far subseqvient to the carbonifer- 
ous. Fossils are rare or entirelx' absent, 
being confined to specimens of Acrogens, a 
lower order of plant life. The Merom sand- 
stone is near the surface of Bab\'town hill, 
nearlv 200 feet above low water in the river, 
and from this eminence that the rock has 
preserved, a splendid view is enjoyed of the 
teeming citv and the riser dotted with the 
steamers carrying the commerce of the \al- 
lev states. West of Germantown, the mas- 
sive part of the rock is well exposed, and it 
is 20 to 40 feet thick, composed of sharp 
sand, small veins of hematite iron, and a few 
trunks and stems of plants. The sand is so 
slightlv coherent that it may be removed 
with a shovel, the iron is easily removed, and 
the product is remarkably good for plaster- 



ing and building. Southwest of there, across 
the count\- line, the rock is on the other hand 
admirabh' adapted to (juarrying, and along 
Big creek, good stone is obtained. In the 

j prime agricultural region of the northwest- 
ern high le\el of the countx', the rocks are 

j deeply covered, and the only outcrop noted 
is in Section 23, Armstrong township. On 
the George Graff farm a shaft was once 
put down through this solid rock in search 
of silver ore, but of course, with no success. 
Subsequent to the period when this sand- 
stone was laid down — it would be idle to 
attempt to measure the time which elapsed — 
vast glaciers overspread the country, mainly 
to the north of this latitude. These left no 
deep beds of drift, with boulders showing 
the grinding action of ice and water, in this 
county, but their record i.s nevertheless 
plain. We refer now to the sets of ancient 
\alle\s wliich tra\erse the countv, from 100 
to 150 feet above the ri\'er, having a course 
from north 18" to 24° west. These are not 
continuous now, but are often cut across or 
partially silted up b\- a second, more recent 
set of valleys, running from northeast to 
southward. In either sets of vallev thorough- 
fares, after a rain,ma\- be seen in the ditches 
the fine white quartzose and black sand or 
magnetite, from the Laurentian rocks of 
Canada. The hardest material of the glacial 
drift reached here onlv in the form of powder, 
but is easih' recognized, and seems to point 
unmistakably to a glacial origin of these val- 
levs, the primar\- having been made at the 
beginning of the era, before the Wabash 
vallev had been excavated bv the great 
flood of ice water. The secondaries prob- 
ably date to the time when the water, which 
sought sluice-way in the summer months, 
by the White and Patoka vallevs, after ex- 
cavating the great basin of South Patoka, 
overflowed to the west and south, cutting 
awav softer rock and leasing the harder 



20 



UEOLOGY. 



knobs and hills which now beautify tht- land- 
scape. The Lake regions were then, it is 
believed from well investigated phenomena, 
eight hundred or nine hundred feet 
higher than now, and the summer melting 
of ice caused more violent action of the 
water than would now appear possible. Thus 
were cut the valleys of Pigeon and Black 
creeks, and the like, so much wider than 
could be accounted for b}- the action of these 
small water courses. Not only wider are 
they than the creeks can account for, but it 
is a remarkable fact that these creeks flow 
in beds considerablv abo\'e the former bed 
of the water which cut the valleys. 

When these mighty glaciers passed away, 
receding to the north on account of some 
vast change in the continental conditions, a 
great lake covered a large area of the in- 
terior of the continent, including southwest- 
ern Indiana, and regions adjoining south and 
west. Its high water line is now seven hun- 
dred or eight hundred feet above the level 
of the ocean. The deposits of this era are 
called loess or lacustral, and consist of 
reddish yellow loam, sandy, below that gray 
and buff siliceous loam, and at the bottom, in 
valleys which were filled up in this era, black 
quicksand, muck with much vegetable matter. 
This deposit varies in depth from fifteen to 
one hundred and fifteen feet. In that era, 
the extreme cold of the ice age was suc- 
ceeded by the other extreme, and tropical 
trees and plants, and animals of South 
American t3'pe, flourished in this region. In 
the muck deposit, or just above it in a flinty 
gravel, have been found in this and adjoin- 
ing counties the bones of monstrous tropical 
animals, the Megalonyx and other great 
sloths, the Mammoth, or Elephas Ameri- 
canus, and the great beaver Casteroides 
Ohioensis. In sinking the Avondale shaft at 
Evansville, a bed of animal and vegetable 
remains was encountered, containing an im- 



mense quantitv of fresh-water shells. When 
these were studied b}- naturalists and com- 
pared with existing types, it was found that 
some were wholly extinct and others were 
to be found now onl}' in the southern states. 
" These shells, wholly extinct, or barely ex- 
isting as survivors from our ancient sub-tropic 
climate, reveal in their story a hitherto un- 
known chapter of past events, indicating a 
change of climate nearly equivalent to io° 
of latitude, and which, according to Mr. 
Hopkins" paper before the British Scientific 
Association, must have taken place within 
from twenty thousand to sevent}' thousand 
years." From the lime when this tropical 
life prevailed here, the climate changed 
gradually to colder, .and vegetation and 
fauna changed with it. Still, the change 
has not been so vast that we have not relics 
to-day of those distant times. In such shel- 
tered spots as seem to be the last lagoons of 
the ancient sea, and there are such in Union 
township particularly, the cj'press lingers, 
and the cane, as well as in the other division 
of life, the paroquet, cotton-mouth and grass 
snakes, and red-mouthed salamander. The 
persimmon, pecan, smooth honey-locust, 
catalpa and thorn)^ sumac, are also relics of 
a period whose main features have long 
since disappeared. 

The " tooth of time," since the age above 
spoken of, has been confined in its work to 
the formation of the alluvial flats b^• the con- 
tinual eating away of older deposits. So 
have been formed the river bottoms, com- 
posed of sand, gravel and smooth stones, 
clay and much vegetable matter, comprising 
sticks and trunks of trees found buried even 
more than one hundred feet below the pres- 
ent level of the river beds, and flu\ iatile 
sand-bars and gravel-beds as high as one 
hundred to two hundred feet above the high 
water line. 

The following is a connected section of 



GEXERAL FEATURES. 



2] 



ihf rocks and other ik'posits of \ ander- 
burgh cou^t^■ arranged in the order of their 
sequence in age, beginning with the more 
recent and the superior : 

Ft. Ft. In. 



2 to 



20 to 2- 



1. Ruff, brown, red and 

mottled slabs 

2. Merom sandstone, soft, 

shaly, upper di\ision. . 

3. Merom sandstone, mas- 

sive, in quarry beds. . 

4. Dark gray or buff shales 

and flaggy sandstones 
with chu- iron stone . . 

3. BRO^v^• Impure Co.\l, 

3rd rash coal i V^ to 

4. Flaggy on thick bedded 

sandstone, ripple 
marked 9 to 

5. Hard, clinky, gray lime- 

stone, at bottom irreg- 
ular and sometimes 
flint}', passing to the 
west to a calcareous 
shale 2 to 

6. Argillaceous shale and 

shaly sandstone 34 to 

7. Black slate with tlsh 

spines and fossils ly, io 

o to 



10 to 30 ol 18. 



19. 



20. 



21. 



22. 



8. Second Rash Co.\i. . 

9. Fire clay 



14 



12 
o 



10. Gra\- shale 

11. Limestone, yellow fer- 

ruginous 

1 1 . Gray shale 98 to 

12. First R.vsii Co.\i., and 

black slate 

Fire-cia}- 

Soft, flaggy, blue, buff 
and gra}- sandstone, 
with much gray shale 
and beds of cla\' iron- 
stone and nodules .... 60 to i 2 r 



15- 



Yellow and gra\- sand- 



Ft. Ft. In. 
stone, often gi\ing 

good quarry beds .... 1 5 to 29 o 

16. Gray and buff alluvium, 

arenaceous or shaly. 

or flaggy sandstone, 

o with iron stone nodules 

and shaly concretions 29 to 80 

o' 17. Black slate or clod, with 

I fossils I O 

Coal N, choice, gassy, 
caking 2 3 

Fire-claw at bottom 
10 to 20 o shaly, with iron balls. 5 "^ 

Buff or gray limestone 
with Cha:tetes 8 to 5 O 

Gray or white shale, 
with nodules of iron- 
stone and bands of 
sandstone .30 to 40 o 

Siliceous shale, passing 
to massive sand rock 
to south and west; al- 
luvial rock? of Les- 
quereux and Owen. . . 60 to 71 o 

Black slate or clod, with 
many alluvial and veg- 
etable fossils 2 to I 8 

Ingle.sideCoai. M: lam- 
inated coal, I ft. 4 in.; 
parting 2 in. to o; solid 
cubic coal 2 ft. 8 in. . . 4 O 

25. Fire-clay 4 <> 

26. Fire-clay, with pyrite 
balls .1 ^ 

27. Siliceous shale n 9 

28. Arjfillaceous sandstone. 5 o 

29. Gray siiale and soaji 
stone 64 5 

30. Soapstone, with plant re- 
mains o 3 

31. C().\i-J>: impure canncl 
coal, I ft. 6 in.; pyrit- 
ous argillite, i ft. 4 in.; 



I to 
6 to 



to 



to 

1 to 



23- 



o[ 24. 

3 
o 
o 



nEOLOGY. 



Ft. Ft. In. 
slaty cannel, i ft. 2 in.: 
free burning coal, i ft. 

3 in 5 3 

32. Fire-clay 2 6 

(Extra-limital.) 

34. Siliceous shales and 

coarse massive ferru- 
ginous sandstone .... 90 to 120 o 

35. Best limestone and black 

slate 2 to 8 o 

36. Co.\i- K, caking, pyrit- 

ous o to I 6 

37. Laminated fire-cla\'. ... 2 to 14 

38. Siliceous and black alu- 

minous shales, with 
rich bands and pockets 
of nodular iron ore. . . 10 to 30 o 

39. Conglomerate sandrock no to 180 o 

40. Coal A 3 to o o 

41. Dark or black shale, 

with iron ore 30 to 5 O 

42. Chester sandstone and 

sub-carboniferous lime- 
stone o to o o 

Total 837 8 

The beds Nos. 3 to 14 of the above sec- 
tion, including two or three thin seams of rash 
coal, and two strata of limestone, each of 
two to eight feet thick, occupy the hill-tops 
in the northeastern parts, and thence dipping 
to the southwest are found at or near the 
level of the streams in that part of the county. 
These beds are a notable geologic horizon. 
Besides the advantage of the stone, which 
is burned for the lime, they form an unmis- 
takable directrix from which to measure 
down to the probable level of the lower 
workable coals. The limestones Nos. 5 ;ind 
II, at their northeastern outcrop, are hard 
and clinky, and are frequentl}' brought close 
together or found in contact. Thev are 
found in such contact in the sides of the bold 



bluff on the north of the Pigeon valley. In 
Perry township there are several limekilns, 
at which the stone has been quarried and 
burned. On the West Franklin road there 
is outcrop of flinty limerock, which has been a 
noted curiosity with geologists who have made 
this region famous b}' their labors. It seems 
here that the whole thickness of the lime- 
stone had been transformed into clinky horn- 
stone or Hint. Near there are three sink- 
holes, such as are common in the region of 
sub-carboniferous limestone, ten to thn^ty 
feet in diameter, the onl\- sinks seen in our 
coal measures. A large spring discharges 
the water collected by them. Near Baby- 
town hill, crinoid stems, and many other fos- 
sils, mostly compressed and broken, are 
found in profusion. This double limestone 
forms the elevated foundation of the beautiful 
site of Mechanicsville, which, 150 feet above 
the cit}', has an unbroken view of the rich 
broad valley, the i-olling river, and the dis- 
tant hills of Kentucky. It outcrops in the 
ra\'ines a little east of there, and the stone is 
used for curbing and stoning the streets of 
the city. This stratum rises at the rate of 
fifteen feet per mile to the northeast, and is 
a surface rock two miles east of the x'illage. 
In Section 20, Center township, it shows a 
face of seven or eight feet, and in cavities 
beneath its disturbed edges, rattlesnakes and 
other serpents were accustomed to gather 
for miles around to hibernate. The lime- 
stone caps a bald peak on the McCutcheon 
farm in the northeast corner of the county, 
which commands one of the finest outlooks 
in the state, embracing the hills and knobs 
round about at a distance of fifteen to twent\' 
miles. In all adjoining regions, these lime- 
stones contain a multitude of fossils in great 
variety, the assignment of which to the 
proper geological period has given rise to 
bitter personal quarrels between eminent 
scientists. The dispute is as to whether 



G ESKUA h FK. 1 TURKS. 



23 



tht'\' ai\' IVTiiiian or Cirboiiiferems. and 
e(|ui\alL'iit beds in the West liax'i' been 
named Permo-earboniferous as a sorl of 
coinproniise. In this count\' these limestones, 
lhoUL;h often crowded and ahnost wholly 
composed of fossils, as Athvris, Spirifer Ini- 
eatus and Lophophyllum proliferum, do not 
afford good cabinet specimens. 

The coals, Nos. ,^, S, 12, are L;enerall\- ali- 
sent and never persistent o\'er considerable 
areas. Thev are impure, thin, and of no 
importance. 

The tiiin lire-cla\s, Xos. 9, 13, are of 
much ^^reater \Ldue, as ihev are unctuous 
and plastic, and work well for pottery and 
terra cotta. 

No. 14 is a soft sandstone fotind in the 
upper part of Ingleside shaft, in the beds and 
bluffs of Pigeon creek, and thence northeast 
along the brooks and creeks. It is some- 
what quarried for rough masonrw The 
yellow and gray sandstone. No. 15, is ex- 
posed only in the east and northeast and is 
well down the Ewmsville shafts. There is 
an extensive bed in the northeast corner of 
Knight township, from which excellent stone 
is taken. 

Coal N, No. 19 of the section, is the next 
stratum of commercial importance, and it is 
a choice, gassy coal, of excellent quality. 
This is equal to the best western coal for gas 
and coking, and though the seam will a\er- 
age but little over two feet, yet its purity 
and richness in \-olatile matter will justifx 
mining it. The seam is uniformh- persistent 
throughout this region, and is locally known 
as " Little Newburg coal."' The chemical 
analysis of this coal shows 53 per cent, of 
fixed carbon, gas 41.5, water 3. ash 2.5. 
Coke, 55-5- Meat units, S090. Specific 
gravity, 1.242. Weight of one cubit- foot, 
77.62 pounds. 

No. 20, a limestone, is not exposed in the 
county, but along tiie count\- line in Warrick 



it outcrops, and is remarkable for the won- 
derful size of the fossil Lophophyllum pro- 
liferum and the great profusion of the coral, 
Chcvteles. The siliceous shale and sand- 
stone. No. 22, is not seen at the surface, but 
is important along Green river. No. 23 
carries a large number of beautiful and well 
preser\e(l fossils, a list of which W(.)uld be 
too lengtliN' for space liere. 

No. 24 is tin' Ingleside coal AT, or •' Main 
Newburg," the chief mineral resource of 
this region. This seam has been pierced at 
mati\- places, and at almost every station it 
has shown a thickness of not less than four 
feet. It is a .strong coking coal, burns to 
gra\- or red ash, and is an excellent fuel for 
steam or grate use, and commands a ready 
market. It drives the wheels of commerce, 
pulls the mighty railroad trains, and gives 
energv to the thousand arms and fingers of 
iron which manufacture, with the strength of 
a million giants, the wealth of this favored city 
and county. It underlies two-thirds, if not the 
whole count\-. Such a mine of wealth will 
endure for ages, and assures for this county 
an enviable prosperity and progress. From 
it can be produced a c(jke of great value. 

An analvsis of a specimen from the middle 
of the Ingleside seam shows: fixed carbon 
48.5 per cent., gas 42. water 3.5, ash 6. 
Coke 54.50. Heat units, 7772. Specific 
cravitv 1-275. Weight of one cubic foot, 
79. 68 pounds. 

Nos. 25 and 26, are fire-clays, and will be 
extensivelv used for terra cotta. Below 
coal M we find the noted phenomenon 
of massive limestones in the coal measures. 
Thev are highlv argillaceous, little more 
than" clay shale, even the tough blue sand- 
stone leadily yields to air and moisture. 
No. 30 is the " fern bed," a deposit rich in 
leaves and stems of the plants of the coal 
ace. Here are found kidnev ironstones, en- 
closing plants and fruits. 



GEOLOGY. 



Coal L, No. 31, is a characteristic Indiana 
coal. It is a laminated, semi-caking or free 
burning coal, rich in carbon, and yielding a 
gray or white ash, with little or no cinder. 
It is the most persistent coal of the Wabash 
basin in thickness, regularity and good ([uali- 
ties. Here it is found when pierced to be 
of an average thickness of only two feet, 
which will hardly justify mining at present. 
It is admirably suited for rolling mill, loco- 
motive and stove use. 

Below Coal L a hard, ferruginous sand- 
stone has been pierced by bores, tills a con- 
siderable space, and below it is the limestone 
superimposing Coal K, sometimes flint}-, but 
on the Kentucky side carrying the usual fos- 
sils. 

Coal K, magnificently exhibited in Pike 
county, is not seen here. In bores along the 
Ohio river it never de\elops a thickness of 
two feet, and is generally thinner. Below K 
are beds of black shale often called coal in 
the reports of bores, but no thick or worka- 
ble seams may be expected at this depth. 
No. 39, a coarse, red sandstone conglomer- 
ate, forms the bottom rock or bed of the 
Coal measures. It is only pierced bv the 
Crescent City Park bore, llie sub-con- 
glomerate coal A, is onl\' known by report, 
and its existence here is (juite doubtful. It 
is certain that the deepest bores report beds 
of sandstone and limestone which are re- 
ferred to the Chester beds of the sub-car- 
boniferous period. This closes a connected 
view of the surface phenomena and rock\- 
structure of the county. 

Near Evansville the surface rocks are the 
soft blue, buff and gray sandstones passing 
into argillaceous shales. No 14 of general 
section. In this bed the Ingleside shaft in 
the west suburb of Evansville was begun, 
piercing in its depth the lower rash coal and 
shales, and N, M and L, in succession. 
The following is the section in detail: 



S, 

9 
10 
II 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16, 

17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 

23 

24 



26. 



SECTION' IN INGLESIDK SHAFT. 

Ft. In. 

Chw and alluvial sand 29 o 

Clay and shale 61 o 

Slatv coal and flre-clay 3 o 

Sandrock 4 6 

Siliceous clay shales 12 9 

vShale and iron stones 5 S 

Fire-cla\- 10 

Ferriferous sandstone 7 9 

Fire-cla}' with sand and iron. . . 12 3 

Sandstone (ferriferous ) 12 i 

I o 



Shale 

Sandstone 

Coal N, (Little Newburg 1 . . 
Fire-cla V with iron balls .... 

Limestone 

Fire-clay parting 

Limestone 4 6 

Gray shale, black at bottom .... 8310 
Coal M, (Main Newburg ) .... 4 2 

Fire-clay 4 o 

Fire-clav with p\ rite 3 8 

Siliceous shale 11 9 

Argillaceous sandstone 5 o 

Gray shale (soapstone) 64 5 

Soapstone ( fern bed) 3 

Coal L: Impure cannel, i ft. 6 

in. : p\ritous argillite, i ft. 4 

in.: slaty cannel, i ft. -2 in.; 

semi-caking coal, i ft. 3 in. . 

Fire-cla}- 



2 II 

5 « 
5 o 
2 6 



5 3 



362 8 

In the l^lack shale which forms the roof 
! of this mine, are tine fossils including Pro- 
' ductus, three species, Bellerophon, two 
species, Aviculopecten, two species, Pleuro- 
tomaria, two species, Macrocheilus, two 
species, and a Goniatite. The coal in the 
mine and accompan\ing rocks is as follows: 

I Argillaceous limestone, ]nritous. i ft. 4 in. 
I Black slate (shale j i ft. 4 in. 



GENERAL FEATURES. 



Laminated coal i ft. 3 in. 

I'artini;- 2 in. 

Solid cakino- coal. ... 2 ft. 11 in. 4 ft. 2 in. 

6 ft. 10 in. 

This coal ranges from three feet eight in- 
ches to four feet four inches, and averages 
nearl}- four feet at this mine. It is remark- 
ably uniform in thickness and persistence. 
In other regions of the Indiana basin, the 
coals are not so regular, or the seams nar- 
row and unworkable. One uninterrupted 
seam is equal in avails to several unreliable 
coals, and gives more certain returns. 
When coals become scarce, as in England, 
the upper seam (N) ma\- and will be worked. 
The dip of lower coals, L, M, N, from New- 
burg via Evansville, along the center of the 
trough which gives direction to the lower 
Ohio valley, is eighteen feet nine inches a 
mile, with many irregularities. Dip to south, 
from northern line of the county, is about 
twent}' feet per mile, decreasing to eight or 
ten feet, until it passes the central synclinal, 
where the dip is reversed, ascending to the 
south. 

THE SAI>T WELL. 

In December, 1S68, the boring of a well 
was begun in what is now called "Artesian 
Springs Park," in the Fourth ward, and in 
view of the recent gas-well developments it 
is interesting to recall that there was a strong 
flow of burning gas from the upper part of 
the well. This continued until salt water 
was struck at less than three hundred feet, 
and it is now a flowing, artesian well. Tlie 
section of this well is as follows: 

SECTION OE ARTESL>\N WliLL. 

Soapstone 31 

Gray sand stone 2}^ 

Soapstone and shale 37 

Hard graj- sandstone i 

Slaty coal ly^ 



Shale 6 

Gray 44 J^ 

Soft shale 11 

Soft gray sandstone 18 

Hard gray sandstone 5 

Gray flint? 2 

Dark gray sandstone 62 

Saltwater 

Hard black shale 

(coal?) 73 

Gray sandstone 65 

Flint 6 

Hard gray shale 5 

Hard argillaceous sandstone 34 

Gray shales (soapstone) 55 

Coal (L?) 1% 

Gray shale and sandstone 134 

Dark sandstone, with salt water 

flowing seven gallons per minute . 5 

Hard pure sandstone conglomerate.. 50 

Coal and slate y^ 

Soapstone 10 

Coal (A?) and slate ii^^ 

Fire-clay J^ 

682 
Surface 17 

Total 699 

At Avondale, the preliminary bore, be- 
fore the sinking of the shaft, showed the 
following section: 

SECTION IN AVOND.-\LE BORE. 

Ft. In. 

Surface 9 6 

Blue clay 30 6 

Gray sand 2 6 

Blue mud, ij^uicksand 22 3 

Gravel, sand and shells 6 o 

Fire-clay and sand 28 3 

Gravel and sand i o 

Sandstone 2 o 

Fire-cla}' 2 9 

Sandstone 11 o 



S6 



GEOLOGY. 



Fire-clay 7 9 

Sandstone 7 o 

Fire-clay with pebbles 2 8 

Siliceous clay i o 

Sandstone with iron balls 72 o 

Concretion i 10 

Sandstone 36 10 

Rock slate 6 o 

Black slate 2 10 

Coal 4 o 

256 9 
Clay for bricks is found abundantly 
throughout the count}', and the tjuality is 
good. The modified clays of the valley 
lands, and the under clay of the coals furnish 
an article suitable for crockery, terra cotta 
and stone-ware. Iron ores are found 



throughout the coal measures. Nodular 
iron of good qualitj' occurs just above and 
below the horizon of coal N. But it will not 
pay to work. The largest deposit is at Priest's 
bluff, where several car loads are exposed 
at low water. Very minute scales of gold 
and nuggets of copper are sometimes found, 
but they are importations of the glacial 
drift. Sand of an excellent kind is pro- 
duced by the disintegration of the Merom 
sandstone. There are no gravel beds like 
those of Northern Indiana here, but in the bed 
of the Ohio, and below low water generally, 
are extensive deposits of ferruginous chert, 
brought down from further up the river, 
and this material is one of the best known 
for metaling pikes and streets. It forms a 
compact, smooth and slightly elastic surface. 



CHAPTER II. 



Indian History — The Mound Builders — Their Earthworks and Mounds — The 
Indian Tribes — Wabash Land Company — The Treaty ok 1805 — Captivity 
AND Adventures of Isaac Knight. 




' NTIQUITIES 01- ancient earthworks 
exist in this county — isolated or 
clustered mounds and pits, which re- 
quired for their building the persistent labor 
of a people with a combined purpose under 
intellij^ent direction. Their locations are 
healthy and picturesque stations, convenient 
to water, generally close to river transporta- 
tion, in fertile lands, and with a wide out- 
look to the east; characteristics so constant 
as to indicate a design, and indistinctly to 
reveal something of the religion, govern- 
ment and habits of a mysterious and unknown 
race. Of these remains the Indians with 
whom the earliest explorers communicated 
had no apparent knowledge, and the noma- 
dic habits of the red men seem to prove the 
distinct nature of the Mound-builders. The 
opinions of scientitic men vary greatly in re- 
<rard to the origin and fate of these myste- 
rious people. Some even question their 
variance either in ver^- remote time or in 
kindred from the Indian, while others go to 
fanciful lengths in describing then- probable 
origin and progress in civilization. The 
main trend of theory is, however, that they 
came as did many of our plants, from the 
north, and the tlieory premises a C(Minection 
in past ages between the continents of Asia 
and America at the point where they are 
now but little separated, and a climate which 
made tlie northern regions a much more at- 
tractive path than it is now for the transfer 
of population. 

The free copper found within the tumuli 



of the mound-builders, the open veins of 
the Superior and Iron Mountain copper- 
mines, with all the iiiodiis operandi of ancient 
mining, such as ladders, levers, chisels, and 
hammer-heads, discovered by the French ex- 
plorers of the Northwest and the INIississippi, 
are conclusive proofs that those prehistoric 
people were more civilized than the Indians. 

One of the most brilliant and impartial his- 
torians of the Republic stated that the valley 
of the Mississippi contained no monuments. 
So far as the word is interpreted now, he 
was literall}' correct, but he neglected to 
qualify his sentence by a reference to the 
numerous massy piles of antiquity to be 
found throughout its length and breadth. 
The valley of the Father of Waters, and 
indeed, the country from the trap rocks of 
the Great Lakes southeast to the Gulf and 
southwest to Mexico, abound in tell-tale 
monuments of a race of people which must 
liave rivaled in civilization the Montezumas 
of the sixteenth century. The remains of 
walls and fortifications found in Ohio, Ken- 
tucky and Indiana, the earthworks of Vin- 
cennes and throughout the valley of the 
Wabash, the mounds scattered over Ala- 
bama, Florida, Georgia and Virginia, and 
those found in Illinois, Wisconsin and Minne- 
sota, are all evidences of a race which the 
red man swept awaj' as he has in turn been 
almost supplanted by us. 

Several isolated mounds were found on 
the bluffs, 130 to 170 feet above the Ohio, 
at the southwest corner of the county, near 

{21) 



28 



INDIAN HISTORY. 



West Franklin. The implements of stone 
and potter}' discovered here were of artistic 
execution. A celt (hand-axe) of flint, was 
polished like the Danish celts (unusual in 
America, if not unique), also a granitic 
hand-axe with beveled edges. A cluster of 
mounds of great interest was observed near 
McCutcheon school-house, two and a half 
miles northeast of Inglefield, twelve miles 
from Evansville, about twent3'-flve in num- 
ber. They were scattered over fiftv or 
more acres, and covered with forest and 
bush. They are 2 to 6 feet in height, and 
20 to 60 feet in diameter. On the adjoining 
Hillyard farm were two pits or excavations 
now partially filled. One of them was 60 
feet in diameter, and at first settlement, 20 
feet deep. The second was 15 feet in diam- 
eter, and 4 feet deep, apparentl}* for under- 
ground homes or for water. A constant 
spring — rare in this vicinity — seems to have 
invited the mound-builders to this elevated 
and commanding point, which is a promon- 
tory of the dividing ridge which separates 
the watershed of the Wabash from that of 
the Ohio. The outlook embraces the wide 
flat valley of Blue Grass creek, and the dis- 
tant mound-capped knobs in the horizon. 
The excavations probabh' existed first as sink 
holes through the underlying limestone, and 
were afterward shaped for human use, but 
this can onl}' be determined by careful ex- 
amination. One of the mounds here was 
opened, and was found to contain ashes, 
shells, bones and pottery, indicating a mound 
of habitation. Many relics, well wrought 
in stone, were found in this vicinitv. The 
extreme northeastern corner of the county 
was a favorite resort of the pre-historic 
races. Mr. John B. Locke collected some 
interesting stone relics on his farm, found on 
a knoll in a small mound, including a sand- 
stone pipe or calumet in shape of a bear's 
head, ears erect, mouth distinct, and claws 



folded as if hibernating; also a medicine 
tube of Alabama talc, three and one-half 
inches long, three-fourths of an inch in di- 
ameter at the " mouth-piece," nearly two 
inches at the opposite end, with a constric- 
tion above the middle, with the bottom edge 
serrate; also flattened discs of sandstone. A 
bed of whitish clay is found here at the 
western extremitv of a ridge 600 feet lonof 
by 200 from north to south. In front of this 
is an area, the surface level and apparently 
paved with plastic clav 500 bv 200 feet, 
probably a "Chungke play-grourid," with 
council chamber, where the relics were ob- 
tained. On this play-ground a set of six 
"Chungke" stones were found, from three 
to four inches in diameter, two inches thick, 
with a concavity in each side like the quoit 
or discus of the Olympian games. Sur- 
rounding or at the edges, spear and arrow 
points and "flint chips" have been noticed; 
This "Chungke" ground is now a field in 
cultivation. At an early day it was covered 
with a growth of trees, none over 400 years 
of age — 3'oungsters compared with the sur- 
rounding forest — indicating that this area 
had been used within 1,000 years. At an 
arrow factory on T. B. McCutcheon's land 
adjoining, flint "chips" in quantity were 
found, also flint splinters two or three inches 
long and perfect as if cut with a knife. Some 
interesting mounds were found in and ad- 
joining the village of Millersburg. They 
were composed in part of sand. 

At the extreme southeastern corner of the 
count}-, extending across the line into War- 
rick, is one of the most interesting earth- 
works. Angell's mound, southeast quarter 
Section 31, Town 6, Range 9, is a wonder. 
It is a symmetrical cone rising up from the 
level plain to a height of 50 feet, and only 
300 feet in diameter. It seems almost too 
imposing to be attributed to the puny arm of 
man. Many smaller mounds, but larger than 



THE MOUXD BUILDERS. 



29 



the gciici-al averai^^c, are located on the Gen. 
Lane farm, adjoining the Angell on the east. 
In this neighborhood were found \ases, jars, 
jugs, implement handles, images of duck and 
owl heads, liuman faces and hands, spindle 
whirls, pipes and buttons, made in pottery; 
also buttons of cannel coal, and axes, hoes, 
spades, pestles, grinders, celts, arrow and 
s]iear points of stone. Gras'es of savage 
Indians are discovered through the county, 
sometimes intruders upon the mounds, but 
shallow and carelessly made. 

Ossuaries or bone vaults have been dis- 
covered a few miles west of Evansville. 
They are isolated or often intrusive on the 
mounds. They contain the bones of all a 
nation's dead for a certain length of time, 
generally seven years, collected from tempo- 
rary places of deposit at the midsummer 
season of cheerless fasting and mourning, 
cleaned, bleached and deposited in walled 
vaults covered with flat stones and earth. 
Older than the Indian period, and later than 
the mound-builders, they belong to an inter- 
mediate littoral or riparian race, who retained 
some of the reliirion and art of their dis- 
possessed predecessors, but their coarse, 
crude implements and pottery show that 
they were far below them in the scale of 
progress, being closely allied to the Natchez 
and Choctaws of De Solo's expedition. 

Iiidiiiiif. — Upon the first introduction of 
Europeans among the primitive inhabitants 
of this country, it was the prevailing opinion 
among the white people that the \ast do- 
main since designated as the American con- 
tinent, was peopled by one common family, 
of like habits and speaking the same lan- 
guage. The error, however, was soon dis- 
pelled by observation, which at the same 
time established the fact of a great diversit\- 
in characteristics, language and, physical de- 
velopment, upon which basis the race was 
found to be divided into many distinct tribes. 



Among tribes that owned or occupied 
that portion of Indiana, known as the 
" pocket," of which Vanderburgh county is 
a part, were the Miamis, Piankeshaws, Dela- 
wares, Wyandotts and Shawanees. 

At the time of the first white exploration 
of the northwest territory, all that portion 
now included within the boundaries of In- 
diana, was claimed by the Miami confedera- 
tion of Indians. The boundaries of the 
territor}- claimed by the Miamis, was de- 
scribed b\' Little Turtle, a distinguished 
Miami chief, at the treaty of Greenville in 
1795. Addressing Gen. Wayne, he said: 
" You have pointed out to us the boundary 
line between the Indians and the United 
States; but I now take the liberty to inform 
you that that line cuts off from the Indians 
a large portion of the country which has 
been enjoyed by mj' forefathers from time 
immemorial, without molestation or dispute. 
The print of my ancestors' houses are every- 
where to be seen in this portion. It is well 
known by all my brothers present, that mj^ 
forefather kindled the lirst fire at Detroit; 
from thence he extended his line to the head- 
waters of the Scioto; from thence to its 
mouth; from thence down the Ohio, to the 
mouth of the Wabash ; from thence to Chi- 
cago, on Lake Michigan." 

Many years prior to the date of this an- 
nouncement by Chief Little Turtle, how- 
ever, it will be seen by the following 
transaction, that the land now included within 
the bounds of \'anderburgh count}- was rec- 
ognized by the whites as belonging to the 
Piankeshaw Indians. "Intheyear 1775, ' says 
Dillon, " after the expedition of Lord Dun- 
more against the Shawanees, Louis \'iviat, 
a merchant of the Illinois countr\-, com- 
menced a negotiation with the Piankeshaw 
Indians, for the purchase of two large dis- 
tricts of country l3"ing upon the borders of 
the river Waba-sh." Viviat acted as the 



30 



INDIAN HISTORY. 



a<rent of an association known as the " Wa- 
bash Land Company.," and at Post Vin- 
cennes, on the iSth day of October, i775) 
he obtained from eleven Piankeshaw chiefs 
a deed from which the provisions relative to 
the territor}' of Vanderburgh count}- are 
taken : " Know ye, that we, the chiefs and 
sachems of the Piankeshaw nation, in full 
and public council assembled, at the town or 
village of Post Saint Vincent (Vincennes), 
for and in consideration of the sum of five 
shillings, to us in hand, paid bj' the said 
Louis Viviat, and for and in consideration of 
the following goods and merchandise, to us. 
Tobacco, Montour, La Grand Couette Oua- 
ouaijao, Tabac, Jr., La Mouche Noire or 
the Black Fly, Le Maringonin, or Musquito, 
Le Petit Castor, or the Little Beaver, Kies- 
(^uitiehies, Grelot, Sen. and Jr., for the use 
of the several tribes of our nation well and 
truly delivered in full council aforesaid, that 
is to say: Four hundred blankets, twenty- 
two pieces of shroud, two hundred and tiftv 
shirts, twelve gross of star gartering, one 
hundred and twenty pieces of ribbon, twen- 
ty-four pounds of Vermillion, eighteen pairs 
velvet laced housings, one piece of matton, 
fifty-two fusils, thirt\--five dozen large buck- 
horn-handle knives, forty dozen couteau 
knives, five hundred pounds of brass kettles, 
ton thousand gunflints, six hundred pounds 
of gunpowder, two pounds of lead, four 
hundred pounds of tobacco, forty bushels of 
salt, three thousand pounds of flour, three 
horses; also the following quantities of sil- 
verware, viz.: eleven very large arm bands, 
forty wrist bands, six whole moons, six half 
moons, nine earwheels, forty-six large 
crosses, twenty-nine hairpipes, sixty pairs of 
earbobs, twenty dozen small crosses, twentv 
dozen nose crosses, and one hundred and 
ten dozen brooches, the receipt whereof we 
do herebv acknowled<>:e."' 

in consideration of the above named mer- 



chandise and mone}- two several tracts or 
parcels of land were granted and transferred 
to said Wabash Land Company. The tract 
in which the land now comprising Vander- 
burgh count}', was included, was described 
as follows : That tract or parcel of land situ- 
ated, lying, and being on both sides of the 
Ouabache river (Wabash) beginning at 
the mouth of White river, where it empties 
into the Ouabache river (about twelve 
leagues below Post St. Vincent), thence 
down Ouabache river, bv several courses 
thereof, until it empties into the Ohio river, 
being from the said White river to the Ohio 
fifty-three leagues in length, with forty 
leagues in length or breadth on east side, 
and thirty leagues in width or breadth on 
the west side of the Ouabache river afore- 
said. 

The two tracts of which the forecoinor is 
the larger comprised m all 37,497,600 acres, 
and these lands were so far as the Indians had 
any right to sell to a company or individuals, in 
possession of this company for many years ; 
but congress after numerous petitions from 
the company, the last of which was made in 
iSio, refused to confirm the claim. 

The Piankeshaws held possession of the 
southwest part of the state until 1768, when 
the}- gave to the Delawares that portion 
now included in the counties of Gibson, 
Posey, \'anderburgh. Pike, Warrick, Spen- 
cer and a part of Perry, and the right of 
the Delawares to sell this land was ac- 
knowledged bv the Pottawatomie, Miami, 
Eel river and Wea tribes by the 5th article 
of the treaty concluded at Vincennes, Au- 
gust 18, 1804. If, however, the Piankeshaw 
tribe had any just claim to the territory it 
was relinquished in treaty between said tribe 
and the United States, proclaimed Feb- 
ruary 5, 1S05: Article i. The Piankeshaw 
tribe relinquishes and cedes to the United 
States forever all the tract of country which 



WABASH LAXD COMPAXY. 



SI 



lies between the Ohio and Wabash rivers, 
and below Clark's grant, and tlie tract called 
the Vincennes tract, which was ceded b_y 
the treaty of Ft. Wa3'ne, and a line con- 
necting said tract and grant, to be drawn 
parallel to the general course of the road 
leading from Vincennes to the Falls of the 
Ohio, so as not to pass more than a half a 
mile to the northward of the most northerly 
bend of said road. 

Article 3 provides for an additional annu- 
ity of $2,000 to be paid by the United States 
for ten years. 

On the 14th of the same month a treaty 
was proclaimed with the Delaware tribe by 
Gen. W. H. Harrison, governor of Indiana 
territory, on the part of the United States. 
B}- this treaty the tract described in Article 
I, of the treaty above mentioned, the tract 
above described was ceded by the Dela- 
wares to the United States, with the provi- 
sion that an additional annuity of $3,000 be 
paid by the United States to said Delaware 
tribe, and additional sum of $500 was ap- 
propriated for the purpose of teaching them 
to cultivate the soil, etc., besides delivering 
to them a large supply of agricultural imple- 
ments and domestic animals. By these 
treaties with the Piankeshaw and Delaware 
tribes, conducted at Vincennes, August iSth 
and 27th, 1804, and proclaimed February of 
the following 3ear, the last claim to the ter- 
ritor}' of which \'anderburgh county is a 
part, was forever relinquished by the red 
man. The land was soon placed on the 
market at the land office at Post Vincennes 
and entries and settlement soon followed. 
Wandering bands of Indians, however, 
mostly of the Shawanec tribe, continued to 
wander about the country, and until the close 
of the war of 181 2, would, at intervals re- 
turn and camp along the streams, for the 
purpose of hunting and fishing. These In- 
dians caused the settlers considerable 



anxiet\', and were constantly pilfering and 
stealing. The onl\- incident of more than 
passing interest which occurred within what 
IS now the territorv of ^'anderburgh county, 
was the killing by a band of Pottawatomie 
and Kickapoo Indians of Peter Sprinkle and 
Jacob Upp, and the capture of Isaac Knight, 
George Sprinkle and John Upp. This oc- 
curred on the banks of the Ohio, in what is 
now Union township, about the year 1793. 
The victims, who at the time were all bo\-s, 
were residents of Kentucky, but as one of 
the captives, Isaac Knight, became a resi- 
dent of Vanderburgh county, and as he is re- 
membered as one of her most prominent 
early settlers and most respected citizens, 
the incident will be read with additional in- 
terest. The following is taken from an ac- 
count of the capture, suffering and escape, 
published in 1839, '^^ narrated bv Isaac 
Knight himself, and written by Iliram A. 
Hunter: 

Isaac Knight, the subject of the follow- 
ing narrative, was born in what was then 
called Washington county, in Pennsvlvania; 
the record of his age being lost, the exact 
time of his birth cannot be ascertained. 

His father's name was John Knight, who 
married Ann Rolison, by whom he had 
seven sons, of whom Isaac was the eldest. 

When the subject of this narrative was a 
child, his father removed, by water, in com- 
pany with his father-in-law, Mr. Lawrence 
Rolison, and Norod Franceway, who had 
married in the same family. These all set- 
tled at or near the place, now known by the 
name of Vienna, on Green river, about 
eighty^ miles above its mouth, where, with 
much difficulty, they lived some years, grind- 
ing their corn on hand mills or pounding it 
in a mortar; and at one time such was the 
difficulty with which bread stuff was had, 
that Isaac's father bought corn at the mouth 
of Green River, at one dollar and twenty- 



S2 



INDIAN HISTORY 



five cents per bushel, and con\'eved it to his 
family in a peiogue or canoe. Indeed, the 
ditiiculties under which the first settlers of 
that part of Kentucky labored, were almost 
insupportable. 

For the security of the whites and their 
families, they were impelled to build and re- 
sort to forts in as large bodies as their thinly 
settled population would permit. Uniting 
their energies, they labored b}- turn in each 
man's field, one or more, as necessity re- 
quired, standing as sentinel. 

During the season in which corn was 
making, they remained in their forts; but re- 
turned to their lonesome and dangerous re- 
treats for the remainder of the year. 

Seldom would anything short of abundant 
sign of Indian hostilities, drive them in the 
spring of the year, from their homely huts. 
It is, however, perfectly within the recollec- 
tion of the author of this narrative, that, 
when a boy, he heard the report of a gun, 
which killed dead, one of the finest men in 
the settlement, and one, too, who lived with- 
in a few steps of his father's door. Mr. 
Downs, who was thus shot by the Indians, 
left a wife and seven children to lament his 
untimely death. He was most cruelly used 
by the savage butchers, and left scalped on 
the ground. 

About this time the country about the 
Red Banks, on the Ohio river, now known 
as Henderson, in Henderson count}', Ken- 
tucky, began to be spoken of as a most de- 
sirable section, and Isaac's father, with the 
rest of the connection, moved to that place, 
where they found a few families residing. 
But one house was yet erected — the rest of 
the families lived in camps. In removing 
to this place, their property being conveyed 
by water, e.vcept the stock, Isaac, then a 
boy about nine or ten years of age, assisted 
in driving them. 

They at length arri\ed all in safety, at the 



Red Banks, where even greater difficulties 
were undergone bv settlers, than had been 
endured by them at Vienna. Here, too, 
as at the former place, they cultivated the 
soil in safety, only by means of sentinels. 

About this time the small pox prevailed 
at the Red Banks, and little Isaac \\as vac- 
cinated with it. He was, however, still 
under the necessity of gi\ing more or less 
attention to his father's cattle, in cutting 
cane, providing food for them. Accord- 
ingl}', in company with others, he went fre- 
quentty across the Ohio river in a canoe to 
cut cane. In one of those routes, accom- 
panied by Peter Sprinkle, and George, his 
brother, John Upp, and Jacob, his brother, 
having arrived on the bank opposite to 
Henderson (as boj'S are naturall}' inclined 
to do), they commenced their sport, running 
and jumping along the bank, all alike ignor- 
ant of their danger, until from behind a 
blind, which was made of cane, cut and 
stuck in the ground, for the purpose of con- 
cealment, eight Indians, six of whom were 
found to be Pottawatomies, and two Kicka- 
poos, came rushing upon them. In confu- 
sion and astonishment the boys all attempted 
to escape. The eldest, Peter Sprinkle, a 
j'oung man of about seventeen or eighteen 
years of age, ran nearly to the river' and 
was shot down, three guns being fired at 
him at once. Little Jacob Upp, a small boy 
of about seven j-ears of age, finding escape 
impossible, stood still and begged for his life, 
crying "Don't kill me, don't kill me:" but it 
was to no purpose — the cruel savages 
buried the tomahawk in his skull, and put 
an end to his cries and his existence. 

George Sprinkle and John Upp, the for- 
mer a little larger and the latter a little 
smaller than Isaac, were taken almost on the 
spot where the Indians were discovered. 
When the author of this narrative first saw 
the Indians, he ran, without saying a word; 



ADVEXTUKES OF J,SJAr KXIUIIT. 



.?J 



and on hearing the report of the guns that 
killed Peter Sprinkle, he looked back, and 
seeing one Indian in pursuit of him, he con- 
tinued his race, until, in a short time, he felt 
a blow upon each shoulder, which he after- 
ward found came from two Indians, instead 
of one, that had pursued him. Tiiese blows 
stunned him so that he fell, and in falling he 
lost his hat. He had no sooner touched the 
ground than his savage pursuers had each 
hold of an arm, lifting him up. Even in this 
predicament he attempted twice to reach for 
his hat, but failed to get it. He afterward 
learned from one of the Indians who took 
him, that if he had made a third attempt to 
get his hat, he would have killed him. 
These led the affrighted Isaac to the rest of 
the company, and, as he thought, to the 
place of execution : but to his surprise, when 
he came there, he found his associates, 
George Sprinkle and John Upp, in the cus- 
tody of the savage red men, yet alive. 

Here, in full view of the Red Banks, the 
savages, holding up the yet warm scalps of 
Peter Sprinkle and Jacob Upp, raised the 
war whoop and started with their \oung 
prisoners, holding fast to Isaac's hand, as 
the}' compelled him to run after them. Such 
was their fearfulness that he would }-et 
escape, that in swimming the bayou, a short 
distance from the river, one still held him 
bv the hand. On reaching the camp where 
these savages had lain the preceding night, 
they put moccasins on the bo3's,and compel- 
ling them to follow them or keep up with 
them, running all day and traveling all night. 

In the evening of the first day, one of 
the bovs, John Upp, became so much ex- 
hausted that he could run no longer. The 
Indians, with a view to compel him forward, 
threatened him with their tomahawks; but 
finding that he could not go, two of them 
assisted him. 

The morning of ihc se^;ond day they came i 



upon three bears, which the Indians had 
killed, and in great haste took each a small 
portion along with him, until they crossed 
the Pattoka river, and on the bank they 
stopped for the first time to cook atid eat. 

The boys b)- this time were much 
fatigued, and well nigh worn out bv 
means of constant and hard trav- 
eling. Nothing worthy of note trans- 
pired until the evening of the third dav, 
when, after making a small lire of sticks, 
the\- produced the scalps of the murdered 
boys, and after cutting the meat out of one 
of them, carefully put it on sticks before the 
(ire, and cooked it; then, in the presence of 
the bo3'S, ate it, shaking the remaining scalp 
at them. This they did, not because they 
were hungrj-, but each, that he might 
thereby say, "I have killed a while man, and 
eat him." And thus they aci|uired no little 
reputation as warriors. The remaining 
scalps thev then stretched on hoops, made 
for that purpose. 

That night they danced the war-dance, and 
made their young prisoners walk round with 
them, and would have had them dance, had 
they not been too much exhausted. This 
was afterward their regular employment, 
every other night. 

In their route they attempted to cross a 
stream in a small canoe, which was not 
more than large enough to carry two men in 
it; however, one of the Indians conve\'ed the 
boys across the creek, and, on striking the 
opposite bank, George Sprinkle being a lit- 
tle fearful, and knowing that he could not 
swim, leaped from the canoe to the bank — 
on doing which the Indian gave him a blow 
with his paddle across the back, which in- 
jured him so seriously that it was with dif- 
ficulty he ascended the bank. 

The reader will remember that Isaac was 
vaccinated, with the small pox. This was 
done just the da\' before lie was taken by 



H 



IXDIAX HISTORY 



these cruel savages, on the 8th day of April, 
1793, according to his best recollection ; and 
in something like a week he therefore became 
very sick with that disease; but was never- 
theless impelled to tra\el every day, even 
when scarcely able to hold up his head, or 
help himself in the smallest. The knowledge 
which his friends at home had of the fact 
that, if alive, he would be thus afflicted, aug- 
mented their uneasiness and anxietv about 
him. Their fears could but be great that 
the cruel wretches would kill him; and if 
not, both he and they expected he would die 
of the small pox, exposed as he was in an 
Indian famp. Their manner of crossing 
ponds, creeks and rivers was to wade or 
swim; and, sick as Isaac was, such was the 
manner in which he was compelled to pass 
them. After the disease above named had 
appeared on him, he was under the necessity 
of swimming a small river, which was the 
means of driving it in, so as to render him 
very sick. Then, for the first time, the sav- 
ages discovered some humanity, and after 
kindling a fire, with a view to encamp for 
the night, thev placed Isaac near the fire, 
wrapped in two blankets, in which situation 
he spent the night. In the morning the pox 
appeared again and he was some better, but 
still unable to travel. Nevertheless it was 
his fate to go, and he endeavored to do so, 
until, faint and sick, he fell to the ground. 
His Indian drivers, however, soon raised him 
and compelled him to go forward. 

Fatigued with traveling and afflicted with 
fever, he suffered much for water, which 
the}- frequently refused him. When in cross- 
ing water he would lift up some in his hand 
and put it to his mouth, the}- would push 
him down in the water. At night, encamp- 
ing near a small branch, he asked leave to 
go for water; they granted it — but an In- 
dian followed him to the bank and tlien 
kicked him down a steep, where he fell 



among the rocks, and was not a little hurt 
by the fall. At another time, passing a 
small branch, he asked permission to drink, 
which was granted ; but as he put his mouth 
to the water, an Indian with his foot, crushed 
his mouth into the sand. With this most 
brutal treatment, and swelled till shapeless, 
with sores which were constantl}- suppurating, 
and not unfrequently, especiall}' of a morn- 
ing, discharging blood, he was forced to' 
march. 

Provisions growing scarce, they spent one 
da}- in hunting. In the afternoon, having 
killed two deer, they stopped to cook; 
Isaac being in the way of one of the Kicka- 
poos, he took the liberty to kick him down a 
descending ground, some twelve or fifteen 
feet. This kicking was no pleasant thing to 
Isaac: and here he found in one of the In- 
dians a friend, who claimed him as his, and 
was much offended at the conduct of the 
other. 

In a few days they passed the Kickapoo 
towns, where the two Indians of that nation 
left the company for home, and the prison- 
ers saw them no more so as to recognize 
them. They soon arrived at another town 
of some note, on the Illinois river. 

As they entered the town, on the fifteenth 
day after they were taken, it being the 
twentv-third day of the month, on passing a 
few wigwams, some of the warriors gave a 
signal, which brought out several squaws, 
who relieved them all of their packs. 

At this place the prisoners were conducted 
into the presence of, and exposed to the view 
of, a vast crowd of Indians, many of whom 
came up with apparent friendship, and gave 
them a hearty shake of the hand. 

From this place they were conducted 
across the river to a wigwam, where some- 
thing was provided for them to eat, which 
\ery much pleased their palates, as it some- 
what resembl(;;d small hominy, ^nd they had 



ADVENTURES OF ISAAC KNIGHT. 



35 



seen a S(]ua\v put a handful or two of sugar 
in it, after striking a dog over the head and 
driving him out of the wigwam with the 
ladle with which she stirred the mess. 

As the evening came on, the Indians began 
to collect, and as the other two bo\s had 
been painted and trimmed by the Indians, 
previous to their arrival in town, and Isaac 
was not (though none of them could ac- 
count for it), it was the opinion both of him 
and them that it was their intention to burn 
him; however, when they were all collected, 
the young prisoners were ordered out, and 
the Indians, in one vast body, around a small 
fire, danced a war dance, the prisoners and 
the warriors that took them being next to 
the fire, and opposite to, or facing them as 
they danced round, were two squaws, bear- 
ing on canes from the Ohio Bottoms, the 
scalps of the little boy and the voung man 
who had been killed when the other bo3S 
were taken. 

Next morning, as Isaac thoutjht, almost 
all the Indians in the world collected on the 
opposite bank of the river for a ball play, 
where they spent the greater part of the day 
in that exercise, both men and women shar- 
ing its pleasures; the sexes engaging apart 
from each other, and seemintf to delioht 
greatly in the employment. 

In the evening, a company of some two 
or three hundred elderly Indians came march- 
ing down to the wigwam where the prison- 
ers were kept, bearing two large kettles of 
hominy, beating their drums, rattling the 
deer's hoofs and making music of different 
kinds. They marched several times around 
the hut, and then with great apparent sol- 
emnity, placed ihe kettles on a handsome 
green, and when they were all seated around 
them, two men waiting on the rest, divided 
the contents of the kettles, putting a small 
portion in every man's bowl (for they all 
had bowls, and, as was their custom, ladles). 



A prophet then, as was supposed, repeated 
as he sat, a lengthy ceremony; after which 
they enjoyed their repast in good order, and 
dispersed. 

On the morning of the fourth day Isaac 
w as presented with his moccasins bv a squaw, 
who also gave them something to eat. Soon 
afterwards an Indian of the company that 
had taken the boys, came in and beckoned 
to Isaac to follow him, and without a thought 
that he and his associates were now to be 
separated until they should meet at home, 
he followed his guide that whole day up the 
Illinois river, wading many small swift-run- 
ning streams, which, as Isaac expressed him- 
self, washed off man}' a scab. By this 
Indian he was piloted to a wigwam where 
lived, as he afterward found, the mother of 
the two warriors that had taken him, and 
who were detained at the village by sick- 
ness, of which one of them died. Here, 
being delivered to this old mother and seated 
by her, she immediatel}' gave him a new 
blanket and provided him something to eat. 
This day's travel had again freshened Isaac's 
sores, and so fatigued him that allhougii he 
was wrapped in a new blanket and kindly 
treated, he had no rest, but felt in the morn- 
ing almost as bad as formerh'. 

The squaw in whose care Isaac was left, 
with a view to cure him, made preparation 
for it, and with a sharp flint scarified him, 
and rubbed the sores with a piece of rough 
bark to make them bleed; then caused him 
to jump in the Illinois river. This was all 
done through kindness, although it was 
harsh treatment. 

From this place Isaac, together with man\- 
Indians, started up the river to an Indian town 
situated upon a small island in a lake through 
which the Illinois river passes, now called 
Illinois lake: this place they gained in five 
days, nothing very important transpiring on 
the route, It was Isaac's fate, however. 



■It: 



IXDTJX HISTORY. 



ccording to the direction of the squaw to 
whose care he was committed, to jump in 
the river everv morning. 

Soon after this time the small-pox made 
its appearance among tlie Indians on this 
ishind, and the kind old squaw who had given 
so much attention to Isaac, and thereby en- 
deared herself to him, was one of the first 
subjects and victims of that destructive dis- 
ease. He had for a long time feared that 
if this disease broke out among them, they 
would kill him, as he had been the means of 
bringing it among them: and although he 
sometimes hoped that some of the most cruel 
and barbarous of them would die with it, 
yet he more frequently desired the}' might 
all escape it, as he feared the consequences. 
Their manner of treating the disease proved 
fatal in many instances: They invariably at 
first, in that, as in other cases of complaint, 
took a severe sweat and then jumped into 
the river; and so terminated the existence of 
manv. The death of this humane and moth- 
erlv old squaw gave the author of this nar- 
rative most unpleasant feelings, and was the 
cause of much distressing exercise of mind. 
He had found in her a true and tender friend, 
and one who was willing to do for him all 
she could, but when he saw her taken from 
him, he found himself far from home, without 
a friend, among strangers, in the midst of 
foes, and surrounded with sickness produc- 
ing deatli in every direction. His spirits 
sunk and all hope was well nigh gone. No 
cheering thought checked his distress — no 
gleam of hope could light up his counten- 
ance, or buoy up his disconsolate spirit. 

The death and burial of the squaw, whom 
Isaac recognized almost as a mother, were 
extremely solemn and impressive. Appear- 
ing sensible of her approaching dissolution, 
she gave Isaac to her daughter, who lived 
along wifh her. She was buried after their 
manner, with great solemnity, and many of 



the Indians painted themselves black and 
mourned for her ten days, fasting every day 
until evening; but all this was not expres- 
sive of Isaac's grief for the death of her who 
had nursed him with so much tenderness, 
and friendless now left alone, he found no 
one to whom he could unbosom his sorrows. 

A number of Indians died of the disease 
on the island before they left it. Necessity 
seemed to compel them to leave the island, 
and, supposing that a change of situation 
would improve their health, they started, 
moving a short distance at a time and spend- 
ing but little time at an\^ one place. They 
had moved, however, but seldom, until the 
squaw in whose care Isaac had been left, 
followed her mother, by means of the same 
disease. Indeed, they lost some at every 
place where they stopped. This squaw left 
a young child, some twelve months old, 
which it fell to Isaac's lot to nurse, and be- 
sides the attention which he was compelled 
to give that infant, it devolved on him to 
nurse the sick, help to bury the dead, and 
frequently to do all alone. Worn down with 
fatigue by means of his arduous labor, he 
devised means to be relieved of the burden 
of the child. Accordingly, as he carried it 
on his back wrapped in a blanket in Indian 
style, he drew the blanket tight around it, 
and so put an end to its cries, removed his 
own burden and terminated its life. 

After the death of an Indian of some note 
in these woods, whom they buried in as much 
splendor as their circumstances would per- 
mit, his squaw and four children, the eldest 
of whom was large enough to support the 
family by hunting, left the rest of the Indians 
and moved down the Illinois river in a canoe. 

Isaac's fears being great lest he should 
yet be killed for bringing the small-pox 
among them, he was halting whether to tell 
or not that he brought it, when he heard 
two squaws conversing on the subject, and 



ADVEXTUEES OF ISAAC K NIGHT. 



■V 



learned from their conversation that the In- 
dians were of the opinion tliat the)', in and 
by means of goods sold them by the French, 
had taken the disease. This so relieved his 
mind that he told them nothing about it. 

Some weeks afterward the rest of the In- 
dians turned their course down the river, 
also taking Isaac along with them; still some 
of them were sick and dying all the time. 
After passing the island in the lake where 
the disease lirst appeared amongst them, 
they descended the river for some distance; 
but how far and how long time, is not within 
the recollection of the author. 

A short time now elapsed until tiiey 
started again up the river, passed the town 
on the island before mentioned, and Isaac, 
having been committed b\- some means to 
the care of another squaw, traveled up this 
river in the same canoe with her, and, pass- 
ing the place where her husband had been 
buried, she steered the canoe to shore, and 
taking out some venison in a bowl, had Isaac 
to accompany her to the grave. Here she 
kindled a small fire over the head of the 
grave, into which she threw some of the 
venison. Setting down the bowl she told 
Isaac to eat of it, which he did, while she 
walked to some distance and mourned with 
loud and sore lamentations for near an hour; 
then returned to the grave, wiped off the 
tears, threw some more meat in the tire and 
on the grave and bade Isaac to start. 

About this time Isaac betran to be threat- 
ened, as he learned from the Indian boys, by 
an old chief who said he had brouiiht the 
small-pox among them, and while this was 
in agitation, one of the Indians arrived who 
had taken Isaac and who had been left sick 
at the first town, the place where Isaac had 
been separated from his associates, his fel- 
low prisoners. This Indian Isaac met with 
much joy, and he claimed him as his prop- 
erty. 



A few Towa Indians now arrived among 
these Pottavyatomies, selling them goods, 
trading for furs, etc. These Indians were 
acting as agents for a merchant at Macki- 
naw, as is frequently the case. 

To one of those Towa Indians Isaac was 
sold for what he thought would amount to 
about ^500, and was delivered to his nevy 
master perfectly naked. 'He was then told 
to do so, and mounting the horse behind the 
man that bought him, rode oft across what 
he now thinks was Spoon river. 

They then traveled for some days north of 
the Ohio river, to the hunting ground of the 
Indians who had now purchased him. Here 
the "Big Buck" was killed and a feast 
prepared to have Isaac adopted into the 
family. 

Now being made an heir, Isaac was 
trimmed, his hair pulled out, as was the cus- 
tom of that nation, except the scalp, and a 
hole made through his nose. 

In his nose they put six silver rings; his 
hair being long, it was divided and plaited, 
one-half before and the other half behind; 
the hinder part ornamented with beads, and 
the fore part tilled with silver brooches. 

The season for making sugar being over, 
they moved to the mouth of Chicago river 
and commenced making arrangements to go 
to Mackinaw with their skins and furs. 

As the route which they had to go led 
them near the shore, they encamped every 
night on it, where, for the securit\- both of 
the canoe and its loading, they were under 
the necessity of unloading, drawing it out of 
the water and turning it upside down, made 
it answer the purpose of a wigwam. They 
continued this route for some days, and ar- 
rived at a small island, on which was a num- 
ber of Indians, where they landed and spent 
the night. Between that place and Macki- 
naw the\- landed on another small island, m- 
habited h\ Indians, with whom Isaac was 



38 



INDIAN HISTORt. 



left until his Indian father and mother re- 
turned from Mackinaw. 

Isaac's Indian father and family now 
started with liim and their fresh supply of 
goods to return to Chicago. Nothing of 
importance transpired on the route. Sailing 
along the shore of Lake Michigan they en- 
camped every night as before, and at length 
arrived at the mouth of the Chicago river, 
where they had embarked for Mackinaw. 
Here, having raised their canoe on forks 
and so secured it, they removed from place 
to place, principally up the river, trading 
with the Indians and making a living by fish- 
ing, they steered their course for the old 
hunting grounds on the Illinois river. 

Toward spring, but while the snow was 
yet on the ground, they turned their course 
again for Chicago, spending the time in 
hunting and trading, until in good time for 
sugar making they arrived at their old camp. 

Before they left the sugar camp they had 
many drunken sprees, in some of which 
Isaac's, life was greatly endangered, but by 
some means preserved. 

Arrangements were now made for another 
trip to Mackinaw; and, having collected all 
the skins they could, they thought of taking 
Isaac along with them; but fearing that he 
would get away, they called in an old 
prophet, in whom they placed great confi 
dence, who went into what they call a sweat 
house, to pow-wow, and inform them of 
such things as they wished to know, that 
would happen in the future. Accordingly, 
Isaac went to work to prepare the sweat 
house, within the wigwam, covering it with 
skins and blankets, rolling in a large hot 
stone, on which the prophet poured water, 
and leaving a place at the top for the steam 
to pass out. Into this house the old prophet 
entered, povv-wowing and singing, while 
Isaac and his little brothers danced around 
it, waiting on the prophet as he ordered. 



until the smaller boys, becoming sleepy, laid 
down and went to sleep. Some time elapsed, 
and the prophet came out. Isaac immedi- 
ately, as if worn out and overcome with 
sleep, threw himself down on some deer 
skins, and pretended to be asleep. The old 
prophet took a seat near his Indian mother, 
and commenced speaking. She asked him 
many questions, and he answered them; but 
none of them so much interested Isaac until 
she wished to know if she would keep him 
if she took him all the way to Mackinaw. 
The prophet, much to Isaac's gratification," 
told her she would, but she must be careful 
not to let him talk much to white people. 

Now, full of glee and in fine spirits, they 
loaded their bark canoe and started. After 
many days" toil and sailing, they all arrived 
in safety at Mackinaw. 

Here, unlading the canoe, and preparing 
to encamp under it, Isaac was conducted by 
his Indian mother, in compan}' with her two 
eldest boys, to the house of the merchant 
for whom the}' traded. After showing Isaac 
to them, and suffering him to talk but little 
with them, the merchant's lady gave each 
of the boys a slice of bread well buttered, 
which Isaac received very gratefully and ate 
it. It was the first bread he had tasted 
since he last ate at his father's table! 

Here Isaac was permitted to walk about 
in company with the Indian boys, but was 
generally accompanied by his Indian mother, 
and sometimes an uncle and aunt who had 
accompanied them to tiiat place in a small 
bark canoe. In company with these, as they 
walked along the beach, seeing a ship lying 
at the wharf, and a man convenient to it, 
whom Isaac supposed was the Captain, their 
attention was mutuall}' drawn to each other. 
The Captain perceiving that he was white, 
asked him where he was taken prisoner; he 
replied from the Red Banks, on the Ohio 
river. Isaac asked him, " are you the Cap- 



ADVENTURES OF ISAAC KNIGHT. 



S9 



tain of this vessel?" He said he was. 
" Where are you bound?" said Isaac. " De- 
troit," was the reply. " When will you 
start?" " In the morning." " Can I," said 
Isaac, " run away from the Indians and get 
aboard of your vessel?" "Yes; but you 
must be careful how you come." Here 
Isaac was commanded to hush, and was 
taken away b}- his Indian friends. Toward 
evening, his Indian father being drunk, and 
some Indians being across an arm of the 
lake drinking and carousing, Isaac was 
called to convey him to them in the little 
bark canoe, belonsjino- to his uncle. Having 
done this, he returned late in the evening, 
and landing near their camp, drew his little 
bark partly on the shore, and went to the 
camp contented as usual. Here he found an 
English soldier, who seemed to feel much 
solicitude about him, whom Isaac told he 
would rather live with the Indians than the 
white people. Fearing that such interviews 
with the white men would lead Isaac off, his 
Indian mother made him lie down by her, 
for she had sione to bed. The Enirlishman 
went away. Isaac, however, did not sleep, 
but waiting until he thought the rest were- 
locked up in the (quietness of a pleasant nap, 
he caught his blanket in his teeth, and softly 
stole from behind his mother, drawing his 
blanket after him. He got out, straightened 
himself, and listened; he could hear no stir, 
except the quiet music of the lake before 
him, which invited him to liberty! He 
stepped softly to the little bark he had 
drawn to the shore, and seating himself in 
it, he moved as gently as possible around 
the picketing that enclosed the town and ex- 
tended into the lake, and again turned to 
the shore. Giving his bark a push into the 
lake, he steered his course for the vessel on 
which he had learned he could make his 
escape. When he reached the vessel, the 
Captain was walking about on the deck, and 



seeing Isaac approach, he met him and told 
him to follow iiim. They went together 
into the cabin. The Captain was much per- 
plexed to know what to do with Isaac, so as 
to secure him, and screen himself from the 
censure of the Indians, with whom his great- 
est success in trade was carried on. At 
length, however, he told him, "I have a 
little negro boy in the kitchen, who will find 
you out, let me do with you what I may. 
If you will go to him and tell him j'our situ- 
ation and your object, he can take care of 
you; but don't tell him that I know anything 
about you." Is.-ac went into the kitchen 
and awoke the negro, but he appeared un- 
willing to have anything to do with him. 
Fearing that, between them, he would have 
to go back to the Indians, Isaac told the lit- 
tle negro that his master knew he was there, 
and had told him to come to him. " Then," 
said the negro, still lying in his bunk, " get 
in here." Isaac tumbled in with him but not 
to sleep. His fate, as j'et, was too uncer- 
tain. By the side of the sleepy-headed 
negro he laid and watched for the day to 
dawn. Seeing, as he did, the first appear- 
ance of light in the morning, with much 
ditTiculty, he awoke the little negro, and told 
him, "You must do something with me — 
this is no place for me." The negro arose, 
unlocked the lower part of their cupboard, 
and told Isaac to get in there. He did so; 
and the bo}- locked him up and left him. 

He had been there but a short time, until 
lie heard the voice of his Indian mother and 
brother, as they came down the hatchway, 
in pursuit of him. Presently the Captain 
sprang out of his bed and began to rail out 
at the Indians for disturbing him in that way 
before he was out of his bed. The Indians 
being easih' cowed by a white man of some 
character, and especiallj- an ofiicer, Isaac's 
Indian mother soon left the vessel. 

Fortunatclv for this Captain, as well as for 



^0 



INDIAN HISTORY. 



Isaac, a barge which had lain at the wharf, 
started that same night about midnight, for 
Montreal, which circumstance afforded the 
Captain an opportunity of making the In- 
dians believe that Isaac had gone on board 
of it, and to convince them that he was in- 
nocent and knew nothing about him, he re- 
mained there until 8 o'clock in the morning. 

Eight o'clock in the morning, the wind 
being fair, the sails of the A^aucy were 
hoisted, Captain Mills commanding, Isaac 
started for the land of freedom! 

Isaac kept close to the negro's room until, 
in about five days, the vessel came safe to 
port at Detroit. 

Isaac bade Captain Mills adieu, and gave 
him his hearty thanks for his kindness and 
protection. He started, and soon found 
himself at the gate, and passing the pickets, 
the sentinel, a raw Irishman, cried, "Who 
goes there?" "A friend," said Isaac, and 
added in a hurry, " I am running away from 
the Indians, and want you to protect me." 
" Oh! be Jasus, my good fellow, come here " 
said he, " and damn the one of them shall 
hurt you." With this sentinel Isaac waited 
patiently for some minutes, when the relief 
cuard came round. The sentinel then in- 
formed the sergeant that he had a prisoner. 
Isaac being delivered to the guard, was taken 
to the guard house, where the curiosity of 
the soldiers kept him up all night, giving a 
history of his sufferings with the Indians. 

About this time Isaac learned that a Cap- 
tain and a company of soldiers were about 
to start to Fort Maumee, and having ob- 
tained permission of the Captain to accom- 
pany them, Isaac made ready, and early next 
morning, bidding his kind host adieu, and 
drawing rations in common with the soldiers, 
he went on board the boat, and sailed for 
Fort Maumee, which they made, having a 
favorable wind, in one day. 

Spending a few days at this place some 



wagons came to the fort, bringing goods 
and presents for the Indians, to Waj-ne's 
treaty, and as these wagons were said to be 
returning to Cincinnati, Isaac asked permis- 
sion of the wagon master to go with them, 
stating to him his situation; he gave consent, 
and drew rations for him accordingly-. 

At Cincinnati he presented himself to the 
officer commanding, and was told that he 
could draw provisions until he met with an 
opportunity to go on. Perfectly composed, 
he laid down to sleep, but was presentl}' 
aroused and informed by the soldiers that 
a man b}- the name of David Pea, who had 
carried an express from Vincennes, on the 
Wabash river, to the army at Detroit, and 
was then returning, was hunting for him. 
Isaac went immediately in pursuit of Mr. 
Pea; and, finding him, they drew provisions, 
and in a skiff, started for Louisville. 

After running some days, they landed at 
the mouth of Harden creek. Here Isaac 
met with a j'oung married woman, with 
whom he had gone to school before he was 
taken bj- the Indians. They recognized 
each other, and she informed him that his 
father and friends had removed from the 
Red Banks to what was then, and is now 
called. Knight's Falls, on Green river. He 
was here advised to land at the Yellow 
Banks, which he did. 

From this place he started alone and afoot 
along a path some twelve miles in length, 
to the house of an old acquaintance, Mr. 
Martin Vernado, with whom he had been 
often forted at Vienna, when but a child. 

Next morning the kindness of Mr. Ver- 
nado and one of his sons impelled them to 
accompany Isaac, in a canoe, down Green 
river, to his fathers house. 

After Isaac's arrival at home, he learned 
that his fellow prisoners, George Sprinkle 
and John Upp, had returned some three 
months before him. 



CHAPTER III. 

County Organization- — Early Jurisdiction of Other Counties — The Influence 
OF Hugh McGary — Rivalry of Ratliff Boon — A Conference of the 

Powers at Darlington — The Result — Creation of Vanderburgh County 

Judge Henry Vanderburgh — Location of the County Seat at Evansville 

Early and Later Methods of Doing County Business — County Officers 

AND THEIR DuTIES CoURT HoUSES JaILS FINANCES CrEATION OF CiVIL 

Townships — Elections — Care of the Poor — Avenues of Travei Rail- 
roads — Agricultural Societies, Etc. 




ff^WE vast territoiy l3'ing- northwest of 
the Ohio river, reaching from the state 
of Pennsylvania on the east to the Mis- 
sissippi river on the west, and northward to 
the British Possessions, was ceded to the 
United States by the state of Virginia in 
1784. Its division into not less than three 
or more than five states, when the growth 
and development of the country should justi- 
f\' their organization and admission into the 
Union, was provided for in the celebrated 
ordinance of 1787- As soon as civil author- 
ity was established, in the following year, 
for the purposes of good government and 
the proper administration of justice, the ne- 
cessity of subdividing the territorv and 
forming counties became manifest. At first 
they were of great extent and thus rendered 
the efficient action of the courts impossible. 
As to a harbor of refuge came criminals of 
all classes to the new territoiy. Virtuous 
and law abiding people were deterred from 
immigration by the enforced association 
with outlaws. Citiz:'ns whose attendance 
on the courts as witnesses or jurors was 
necessary were sometimes compelled to 
travel unreasonably long distances through 
dangerous localities. These inconveniences 
and hardships continued for several years. 



Through the agency of Gen. Wm. H. 
Harrison, as a delegate in congress, the 
territor}' of Indiana was established, in 1800, 
with St. Vincennes as the seat of £rovern- 
ment. At that time the county of Knox 
embraced within its limits the greater por- 
tion of the present state of Indiana and ;i 
considerable part of Illinois. The hostilit}- 
of the Indians and some erroneous ideas as 
to the nature of the country made immigra- 
tion at first slow. Afterward, with its in- 
crease, new counties were of necessity 
rapidly organized. 

The territorial legislature, on March 9th, 
1813, near the close of the session, author- 
ized the organization of Gibson and War- 
rick counties, as follows: 

An Act for the formation of two new 
.^ounties out of the county of Knox. Section 
I . Be it enacted b \ the leg-islativc council and 
house 0/ reprcscntatizes, and it is hcrebv enac- 
ted by the authority 0/ the same, that from 
and after the passage hereof, all that part of 
Knox county which is included in the follow- 
ing boundaries shall form and constitute two 
new counties that is to saj': beginning at 
the mouth of the Wabash; thence up the 
same witii the meanders thereof to the north 
of White river; thence up White river with 



¥i 



COUXTY ORGANIZATION. 



the meanders thereof to the forks of White 
river; thence up the east fork of White 
river to where the hne between sections No. 
20 and 29, in township No. i, north of range 
No. 4 west, strikes the same; thence with 
said line to the line of Harrison county; 
thence with said line dividing the counties 
of Knox and Harrison to the Ohio river; 
thence down the Ohio river to the begin- 
ning. 

Section 2. Be it further enacted. That 
the tract of country included within the 
aforesaid boundaries be, and the same is 
hereby divided into two separate and dis- 
tinct counties by a line beginning on the 
Wabash river, and known and designated 
by the name of Rector's base line, and with 
said line east until it intersects the line of 
Harrison county, and that from and after 
the first day of April, one thousand, eight 
hundred and thirteen, the tract of country 
falling within the southern division thereof 
shall be known and designated by the name 
and style of the count}- of Warrick. And 
the northern division thereof shall be known 
and designated by the name and stvle of the 
county of Gibson. 

As an incident to the foundation of new 
counties, the territorial laws provided means 
for the location of seats of justice. Com- 
missioners who were not land owners in the 
county or otherwise directly interested were 
appointed by the legislature and, at a pre- 
viously designated time and place, assem- 
bled to accept offers as inducements 
favoring the choice of different localities and 
to make the selection December 14th, 181 3, 
by legislative enactment. John Ochiltree, 
Abel Westfall, Wm. Polk, Robert Elliot 
and Wm. Prince, all of Knox county, were 
appointed commissioners for the purpose of 
fixing seats of justice in the counties of 
Warrick and Gibson. They were directed 
to convene on the first Monday in February 



of the next year, at the house of John Mc- 
Junkin and immediateh' after fixing the seat 
of justice in Gibson county to repair to the 
mill of Jonathan Anthony, in Warwick 
county and proceed to fix the seat of justice 
in Warwick county. At the time appointed 
for the meeting of these gentlemen none 
appeared except Wm. Prince. To fill the 
, vacancies thus occasioned, Daniel Putnam, 
Alexander Devin, John Milburn and Wm. 
Hargrove were appointed by the court of 
common pleas through authority conferred 
in the act first appointing the commissioners. 
The deliberations of this commission 
resulted in the choice of the present site of 
the cit}- of Evansville. 

Some j'ears previous to these transactions 
Hugh McGary, a Kentuckian and a sturdy- 
pioneer, had emigratedfrom his native state 
to the new territory and settled in what 
is now Gibson county. In 181 2 he pur- 
chased from the government the land on 
which the city of Evansville now stands, 
and leaving his inland cabin pushed his 
way to the bank of the river and there 
established his home. Though preceded b}- 
a few- other pioneers he was the first per- 
manent settler on the present site of Evans- 
ville; and to his sagacity and determination 
were due the founding and fostering of the 
town, and later, the organization of the 
county of Vanderburgh. An attempt to de- 
pict the characteristics and disposition of this 
man, and to recount the motives which 
urged him to action, and the obstacles whicli 
arose in his path, is made in another chapter. 

When the county of Warrick was organ- 
ized no place in its exterjive territory reach- 
ing along the river for more than fiftv miles 
was particularlv convenient to all of its in- 
habitants. McGary 's place was not central, 
but when the commissioners appointed to 
make the selection were assembled at the 
old Andiony mill, he presented the claims of 



RIVALRY OF RATLIFF BOOX. 



4--i 



his location in the best light possible. It was 
not the first choice, but was finally selected. 
At the direction of the court of the newcoun- 
t}-, the town was laid out, and officially desig- 
nated as Evansville, in honor of General 
Robert M. Evans, a distinguished soldier 
and citizen of Gibson county. McGary had 
given lOO acres of land to the new county to 
induce the selection of his town as the coun- 
ty seat. The town, consisting of less than 
half a dozen small log cabins, rudeU" con- 
structed and located to suit the convenience 
of the settlers, with little regard to the ar- 
rangement of streets, attracted the attention 
of the adventurous spirits who were then be- 
ginning to come into the new territory, and 
in a very short time not less than twenty- 
three men were owners of lots in the town, 
though onl}' a small part of them were resi- 
dents of the place. McGary became very 
enthusiastic over his prospects and confident- 
ly felt that his town was destined to be a 
metropolis at no ver\' distant daj-. His 
hopes, ho\\'ever, rested on a weak foundation. 
By the formation of Posey county in the 
southwest corner of the territory the 
boundaries of Warrick county were so al- 
tered as to place E.vansville at one ex- 
tremitv of its river border, and before the 
town was three months old, the legislature 
enacted, September ist, 1814, that the seat 
of justice for the county should be moved to 
a place subsequently called Darlington, and 
situated some four miles above the present 
site of the neighboring town of Newburgh, 
and about one mile from the river. It was 
provided that the land conveyed by Col. 
McGary to the county should be re-conveved 
to him, and every provision was made for 
an abandonment of the place. For a time 
the prospect of building up a town seemed 
without any support, but instead of yielding, 
Col. McGary clung tenaciously to his hope, 
and set about to devise some means of put- 



ting new circumstances about the place, and 
new life in it. For two years, however, it 
continued to decline. At length the forma- 
tion of a new county, with his town as the 
central point, was the idea which suggested 
itself as a means of relief. In those days it 
mattered little what natural advantages a 
town possessed or what resources lay about 
it undeveloped, all its hope for prosperity 
was based upon its being the seat of justice 
for some county. The founder of the village 
set about with great zeal and industry to 
supply this desideratum. As the first step 
he enhsted the active interests of Gen. 
Robert M. Evans and James W. Jones, both 
of Gibson county, b}' conveying to them on 
June 20, 1817, for $1,300, 130 acres of land, 
being all that part of fractional section No. 
30 which lies above the center of Main street 
in Evansville, except thirty acres previously 
conveyed to Carter Beaman. On the 17th of 
July following these three gentlemen, Evans, 
Jones and McGarj-, prepared a plan for a 
town, ignoring that previously laid out. 
What the}' platted appears on the maps of 
the present time as the "original plan " and is 
bounded by Water and Third, and Chest- 
nut and Division streets. The combined 
exertions of these three men were now set 
forth to accomplish the end already adverted 
to. The greatest obstacle to their success 
was the opposing influence of Col. Ratliff 
Boon, a man of more than ordinary ability, 
a courageous patriot and pioneer leader 
whose influence was not confined by the 
limits of his own county. He was a native 
of Georgia, but at an early age moved with 
his parents to Kentucky, and came to Indi- 
ana territory- about 1809, settling in War- 
rick county, and from that time forward, 
until he left the state, was identified with 
all public enterprises. He was the first 
representative of Warrick countv, was 
twice elected lieutenant-governor of the 



■1-4 



COUNTY ORGANIZATIOX. 



state and, when Go\. Wni. Hendricks was 
elected to the U. S. senate, he filled the un- 
expired term as governor. Personally 
interested in the town of Darlington, he did 
not look with favor on any plan which 
seemed likely to affect its prosperity. 

Enthusiastic and deeph* in earnest in the 
contemplation of his favorite theme, Col. 
McGarvdid not allow his courage to weaken, 
and his complaints of Col. Boon were full 
of bitterness. His address was not dis- 
pleasing, and his conversations on the subject 
of the ultimate greatness of his embryonic 
city, sparkling as they did with genuine 
ardor, were deeply interesting. 

About this time Gen. Joseph Lane, after- 
ward of national repute, known as a wise 
and upright representative in the state legis- 
latures, a hero of the Mexican war, a mem- 
ber of congress, and governor of Oregon, 
then a young man, figured in the drama be- 
ginning to be acted by becoming the means 
of bringing the weightier men together. 
Young Lane was engaged with others in 
rafting logs near Darlington, and floating 
them to Red Banks, where J. J. Audubon, 
later the foremost of American ornithologists, 
had erected, somewhat in advance of the 
times, a steam saw-mill which afterward 
failed. When rowing back to his home he 
stopped on the banks of the river near 
McGary's house to spend the night, and then 
fell a victim to the enthusiastic and pleasing 
manner of the sanguine Colonel, walking 
with him over the site of the hoped-for 
city, then wild with forest trees and under- 
brush, hearing without resentment the bit- 
ter speeches of his companion against Col. 
Boon, whom Lane admired and counted 
among his best friends. Lane was soon 
afterward employed in the clerk's office in 
Warrick county, and there suggested to 
Col. Boon the opportunity in his power of 
making valuable friends by assisting in the 



formation of a new county and yet lea^•ing 
Warrick county large enough to serve his 
own purposes. Whether or not this sug- 
gestion brought the chief actors together, 
! it is true that during the next session of the 
circuit court at Darlington, an informal con- 
versation was held in the clerk's office, 
which led finally to the consummation of 
McGar\"s hopes. 

Judge Daniel Grass, a witty and able man, 
was at the time the senator from Warrick, 
Perry and Posev counties in the state legis- 
lature. In 1S07 he had entered the land on 
which the town of Rockport now stands and, 
emigrating from Bardstown, K}-., subse- 
quentlv became the possessor of much land 
within the present borders of Spencer county. 
He was a justice of the peace in 1813, and 
served for three years from 1814 on the 
bench, as an associate judge with Hugh 
McGarj' as his colleague. He was chosen 
to represent Warrick county at the constitu- 
tional convention held at Corydon in 1S16, 
and later was conspicuously identified with 
the public affairs of Spencer county. Judge 
Grass and Col. Boon had already become riv- 
als and competitors in the struggles for polit- 
ical honors. The pecuniary interests of the 
former were centered in the eastern part of 
the county, and the political prospects of 
each of the rivals could be made brighter 
by a division of the field of labor. This 
Spencer county man was too important a 
personage to be left out of the conference; 
there were present Col. Boon, Gen. Evans, 
Judge Grass, Col. McGary and Lane. The 
proposed plan was discussed at length. It 
was claimed, and with good reason, that the 
territory was too extensive for the jurisdic- 
tion of one court, and for good government, 
though at the time settlers were exceedingh' 
scarce; and further, that the organization of 
new counties must follow at no distant day; 
the time seemed ripe for its accomplishment 



CREATIOX OF VAXDERBURGH COCXrV. 



->••> 



the pi"i\ate interests of all concerned might 
be enhanced without detriment to the public; 
if the opportuiiitv were allowed to pass it 
mi<iht never return. The force of these 
arguments was conceded, the only objection 
being that Darlington would receive a fatal 
blow bv such legislation, because the re- 
location of the seat of justice would neces- 
sarily follow. At length a plan satisfactory 
to all was agreed upon. It provided for the 
oriranization of two new counties with boun- 
daries so fixed that Evansville and Rock- 
port, then called Hanging Rock and not yet 
the site of a town, would be the most favor- 
able points for the seats of justice. Darling- 
ton was to be left to continue its struggle for 
existence as best it could deprived of all pub- 
lic support. Col. Boon .vas relieved of his 
political rival, and his name was to be per- 
petuated in the christening of the new county 
seat of Warrick county. Apparently, sordid 
motives underlay this entire transaction, 
which "he who runs niay read."' In shaping 
these deliberations and leading to a conclu- 
sion, personal interest was doubdess a con- 
trolling fact jr. But be it said to the credit 
of the actors that private gain was not made 
at public expense, for great permanent good 
to the communities affected was the result. 
The programme was made a vear or more 
prior to its consummation by legislative en- 
actment, and, indeed, in all probability, long 
before Gen. Evans and Mr. Jones became to 
any great extent pecuniaril}^ interested in the 
town of Evans\ille. Thus Vanderburgh 
county, as an organic unit, owes its existence 
more to the unyielding perseverance and un- 
tiring zeal of Hugh McGary in his efforts 
to maintain the village of Evansville than to 
any other single agencv. 

Warrick county had been named in honor 
of Capt. Jacob Warrick, a pioneer hero, who 
received a mortal wound on the field of 
Tippecanoe while bravel\- leading his com- 



mand. Spencer county was now named in 
honor of Capt. Spear Spencer, an able pat- 
riot, also killed at Tippecanoe. The act 
authorizing its formation was passed at the 
same time as that providing for the forma- 
tion of Vanderburgh count\- and was ap- 
proved three days later, January lo, i8i8. 
It mattered little to McGary what name 
was given to the new count\-. If an\- was 
suggested or agreed upon in the conference 
which determined the (piestion of its forma- 
tion it was abandoned for reasons of policy. 
Judge Henry Vanderburgh was worthy the 
honor conferred upon his memory, but he 
was in no way identified w'ith the formation 
or development of the county. He had no 
interests in lands in this locality and no claim 
of a local nature upon the people here. He 
was born in Troy., N. Y., in 1760, and at the 
early age of sixteen was appointed a lieu- 
tenant in the Fifth New York Regiment Con- 
tinental troops, to rank as such from the 21st 
day of November, 1776. Hiscommission was 
signed by John Jay, afterward chief justice 
of the United States, and then president of 
the Continental congress, sitting at Phila- 
delphia. He was re-appointed bv John 
Hancock, and, subsequently being commis- 
sioned captain in the Second regiment, 
served with honor to himself and credit to 
his country until the close of the war in 178,^. 
The exact time of his coming to the then 
Northwest territory is not known, but prob- 
ably it was in 1788, for in February, 1790, 
he was married in Vincennes to Frances 
Cornoyer, the daughter of Pierre Cornover, 
one of the most respected of the ancient 
inhabitants of Port Vincennes, then hirgely 
engaged in the Indian trade. In 1791 he 
was appointed by Gen. Arthur St. Clair, 
then commander in chief and governor of 
tlie Northwest territory, justice of the peace 
and judge of probate for Knox county. 
The first legislature which the people of the 



\6 



COUNTY ORGANIZATION. 



Northwest territory had any part in elect- 
ing met at Cincinnati in 1799. From the 
nominations made by the representatives, 
Judge V^anderburgh was selected by Gov. 
St. Clair as one of the five who constituted 
the legislative council, and by his colleagues 
in the council he was chosen as their presi- 
dent. Upon the organization of Indiana 
territorv suitable recoifnition was CTiven his 
ability as a lawver in his selection as one of 
the territorial judges, which honorable po- 
sition he filled with credit to himself and the 
territory until his death in 1S12. Interested 
in the educational affairs of the territory, 
he became in 1807 a member of the first 
board of trustees of the V^incennes Uni- 
versity. As a scholar and a soldier he was 
eminent. He sustained the reputation of an 
upright and humane judge, and his death, 
which occurred April 12, 181 2, was gener- 
ally regretted. He was buried with im- 
posing Masonic honors on a farm east of 
Vincennes. 

Judge Vanderburgh was the kinsman of 
Gen. John Tipton, of Harrison countv, one 
of the most influential men then in the leg- 
islature. Tipton gained distinction in the 
campaigns of Gen. Harrison, and being a 
man of rare abilitj-, made his influence felt 
in the formation and naming of many of the 
counties in the state. He admired Judge 
Vanderburgh and revered his memorv. 
How natural to wish to perpetuate his name 
in honor, and how easy to attain the wish by 
favoring the plan which was submitted for 
the approval of the legislature. The final 
act which sealed these negotiations, making 
a new count^^ and naming it Vanderburgh, 
was the passage of a bill which is here in- 
serted in full: 

An Act Jo r the formation of a iiczv countv 
oat of the f resent counties, of Warrick, 
Gibson and Posey, and for the removal of 



the seat of Justice of Warrick county and 
for other purposes. 
Approved Januar\- 7, 1818. 

Section i. Be it enacted by the general 
assembly of tiie state of Indiana, that from 
and after the first day of February next, all 
that tract or parcel of country which is 
included within the boundaries following, 
shall constitute and form a new count}- to be 
known and designated by the name and st^-le 
of the county of Vanderburgh, viz. : Begin- 
ning on the Ohio river where the range line 
dividing Ranges 11 and 12 west strike the 
same, thence north with said range line to 
the center of Township 4 south of Bucking- 
ham's base line, thence east through the 
center of Township 4 south, to the range 
line dividing Ranges 9 and 10 west, thence 
south with said range line to a line dividing 
Townships 5 and 6 south, thence east to the 
first section line in Range 9, thence south 
with said section line to the Ohio river, 
thence down the Ohio river with the mean- 
ders thereof to the place of beginning. 

Section 2. The said new countv, hereby 
formed and established, shall enjoy and ex- 
ercise all the rights, privileges and jurisdic- 
tions, which to a separate county do or may 
properly appertain or belong. 

Section 3. John Stevenson, of Perry 
county, Arthur Harbison, of Pike county, 
William Hargrave, of Gibson county, John 
Allen, of Daviess county, Archibald Scott, 
of Knox county, be and they are hereby ap- 
pointed commissioners to fix the seat of jus- 
tice in the said county of Vanderburgh, who 
shall meet at the house of Samuel Scott, in 
said countv of Vanderburgh, on the second 
Mondav in March next, and proceed to fix 
the seat of justice for the said county of 
Vanderburgh, agreeably to the provisions of 
an act for the fixing the seats of justice in all 
new counties hereafter to be laid off. 



LOCATION OF THE ('OVXTY SEAT. 



47 



Section 4. Until a court house shall be 
erected for the accommodation of the court | 
in the said new county, the courts of the said ! 
countA- of Vanderburgh shall be held at. the 
house of Hugh McGary, in the town of 
Evansville, in said county, or at such other 
place as the court may from lime to time ad- 
journ to. 

Section 5. That the board of commis- 
sioners authorized to transact county busi- 
ness in and for the county of Vanderburgh, 
shall, as soon as convenient after the seat of 
justice is tixed, cause the necessary public 
buildings for said count}- to be erected 
thereon. 

Section 6. The courts shall be ad- 
journed thereto as soon as the court house 
is, in the opinion of the circuit court of said 
new count}', sufficiently completed for the 
accommodation of the courts. 

Section 7. Whenever the seat of justice 
within the county of \'anderburgh shall 
have been established, the person authorized 
to dispose of the public lots, belonging to 
said town, shall reserve ten per centum on 
the net proceeds of the whole sale, for the 
use of a county library in said county, which 
sum or sums of money shall be paid over to 
such person or persons as shall be author- 
ized to receive the same, in such manner 
and in such installments as shall be author- 
ized by law. 

The balance of the act relates to the 
changing of the seat of justice of Warrick 
county from Darlington, where it then was, 
to some other place to be selected by com- 
missioners appointed for that purpose. 
There is nothing further of interest in it per- 
taining to Vanderburgh count}-. 

On the day appointed by law for the first 
meeting of the board of commissioners of 
the new county, March 9, 181S, James An- 
thony, David Brumtield and George Sirkle 
assembled at the designated place, and each 



producing a certificate of election with the 
oath of office duly endorsed thereon, organ- 
ized themselves properly and proceeded to 
business. No definite action resulted from 
their first day's deliberations. The most 
important business to be transacted was the 
fixing of the county seat, and there was some 
uneasiness over the non-arrival of some 
of the commissioners. On the follow- 
ing day, the\- divided the county into two 
townships as elsewhere described. Pigeon 
township, of Warrick count\-, had pre- 
viously embraced nearly all of the new 
county. Elections for the selection of jus- 
tices of the peace were directed to be held 
in both of the townships; the time and 
places of holding the same were definitely 
fixed. Hugh McGar}-"s warehouse was de- 
clared a public warehouse and inspectors for 
it were appointed, overseers of the poor, su- 
perintendents of school sections and an as- 
sessor were appointed. Matthias Whet- 
stone, Patrick Calvert and James Patton 
were appointed to view a proposed public 
highway. Some of the commissioners ap- 
pointed by the legislature to fix the per- 
manent seat of justice having failed to 
appear the vacancies thus caused were filled 
by appointment. Arthur Harbison, John 
Stephens and John Allen were they who 
neglected to appear. Thomas E. Cassel- 
berry, Wilson Bullett and Elias Barker were 
appointed in their stead. These three, to- 
gether with William Hargro\e and Archi- 
bald Scott, previously designated by the 
legislature, came before the board of county 
commissioners on the next day, March nth, 
and submitted their report, which being a 
venerable and interesting document is pre- 
sented in full in connection w ith the early 
histor}- of the city of Evansville as elsewhere 
recorded. 

After accepting the report of the locating 
commissioners, by which Evansville was 



Jt8 



COUNTY ORGANIZATION 



selected as the seat of government for the new 
county, the board of commissioners pro- 
ceeded to appoint a county agent and treas- 
urer. For locating the seat of justice the 
following allowances were made : Archibald 
Scott, $21.00; William Hargrove, $15.00; 
Wilson BuUett and Elias Barker, each $9.00; 
Thos. E. Ca.sselberr3', $6.00. All of this im- 
portant business was transacted in three days, 
after which an adjournment to May 11, 
1818, was ordered. The subsequent im- 
portant acts of the board of commissioners 
are mentioned in detail in connection with 
the subjects to which they relate, and fur- 
ther facts concerning the chief actors in the 
formation of the county are stated in con- 
nection with the early history of Evansville. 

Cottnty Coiiiinhs/oiiers. — The board of 
commissioners is composed of three men 
elected by the people, one from each of three 
districts, with fixed limits, into which the 
county is divided. Without pretensions to 
legal exactitude, it may be said that it rep- 
resents and acts for the county as agent in 
all business transactions. Its duties are 
ministerial, being particularly prescribed by 
law, yet great latitude is allowed for the ex- 
ercise of discretion and judgment. As 
stated elsewhere, James Anthon}-, David 
Brumfield and George Sirkle, formed the 
first board. Others who served prior to 
1824 were Benjamin McNew, William Olm- 
stead. Jay Morehouse, D. F. Goldsmith, and 
Kirby Armstrong. 

The legislature of 1823-4 enacted a law 
which entirel}' changed the plan of trans- 
acting county business so far as concerned 
the -personnel of the acting bod}^. It pro- 
vided that the justices of the peace in the 
county should organize as a board and as- 
sume the duties theretofore discharged by 
the commissioners. The first meeting of the 
board of justices in this county was held on 
the id Monday in September, 1S24, at the 



court-house, when there were present Leon 
F. Ragar, Daniel Miller, Benjamin F. 
Barker, Eli Sherwood, William Bingam, 
James Kirkpatrick and John Conner, the 
last named being chosen president of the 
board. At the expiration of Mr. Conner's 
term as a justice in July, 1825, Eli Sherwood 
was made president pro ton., and an election 
was ordered to be held in August following. 
Mr. Conner was elected by the people as 
his own successor, and upon the assembl3'of 
the justices in September was again chosen 
president, and continued to serve as such 
till September, 1828, when Nathan Rowle}-, 
Esq., was elected in his stead, who, being 
succeeded after one year's service b}- James 
Ross, Esq., was again elected in September, 

1830. The transaction of the public busi- 
ness was somewhat retarded b}- this un- 
wieldy bod}'. The large number made it 
sometimes difficult to get a quorum, and it 
became necessary at times to send the 
sheriff for delinquent members and adjourn 
from day to day until enough were brought 
in to proceed to business. In January, 1831, 
the leirislature recoffniziny the difiiculties 
incident to such a mode of doing business 
enacted a law providing for a return to the 
former plan of a board of commissioners. 
The board of justices divided the county 
into three districts at their Ma}- term, 1831, 
and held the last meeting in July following, 
when there were present James Ross, presi- 
dent pro tcni.; Alpheus Fairchild, John S. 
Saunders, Martin Miller and Hiram Nelson. 
Their last othcial act was the appointment 
of Edward Hopkins as collector of taxes for 

1831. On the first Monday in September, 
183 1, James Ross, John B. Stinson and 
Amos Clark con\ened at the court house, 
organized as a board of commissioners, 
adopted a scroll as a common seal and pro- 
ceeded to the dispatch of business. Those 
who have since served the public in this ca- 




%^:- 



':i;=^v 



^ **Tt:^iSr^-r?c'" 



^^;f^. '^^ ,C?^ 



(S<. 



CorXTV OFFTCERS J.\7> THEIR Dl'TfES. 



r,l 



pacity arc liere named in the order of ser- 
\iie : C. I). Bourne, Vicissimus K. Phar, 
J. J5. Stinson, Kdward Hopkins, Wm. R. 
Barker, Thos. F. Stockwell, Everton Ken- 
nerly, Simpson Ritchey, I). D. Grimes, 
Willard Carpenter, Edmund Maidlow, Ever- 
ton Kennerlv, Ezekiel Saunders, Ira P. 
Grainger, John Burtis, Michael P. Jones, 
Lero\- Calvert, Simeon T>ong, Jr., Aianson 
Warner, Edmund Maidlow, Alexander Mad- 
dux, Cassimer Schlamp (appointed in 1853 
to lill the vacancy occasioned b\' the death of 
A. Warner), William Pruitt, John Rhein- 
lander, Michael Muentzer, James Neel (ap- 
pointed in 1855 to lill the vacancy caused by 
resitrnation of I. Rheinlander 1, Robert Par- 
rett, John Hogue (appointed in i860 to fill 
the vacancy occasioned by death of R. Par- 
rett), M. W. Foster, John Dumb, John 
Hogue, Bernard Nurre, Charles Knowles, 
Joseph B. Parrett, Philip Decker, Thomas 
15o\ver, Henry W. Hawkins, Samuel Barker 
(appointed in 1869 to fill vacancy caused 
by resignation of H. W. Hawkins), James 
Erskine, James D. Fair, Clark Cody, Benja- 
min Young, George Peva, Christian Hod- 
derich, A. A. Svvope, Jacob Bennighof, 
Samuel Barker, John Laval, Wm. Dean 
(appointed in 1882 to lill \acancv caused by 
resignation of J. Laval), Ilenrv Brommel- 
house, Wm. E. Bauer, Henry Mesker, J. F. 
Saunders, Christian Wunderlicli, Wm. 
Bower, James L. King, and Henr\- H. 
Boeke. 

Count Y Trciisitrcr. —This officer is charged 
with the safe-keeping and proper disburse- 
ment of all money belonging to the countv. 
At first he was appointed b}- the county 
commissioners, but later the office became 
elective, the term extending two vears. The 
lirst treasurer of the county was George W. 
Jacobs, appointed March 10, 1818. His 
bondsmen were Robert M. Evans and Luke 
Wood. So faithful was he'to the trust com- 
3 



mitted to him, that he was annuallv ap- 
pointed until his death. His successor was 
Maj. Aianson Warner, who assumed the 
duties of the office January i, 1829. 
Alexantler Johnston served during 1830, 
but in tiie following }'ear Maj. Warner was 
again appointed and served until 1841, ex- 
cept during the four years from 1833 to 1836, 
inclusive, when John M. Lockwood held the 
office. B. Royston, by election and appoint- 
ment, served from September, 1841, to 
March, 1845. Subsequenth-, the people 
have chosen from their number, to fill this 
important and responsible position, the fol- 
lowing citizens: Robert W. Dunbar, 1845 
to 1854; Theodore Venemann, 1854 to 1858; 
Leroy Calvert, 1862 to 1864; John Rhein- 
lander, 1864 to 1866; F. Lunkenheimer, 
1866 to 1871; WilHam Warren, Jr., 1871 to 
1875; Emil Rahm, 1875 to 1879; Thos. P. 
Britton, 1879 to 1883; John J. Hays, 1883 
to 1887; August Leich, 1SS7 to 1891. The 
death of Mr. Britton in July, 1883, caused a 
vacancy, which \\as filled by the appoint- 
ment of his deput\-, Martin INLinn, Jr., who 
served from August to October of the year 
named. 

Coil 11/ y Aiidilor. — The office of county 
auditor is of comparatively recent creation. 
It is elective, the term being four years. 
The auditor is the fiscal agent and book- 
keeper of the county. He is cx-officio clerk of 
the board of commissioners, and is entrusted 
with the management of the common school 
and congressional township funds. James M. 
Johnston was. the first to hold the office; he 
was appointed in August, 1S41, and resigned 
in January, 1S43. His successor was" H. C. 
Gwathney, who also resigned in June follow- 
ing his appointment. William II. Walker 
was appointed t(j the office in 1S43, and in 
the next year was chosen by the popular 
vote as his own successor, and continued in 
the office until March, 1862, since which 



5'2 



CO UNTY OR GA XIZA TIOX. 



time it has been lield by Victor Bisch, from 
1862 to 1870; Philip Decker, 1870 to 1S74; 
Joseph J. Reitz, 1874 to 1878; William 
Warren, Jr., 1878 to 1882; Charles F. Yae- 
ger,.i8S2 to 18S6; James D. Parvin, the 
present incumbent, whose term will expire 
in 1S90. 

County Agent. — This officer, at present 
unknown, was in earl}' times an important 
public functionary. As the name implies 
he was an agent, his principal being the 
county personified in the board of commis- 
sionei'S. He sold property belonging to the 
county, executed papers in its behalf, made 
purchases for its use, and in a general way 
superintended its affairs. The first agent was 
Daniel Miller, appointed March 10, 1818. 
His bondsmen were William Wagnon, and 
William R. McGarv. Among those en- 
trusted with the discharge of duties per- 
taining to this office were Harley B. 
Chandler, Jacob Zimmerman, Amos Clark, 
Levi Price, James Lockhart, Jay More- 
house and many others. The last to hold 
the office was Hon. Thomas E. Garvin, who 
made his final report and surrendered the 
books and papers of the office in December, 
1852, the legislature, in the preceding 
May, having abolished the office by trans- 
ferring its duties to the county auditor. 

Recorder. — This officer keeps the records 
of deeds, mortgages, etc., and is elected by 
the people for a term of four years. The 
incumbents of the office have been : Hugh 
McGary, 1818-1821; W. M. Lewis, 1S21- 
1832; W. T. T. Jones, i832--i836; C. D. 
Bourne, 1836-1843; S. T. Jenkins, 1843- 
1852; George H. Todd, May to November, 
1852; Christian Bippus, 1852-1856; John 
Farrell, 1856-1860; F. Lunkenheimer, 
1860-1864; C. Tomhemelt, 1864-1872; S. 
B. Sansom, 1872-1880; Charles T.Jenkins, 
1880-1884; Louis Sihler, the present in- 
cumbent, whose term expires in 1892, 



Clerk. — Formerly the clerk of the circuit 
court was ex-qffic/o clerk of the board of 
commissioners. The duties of the office 
are now limited to the business of the cir- 
cuit and superior courts, the issue of mar- 
riage licenses, and some other transactions. 
The clerk is elected every four years. The 
office has been held by Hugh McGary, 
1818-1821; James W.Jones, 1822-1S36; C. 
D. Bourne, 1 836-1843; Samuel T. Jenkins, 
1S43-1852; Ben Stinson, Maj- to November, 
1852; Jacob Lunkenheimer, 1852-1857; 
Louis Richter, 1857-1S64; Blythe Hynes, 
1864-1868; Soren Sorenson, 186S-1876; 
Jesse W. Walker, 1876-1884; Charles T. 
Jenkins, 1884, term expires 1892. 

Sheriff. — John B. Stinson, 1818; Hazael 
Putnam, August 24, 181 8; Alanson Warner, 
1822; James Newman, 1S24, Alanson War- 
ner, February, 1827; Daniel Miller, Sep- 
tember, 1827; Levi Price, 1^31; Edward 
Hopkins, 1834; Daniel Miller, 1835 ; Thomas 
F. Stockwell, 1839; William M. Walker, 
1843; John Echols, 1847; John S. Terry, 
1849; John S. Gavit, 1853: John B. Hall, 
1857; John S. Gavit, 1859; George Wolflin,, 
1861; George Wolffin, 1863; Robert Early, 
August, 1865; Alex Darling, October, 1865; 
Jacob H. Miller, 1867; Adolph Pfafflin, 1870; 

C. Wunderlich, 1874; J. A. Lemcke, 1878; 
Thomas Keith, 1880; Charles .Schaum, 18S4; 
Frank Pritchett, 1888. 

Surveyor. — Joseph M. McDowell, June 
17, 1819; (The records in regard to this 
office are incomplete.) Charles G. Omsted, 
1853; Azariah T. Whittlesey, 1855; James 

D. Saunders, 1856; J. R. Frick, i860; James 
D. Saunders, 1862; S. C. Rogers, 1864; 
Charles B. Bateman, 1870; August Pfafflin, 
1S72; James D. Saunders, 1876; Robert S. 
Cowan, 1880; George W. Rank, 1882; 
George W. Saunders, 1884; Franklin Sours, 
1886; August Pfafflin, 1888. 

Coroner. — Lewis Tackett, August 24, 



COUNTY OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES. 



1818; Alanson Warner, September, 1819: 
Daniel Avery, 1822; Jesse C. Doom, 1S24; 
Alanson Warner, 1825; John Shaver, 1S27; 
David H. Stevens, 1829; Seth Fairchild, 
1831; Z. B. Aydelott, 1836; Adrian Young, 
1838; Seth Fairchild, 1842: Lewis Howes, 
1844; John Clippies, 1847; Allen C. Ilallock, 
1849; John Trible, 1851; James G. Hatch- 
ett, 1857; John Wayman, 1859: Ira A. 
Fairchild, 1S62; John Beschman, 1864: Sam- 
uel P. Havlin, 1866; George F. -Saner, 1868; 
Robert Smith, 1S72; George F. Sauer, 1874; 
Fred Woseger, 1878; John B. Hermeling, 
1880; Elijah L. Carter, 1S82; Fred Wahn- 
seidler, 18S4: Alfred Andrews, 18S8. 

Bcprcsciitalizrs* — Doi:aghe,Hugh M.,'2 1 ; 
Lane, Joseph, '22; Evans, Robert M., '23; 
McCrarv, John, '25 ; Fitzgerald, Thomas, '25 ; 
Mcjohnston, Charles M., '27; Trafton, Wm., 
'28; Evans, Robert M., '29; Lane, Joseph, 
'30; Brackenridge, John A., '33; Graham, 
Christopher C, '35; Jones, Wm. T. T.,'36; 
Lane, Joseph, '38; Butler, Wm. B.,- '39; 
Clark, Amos, '41 ; Butler, W. B., '42; Miller, 
Daniel, "43; Walker, James T., '44; Baker, 
Conrad, "45: Battel!, Chas. I., '46; Blythe, 
James E., "47; James, Nathaniel J., '48; 
Greathouse, William R., '49; Ilutchins, 
Lsaac, '50; Carpenter, Willard, '51; Stock- 
well, John M., '53 ; Hardin, Grampee W., '55 ; 
Denby, Charles, '57; Stinson, Ben, '59; 
Bljthe, James E., '59; Edson, Joseph P., 
'61; Hopkins, John S., '61; Garvin, Thomas 
E., '63; Reitz, John A., '63: Sullivan, Ed- 
ward T., '65 ; Cook, Fred W., "65 ; Bischof, 
Emil, '67; Hopkins, John S., '67; Calvert, 
Leroy, ''6g; Welborn, Jos. F., '69; Hooker, 
Robert P., '71; Heilman, Wm., '71; Riggs, 
James D., '73; Wolflin, George, '73; Pfafflin, 
Adolph, '75; jMiller, Wm. IL, '75 ; White- 
head, John, '77; Dannettelle, John, '77; 

* The above list of senators and representatives was fur- 
nished by Hon. W. H. English, of Indianapolis, to whom 
the publishers are under obligations. 



Hopkins, John S., '79; Messick, Jacob W., 
'79; Roelker, John H., '81; Pruitt, John F., 
'83; Spain, James W., '83; Pruitt, John F., 
'85; Murphy, Christopher J., '85; Klein, 
Philip, '87; Mackey, Robert L., '87; Co- 
vert, Jacob, "87; Covert, Jacob, '89; Nolan, 
John}., '89; Nugent, John R., '89. 

Senators* — Boon, Ratliff, '18; Harrison, 
Elisha, '19; Given, Thomas, '25; Battell, 
Charles I., '33; Casey, William, '35; Lane, 
Joseph, '39; Roberts, Gaines H., '40; 
Pitcher, John, '41 ; Lane, Joseph, '44; Stock- 
well, Wm. li., '46; James, Enoch R., '47; 
Greathouse, Wm. R., '53; Drew, Cyrus K., 
'55; Carnahan, Mangus T., '59; Finch, 
George M., "63; Jacquess, Thos. C, '67; 
Morgan, Daniel, '69; Gooding, Henry C, 
'73; Heilman, WilHam, '77; Rahm, Wm., 
Jr., '81 ; Kerth, Thomas, 'S^. 

The Public Square. — The public square, 
comprising the four quarter-blocks corner- 
ing on Main and Third streets, running 
from the several corners on each of the 
streets named 150 feet, or to the alle3's, was 
in 1S18 in its natural state, except that the 
road from the north to the river passed 
through its limits. In June of that year the 
county agent was directed to have the square 
cleared. He immediately entered into con- 
tract with Chauncey Smith, who, during the 
summer cleared the land at a cost to the 
countv of $55.75- It \vas not until 1837 that 
the natural topography of the place was in 
any way altered. At that time the half along 
the east side of Main street, on which the 
court-house and jail stood, was graded and 
paved. In 1820 a public pound or stray pen 
was built W'here the court-house now is, by 
Julius Gibson, for $40.00. It was four rods 
square, was built of while oak posts and 
rails, and stood for many years. On the op- 
posite corner across Third street but near 
the alley, stood for many years the market 
house facing Maip street, the out-buildings 



5h 



COUXTY ORGANTZA TIOX. 



around the main structure reaching to the 
street. 

Coiiii-Ilouscs. — At times antedating the 
formation of this county, the Warrick county 
courts were held at the house of Ilngh 
McGary. Even after the seat of justice had 
been removed to Darlington near the mouth 
of Little Pigeon creek, the hospitable home 
of McGary remained a favorite place with 
the judges. The new county of Vander- 
burgh during the first two years of its ex- 
istence continued the use of this house for 
its courts. Very naturally the need of a 
court-house was immediately recognized, 
but steps toward building it w'ere not taken 
until late in the summer of 1818, when the 
agent for the county was directed to contract 
for such material as might be used in its erec- 
tion. Little progress was made and definite 
plans were not adopted until February- 15, 
1819. It was at first proposed to locate the 
building in the center of the streets so as to 
completely block Main and Third. The 
ground was broken and preparations were 
made to commence the actual construction, 
when the board of commissioners met and 
concluded to abandon the purpose of so ef- 
fectuallv inconveniencing the public as to 
place a barrier to all travel on its most pub- 
lic thoroughfare. The site finally chosen 
was the southeast quarter of the public 
square as it then existed — now the south- 
east corner of Third and Main streets. 
The building stood about ten feet from the 
streets on which it faced, and was probably 
the first brick house in the city, the bricks 
being burned on the corner where the court- 
house now stands. It was a heavy-looking, 
substantial building with thick walls and 
strong timbers. The foundation was of stone 
three feet thick. It was 34x46 feet in size, two 
stories high, the eaves being about twenty- 
five feet above the ground. The shingles 
were heavy and scalloped; and battlements 



at either end gave it somewhat of an im- 
posing aspect. The whole was painted a 
Spanish brown and penciled with white lead. 
In the upper story there were five windows 
j on each side and two in each end, and below 
there was the same arrangement except that 
a door took the place of a window in the 
end fronting on Main street. The first floor 
was of brick except about the bar in the end 
most distant from the street, where it was of 
heav}- timbers a foot wide, and four inches 
thick. The contract for the substantial part 
of the structure was let to Elisha Harrison 
and Daniel F. Goldsmith in April, 1S19, and 
in May, 1S20, the building was read}' for 
the examination and acceptance of the com- 
missioners. In prm'iding for the payment 
of these contractors the county was forced 
to devise \-arious makeshifts. Money was 
\ery scarce. The receipts at the treasury 
were small and loans could not be negotiated. 
Notes of hand issued by individuals in favor 
of the county for lots sold were assigned by 
the county agent to the contractors. The}' 
were authorized to collect the money prom- 
ised by the town proprietors as an induce- 
ment for the selection of Evansville as a 
permanent seat of justice, which, after much 
trouble, they succeeded in doing. Orders 
were issued to them — but they were orders 
on an empty treasury, and because of long 
deferred pavments were disposed of at hea\-y 
discounts. When received by the commis- 
sioners there had been paid in values of 
different kinds, $5,425.00, but this by no 
means ended the matter. On one order is- 
sued in 1820 for $528.06, interest amomit- 
ing to $358.83 was allowed in 1831. The 
order was still unpaid m 1836, and the inter- 
est was again compounded. From such 
facts the ultimate cost of this court-house 
may be approximately reckoned. 

David Negley entered into contract ,to 
make the doors, jury rooms, floors and dg 



COURT HOUSES. 



other carpenter work, for wliich he was to 
be paid in town lots, the value of which 
should be determined by disinterested parties 
should he and the commissioners fail to 
agree. While this work was progressing 
during the winter months the commissioners 
met at the court house and adjourned to 
some warmer place for the transaction of 
business, sometimes to the clerk's office and 
again to the houses of Everton Kennerly 
or I'resle}' Pritchett. In August, 1822, the 
count)- agent was directed to make a deed 
of conveyance to Jones and Walker for lots 
Nos. 167 and 16S, being lots given to the 
county of Vanderburgh by the town of 
Evansville. They were estimated at the 
value of $150.00, which sum was to be en- 
tered as a credit for work done by Mr. 
Negley on the court house; provided he 
should consent to the transaction in writing. 
These lots had been disposed of at the sale 
by the county to James Stinson and Presley 
Pritchett for $170.00. Daniel Miller as 
agent for the county had taken their notes 
in payment and had given a bond for a deed. 
When this triangular transaction between 
Jones and Walker, the count}-, and Negle}-, 
was made, the notes of Stinson and Pritchett 
were siu-rendered and they in turn gave up 
their bonds for deeds. The matter was not 
wholly settled until November of the next 
year, when at Negley's request a small al- 
lowance was made to Wm. Walker, in full 
jiayment for the former's work. Such were 
the expedients resorted to. Tiie county has 
never since found itself in just such straits. 
The times did not improve, however, and 
much needed repairs were from time to 
time neglected. In 1S37 the vestry of St. 
Paul's church expended a considerable sum 
in repairing the court-house, for which the 
church was permitted to use the building as 
a liouse of worsliip, not, however, so as to 
interfere with tlie iiolding of courts. In 



making this arrangement with the church 
the county reserved the privilege of refund- 
ing the amount used in repairs and taking 
exclusive possession. The walls of this old 
court-house are still well preserved. The 
building is used as a clothing store on Main 
street near Third. The records of the 
county had been kept at the house of Mr. 
James Newman. The treasurer and county 
agent were not provided with offices. The 
clerk of the courts, who was also cx-ojfirio 
clerk of the board of commissioners, took 
care of the books and papers of his office 
at his residence or place of business. This 
condition of affairs remained for some years 
after the erection of the court-house, but in 
1S37 '1 fire-proof brick office, 18x30 feet, 
for the offices of the clerk and recorder, was 
built on the public square, facing Main street, 
about twenty feet south of the court house, 
by Thomas F. Stockwell, at a cost of 
$818.50. 

The conveniences afforded by this small 
building and tlie court-house soon became 
entirely inade([uate. The volume of the 
public business was annually increasing. 
The population was growing; an era of pros- 
perity was begun; many causes had con- 
trived to gi\e an impetus to commercial and 
mercantile affairs which improved the ll- 
nancial condition of the individual and the 
communit}-. In June, 1852, after various 
plans had been submitted and discussed, an 
agreement was made with James Ro(|uet, 
a French architect and contractor, for build- 
ing a new court-house, jail and jailor's resi- 
dence. The design was substantially that 
of the present court house, convenient and 
sufficiently commodious for tlie times. The 
northeast quarter of the public square was 
selected as the site for the new building. 
The three remaining quarters were to be 
transferred by the count}- to Mr. Roquet as 
compensation in full for erecting the build- 



56 



COUNTY ORGANIZATION. 



ings required. The contracts for the work 
and amendments in the plans '.vere drawn by 
James G. Jones and Hon. Conrad Baker, 
then attorneys practicing in this count_v. The 
commissioners were Leroy Calvert, Alanson 
Warner and Simeon Long. Some changes 
were made in the plans when the work was 
in progress, by which a slate roof and a 
dome were provided at an additional cost of 
about $i,ooo. When the lot on which the 
old court-house stood was convej-ed, the 
consideration named was $14,000, from 
which fact by making allowance for the two 
buildings thereon, an estimate, fairly accur- 
ate, of the cost of the court-house and the 
value of the property used in payment for 
it, can be arrived at. The work was not 
finished within the time specified, and the 
commissioners were in every possible way 
uro-inor it forward. It was so far completed 
that the auditor, clerk and recorder, in June, 
1855, moved into the offices prepared for 
them under its roof. In the following Sep- 
tember the contractor was urged to com- 
plete the building within thirty days. On 
his failure to do this, a suit on his contract 
was threatened. Unavoidable delays fol- 
lowed. On the day before Christmas, 1855, 
a fire, originating in a lumber-yard east of 
the court-house, burned its way unchecked 
toward the new building and soon enveloped 
it in flames. The records were nearly all 
removed in safety, but the building, except 
the fire-proof walls, was completely de- 
stroyed. The commissioners accepted $150 
from the contractor as pa}-ment in full for 
the uncompleted portion of the building, 
thus showing how little remained to be done 
to perfect it when accidentally destroyed. 
The sympathy of the entire community was 
with Mr. Roiiuet. About 500 leading citi- 
zens and tax payers petitioned the commis- 
sioners to release him and his sureties from 
any liability which \hey might "be supposed 



to have incurred," and they were accord- 
ingh" released. Somewhat dejected, the 
recorder and treasurer, who were just be- 
ginning to appreciate their new quarters, on 
Christmas day moved back into the little 
office previousl}' vacated, and which had 
been occupied later by the town officers and 
its council. The Crescent City hall was 
rented for the use of the courts; rooms over 
the Crescent City Bank for the clerk; and an 
isolated office on the street for the auditor. 
After the unfortunate fire no time was lost. 
Plans were immediatel}- adopted for the re- 
pair of the damage done. They were pre- 
pared by a committee appointed for the pur- 
pose, consisting of Peter Sharpe, James G. 
Jones, J. S. Hopkins, W. Carpenter, J. T. 
Hugo, John Henson, James Lockhart, 
James D. Saunders, and Michael Muentzer. 
In March, 1856, Francis D. Allen agreed 
with the commissioners to rebuild the court- 
house and complete the other buildings for 
$14,300. Upon its completion in 1S57, dif- 
ferences arose between the contractor and 
commissioners as to extra work done and 
damages sustained bj' reason of defective 
work. A committee of citizens, composed 
of lohn S. Hopkins, Peter Sharpe, Michael 
Muentzer, James Rogers and James Steel, 
was appointed to settle the matter by arbi- 
tration. After thoroughly examining the 
premises, the committee awarded the county 
over $700 for damages and the contractor 
about $35 for extras. Its conclusions were 
satisfactory to the interested parties and a 
final settlement was made. This coiu't- 
house is still used, though somewhat dilapi- 
dated and of forbidding aspect. It is of 
brick, two stories high, surmounted b}- a 
dome. The main entrance, leading into a 
paved corridor along which are the offices 
of the auditor, clerk, sheriff, recorder and 
treasurer, is through a lofty portico sup- 
ported by massive columns, in the Grecian 



COURT HOUSES. 



style of architecture, so much admired in 
pubh'c edifices at the time when this build- 
ins was erected. On the second floor are 
the court-room, tlie commissioners' rooms, 
the jury-rooms and judge's oflice. 

For more than fifteen j-ears the inade- 
quacy of this court-house has been gener- 
all\- recognized and efforts to have it replaced 
by a suitable edifice have been frequently 
made. In 1884, the need of better facilities 
for the transaction of the public business 
and greater security for the valuable county 
records, was so pressingly felt that an at- 
tempt to remodel and reconstruct the old 
court-house was determined upon, the com- 
missioners being unwilling at that time to 
incur the expense of a new building. This 
led to a general discussion among the people, 
a part of whom advocated the erection of 
an edifice that would be an honor to a com- 
munity whose prosperity' was evidenced b}- an 
annual tax list of nearly half a million dollars. 
The contemplated reconstruction, however, 
was not undertaken, and two years elapsed 
before a final determination to abandon the 
old building and erect a new one was 
reached. Architects were invited to submit 
plans, which were examined b)' H. Mur- 
sinna, expert. From them the commissioners 
and a committee of citizens, consisting of 
Maj. Joseph I). Cox, Hon. William Heil- 
man and Dr. John Laval, selected as the 
most satisfactory and suitable, those pre- 
pared by Mr. II. Wolters, of Louis\ille, Ky., 
who fixed as the limit of its cost $400,000. 
In September, 1S87, the following proposals 
for its construction were received; Charles 
Pearce & Co., $379,450; Jacob Meyer & 
Bro., $398,000; McCormack & Redman, 
$384,900. The first named bid being the 
lowest, was accepted, and contracts were en- 
tered into. The building is to stand on what 
is commonly called Union Block — the old 
site of the Wabash & Erie canal basin ^- 



betvveen Fourth and Fifth and Vine and 
Division streets. This block was purchased 
in 1873 as a site for a new court-house, for 
about $54,000, upon the recommendation of 
a committee of citizens, consisting of such- 
representative men as Judge Asa Iglehart, 
Gen. J. M. Shackleford, Hon. Thomas E. 
Garvin, Col. J. S. Buchanan and Hon. 
Ciiarles Denby. These gentlemen had pre- 
viousl}- been commissioned by the Evans- 
ville bar to wait upon and urge the commis- 
sioners to erect a new court house, such as 
the public business of the county and the 
safety of its records re(juired, and in turn 
delegated by the commissioners to select a 
suitable place for the purpose. Recently 
the title of the county to this property was 
attacked in the courts by assigns of the 
Wabash & Erie canal trustees, but with- 
out success. 

Superior Court Boom. — When by law- 
new courts were established to aid the cir- 
cuit court in disposing of the annually in- 
creasin<r accumulation of cases on its docket, 
it became necessar}- to provide a place for 
the holding of such courts. For this pur- 
pose a brick building on Locust street, be- 
tween Second and Third streets, formerly 
known as the Locust Street Methodist 
Church, was purchased in April, 1870, for 
$8,000.00. The room was not especially 
designed for the purposes to which it has 
been put and lacks many conveniences which 
it is hoped the new court-house may supply. 

Jiiih. — The county had hardly been or- 
ganized before preparations were made for 
the building of a jail. In the early settle- 
ment of the county there were many crimi- 
nals in proportion to the population, and 
many inducements to the commission of 
crime. A place of imprisonment near 
at hand was a necessity. There 
were instances of criminals being taken 
from this locality to the town of Vin- 



58 



COUNTY ORGANIZATIOK. 



cennes for confinement — when the Knox 
county courts had jurisdiction here. May 
nth, 1818, a plan for the first jail in this 
county was adopted. Standing on the north- 
east quarter of tlie public square back from 
the street, it was twelve feet square in the 
clear, with double walls of heav}- oak set 
one foot apart, the intervening space being 
filled with heavy oak timbers set on end and 
extending three feet beneath the lower floor 
of this jail into the ground. The logs in 
the walls were so notched at the ends as to 
interlock and hold together firmly. The 
lower floor was double, the timbers crossing 
each other and passing through the inner 
wall so as to jut against the vertical pieces 
in the central space. The room between was 
eitrht feet hi^h and was used for the deten- 
tion of ordinary law-breakers. The second 
floor was of oak timbers one foot square, 
and the third floor or ceiling of the upper 
room was six inches thick. A flight of 
stairs ran up on the outside of the building 
to a platform onto which two doors opened. 
These two doors admitted to entirely differ- 
ent apartments, and were opened for two 
widely different classes of offenders against 
the majesty of the law. One was a dungeon, 
4x12 feet in size, with two ver}^ small and 
heavily ironed windows, in which the most 
conscienceless criminals were confined. The 
other room was but twice as large and had 
but one window and that only 12x15 inches. 
This was the debtor's room, where men were 
imprisoned because they were unfortunate 
enough to be in debt and unable to pay. 
Debtors were often arrested and thrown into 
jail and thus deprived of all means of pay- 
ing what they might owe. If one so im- 
prisoned was able to give a bond for twice 
the amount of his debt he was allowed to 
use the "prison bounds," which were fixed 
b}' the circuit court, at first to include the 
space between Locust and Sycamore from 



the river to Fourth street, and in the fall of 
1S19 "to include the town of Evansville." 
This relic of barbarism which clung so ten- 
aciously to the law of the land has at last 
been shaken off, never, it is hoped, to regain 
its hold. This first jail was built by Hugh 
McGary for $875.00, was completed and 
received February 15th, 1S19, and remained 
in use about ten years. In September, 1829, 
the county sheriff was directed to sell the 
jail to the highest bidder, who was to re- 
move it from the public sijuare within one 
month from the date of purchase. The 
doors and hinges were reserved from sale; 
the remainder of the structure brought 
$i9-37/-2- For a brief period law-breakers 
were weighted with ball and chain, guarded 
by a deputy sheriff, and maintained at some 
of the public taverns. In May, 1832, Wm. 
Lewis, John Mitchell and Alanson Warner 
were appointed agents to contract for and 
superintend the building of a new jail on 
the site of the old jail, two stories high, 
18x22 feet, with a stone foundation, floors 
of hewn timber covered with plank, and 
double walls of heavy timber for the lower 
story with a space between the walls as in 
the old jail, but filled with stone. Each 
story was to be eight feet high — the upper 
with single walls. A contract was made 
with Dr. Wm. Trafton, Joseph Butler and 
Wm. Butler, September 26th, 1832, for the 
building of this jail. It was completed 
within two months, and the contractors were 
paid $350.00. 

In 1845 the sheriff, Wm. M. Walker, was 
authorized to build a residence adjoining the 
jail at his own expense, and if at the close 
of his official term he and the commissioners 
could not agree as to a price for the pur- 
chase of the same by the count}', Mr. Walker 
was to be permitted to remove it from 
the public ground, but he did not take ad- 
vantage of this offer. In the previous year 



FINANCES. 



SO 



a considerable sum had been expended in 
repairing the jail and puttin<^ a fence around 
it, which work had been ordered by the cir- 
cuit court. Prior to this the i^rounds about 
the jail had become a favorite resort for the 
boys of the town for playing town ball and 
other like frames. For a lone time there 
was confined in this jail a crazv woman by 
the name of Ellen Riggs, who in some way 
learned the names of all the boys who con- 
gregated about tlie place, and was constantly 
calling to some of them in a wild sort of 
jargon from behind the bars. These facts 
probably led the court to direct the building 
of the fence. 

Just twenty years after the building of this 
jail another was erected to replace it, the 
new one being still in use though now about 
thirt\--tive years old. It was built b)' James 
Roquet under the contract above mentioned 
in connection with the historj- of the court- 
house which was consumed bv fire. It is 
constructed of stone, substantially built, two 
stories in height, with sixteen cells and a ca- 
pacity for forty inmates. A brick residence 
for the sheriff, plain but comfortable, stands 
immediately in front of the jail, facing on 
Third street. Lot No. 171 in the donation 
enlargement of Evansville — near the new 
court-house ground — was purchased in Au- 
gust, 1887, from W. C. Keller and Mrs. Kate 
Armstrong for ^5,495.00, for the purpose of 
erecting a new jail thereon, the plans for 
which have not vet been adopted. 

J^hiaiiccs. — The growth and development 
of a governmental institution are most clearh- 
shown in its financial histor\'. Figures are 
tedious but instructive. In this count\- they 
show the advance in yearly taxes contributed 
by the people from less than two hundred to 
more than half a million dollars. The 
sources of revenue were at first limited. 
Lands could not be assessed for taxation 
until five years after entry. Settlement in 



the county lia\-ing begun nearly a dozen 
}ears prior to its official organization, some 
immediate revenue was afforded, and the 
distressing condition of affairs which pre- 
vailed in many new counties in the interior 
of the state were here avoided. In 1818, 
the tax levied on each one hundred acres of 
land was for first rate 25 cents, for second 
rate i8;V4 cents, and for third rate 12^ 
cents. Lots in Evansville were assessed ac- 
cording to their value; 50 cents per $100 
valuation. Horses were assessed 21 V^ 
cents, and taverns $15.00 each. In 1820, in 
addition to these subjects of taxation, four- 
wheeled pleasure carriages at $1.25 each, 
silver watches at 25 cents each, and gold 
watches at 50 cents each, were added to the 
list. In 1822, 1823 and 1824, the board of 
commissioners disposed of the subject of a 
tax lev}- by making this brief and perspicuous 
entry: "Ordered that a tax for count\- pur- 
poses be laid on all property subject to tax- 
ation as high as the law will allow." In 
the following year rates on lands were fixed 
at one-half the rates established by the legis- 
lature for state purposes; other levies were: 
37/4 cents on horses and mules over three 
years old, 1^% cents on oxen o\er three 
years old, $1.00 on two-wheeled pleasure 
carriages, $1.50 on four-wheeled pleasure 
carriages, $1.00 on brass clocks, $1.00 on 
gold watches, 25 cents on silver or pinch- 
beck watches, from $5.00 to $25.00 for 
licenses to sell liquor, from $10.00 to $50.00 
for licenses to vend foreign merchandise, 
and from $3.00 to $5.00 for ferry licenses. 
The sj'stem of levying taxes on lands and 
personal propertj- according to their value 
contmues tc the present. For many years 
past the annual levy for state, countv, and 
township purposes has amouiUed to about 
$i-.25 on each $100 worth of property, which 
is comparati\'ely small when looked at w itji 
relation to the inestimable ad\antaires its 



60 



COUNTY ORGANIZATION. 



payment affords. It may be confidently 
stated that few communities that are favored 
with equal advantages have a smaller rate 
of taxation imposed upon them. 

Julius Gibson was the first assessor of 
the count}-. After the assessment of prop- 
erty the tax levy was made b}- the commis- 
sioners. The tax books or duplicates were 
prepared by the clerk, and placed in the 
hands of the sheriff for collection. When 
the sheriff settled in November, 1818, he 
was charged with $146.75, and in the next 
year he collected $430.96. The sale of the 
lots donated by the proprietors of Evansville 
had in November, 1818, amounted to 
$4,142.00. Of this amount ten per cent 
was by law set apart as a seminar}- fund, 
and the greater portion of the remainder 
was represented by promissory notes of 
purchasers. At his settlement in 1S19, the 
treasurer reported that the county, after ex- 
hausting its own funds had drawn, on those 
set apart for seminaries to the amount of 
$132. From that time on for many years 
the county was never out of debt. The 
building of a court-house had been under- 
taken, and all moneys coming into the treas- 
ury were directed to be applied on this 
account as rapidly as received. Maj. Alan- 
son Warner, a man well and favorably 
known in every branch of the county's early 
history, advanced small amounts of cash for 
the county's use, once $28 and again $75. 
In May, 1824, the treasurer was settled with 
for the whole period of his service and 
there was due him $11.33. I" 1824 the 
taxes collected amounted to $377.69; in 
1825, $347.31; in 1827, $501.15; in 1828, 
$503.16; in 1829, $610.64. During this 
period the licenses issued to various business 
men added to the revenue, the receipts 
from this source in each of the latter years 
named amounting to a little more than $100. 

Judge John Law, the first prosecuting 



attorney of the county, and for many years 
an able and eminent lawyer, brought suit 
and recovered judgment against the county 
in 1822, and nine years later the county 
treasurer recovered a judgment against 
Daniel Miller, then collector and previously 
countv agent. Credits on the former judg- 
ment and on the orders issued in building 
the court-house were received as the basis 
for equal credits on the judgment against 
Miller. In this manner many of the trans- 
actions in behalf of the county were effected 
without the exchange of money, which at 
that time began to be exceedinglv scarce. 
During the first part of the decade com- 
mencing with 1820, Jiard liiiies generally 
prevailed. Lands, town lots and produce 
rapidly decreased in price. Widespread and 
disastrous sickness checked and almost en- 
tirely stopped immigration. The suspension 
of specie pavment by the government, the 
failure of western banks founded on a ficti- 
tious basis, and the circulation of a depreci- 
ated and often w-orthless currency, totally 
deranged all values. These were the prin- 
cipal causes conspiring to produce the 
greatest stagnation of business experienced 
in this locality up to that time. The 
county as well as individuals suffered. 
Tax gatherers were compelled to take 
coonskins or other articles of " trade " in 
satisfaction of the law's demands. Recovery 
from this condition was at first slow, but be- 
fore the end of the decade good health gen- 
erally prevailed, immigrants came in, and the 
settlers having learned to accommodate them- 
selves to the trying times, w-ith energv and 
industry, brought back prosperity. Never- 
theless, in 1832 the receipts of taxes were 
only about $600, though from licenses and 
other sources the total amount realized was 
$1,006. The expenses of the county were 
in 1S32, $983.81 ; in 1833, $1,402.80, and in 
1834, $1,093.41. Soon after this com- 



FINANCES. 



61 



menced a period of prosperity that was un- 
checked until the faikire of the state's credit 
in the downfall of the internal improvement 
system elsewhere adverted to. Improve- 
ment was rapid notwithstanding a rather 
serious but temporary check in 183S. Set- 
tlers and speculators from the east and 
from bevond the ocean poured into the 
county in great numbers. The public lands 
were soon taken. Capital was freely in- 
vested in all sorts of enterprises. The 
country's natural resources, its unbounded 
wealth of coal and timber, its magnificent 
transportation facilities, its favorable loca- 
tion as the terminus of the Wabash & Erie 
canal, and near the mouths of several rivers 
whose improvement seemed onl)- a (juestion 
of a few \-ears, gave unhesitating confidence 
and faith in its future greatness. Investigating 
adventurers pushed on to Chicago and other 
localities, but returned to the land of greater 
promise. For a time their expectations 
were realized. They knew little of the 
richness of the country beyond the Missis- 
sippi and the achievements of the railroads 
were then hardly matters of speculation. 
The fiow of immigrants was not then in- 
fluenced by those potent factors of later 
years. By 1850, the annual exports from 
Evansville amounted in round numbers to 
600,000 bushels corn, 100,000 bushels oats, 
1,500 tons of hay and 1,500,000 pounds of 
pork and bacon — though all this was not 
produced by Vanderburgh county. In that 
year the expenses of the count\' were 
$18,785.34, and eight years later were 
$35,645.07. This was exclusive of rev- 
enues paid to the state, and to the townships 
for roads, schools and otiier local purposes. 
The total receipts at the treasury in round 
numbers were in 1850, $38,800; in 1853, 
$45,650; and in 1858, $57,900. The ex- 
penses here referred to include such items as 



ings, highways, bridges, charities, books, 
stationery, advertising,county ofiicers, courts, 
interest on indebtedness and some miscellan- 
eous items. These expenses in 1870 were 
$169,284.90, from 1874 to 1878 inclusive, 
$1,377,480.69; and since 1880, for ai;':i ear 
in the order named, $154,416.00, $189,- 
145.00; $136,368.00, $193,932.00, $200,- 
716.00, $215,405, $157,849.00, $113,076.00. 
The amount of taxes received at the treas- 
ury in 1862, was $74,505.00; in 1870, $199,- 
521.00; and in 1879, $142,240.00. In the 
last three years the total receipts have been 
$1,198,405.84, while in 1SS2 alone they were 
$521,993.48. These figures without com- 
ment attest the wonderful growth of the 
county. 

In early da3's when the revenue was limited 
the receipts seldom equaled the expenses, 
and the incurrence of debt was a necessary 
sequence. In borrowing great caution was 
at first observed. In 1835 Nathan Rowley, 
who faithfully served the public in many po- 
sitions of trust, was appointed to negotiate 
a loan of $280.00 to be used in building a 
bridge across Pigeon creek near Negley's 
mill, and was authorized to borrow from the 
Evansville branch of the State Bank, the 
county solemnly pledging its faith for the 
payment of the loan when due. In 1841 
Willard Carpenter, John Burbank and A. B.' 
Carpenter held $2,068.92 of the county's 
orders issued in payment of its debts for the 
building of bridges, etc., which they liad 
bought from various individuals, no doubt 
at a considerable discount, for the orders of 
the county have at times sold for less than 
one-half their face value. New orders were 
issued, to securet he payment of which the 
agent was instructed to mortgage a number 
of town lots and all personal property be- 
longing to the county. In 1858 the orders 
unpaid and drawing interest amounted to 



the construction and repair of public build- $21,471.24; in 1871 the total indebtedness, 



63 



COUNTY ORGANIZATION 



includinc: bonds and outstandinsj orders was 
$128,799.67, and in 1875 was $197,683.75. 
At the present time, this entire debt having 
been paid, all orders issued by the county 
are paid upon presentation at the treasury. 
No bonds are outstanding except $220,000 
of new-court house bonds recentl}- issued. 
This splendid showing, considering the 
amount of its public works, the condition of 
its roads and public institutions, clearl}- and 
eloquently testifies to the wise management 
of the commissioners — the county's finan- 
ciers. 

Civil Tozviif/iips. — At its first meeting, 
March 9th, iSiS, the board of commissioners 
established Armstrong township with the 
following boundaries : beginning at the north- 
west corner of V^anderburgh count}-, at the 
rantre line dividintr ranjjes 11 and 12, 
thence south with said line to the township 
line dividing townships 5 and 6, thence 
east with said line to the old Red- 
banks road, thence north with the meanders 
thereof to the line dividing Vanderburgh 
and Gibson counties, thence west with said 
line to the place of beginning. The board 
then ordered that the remainder of the count}' 
be known and designated as Pi<reon town- 
ship. The house of Jadock McNew was 
designated as the polling place in Armstrong 
township, with Patrick Calvert as inspector, 
and that of Hugh McGary in Pigeon town- 
ship, with Julius Gibson as inspector. Union 
township, organized May lO, 1819, includes 
all of the southwest part of the county 
bounded on the north by the "big bayou," 
and on the other sides h\ the Ohio river. 
The house of Frederick Staser was named 
as the first polling place, with Joseph M. 
McDowell as inspector. 

Scott township, organized August 13, 
1821, was bounded as follows: beginning at 
the county line dividing the counties of War- 
rick and Vanderburgh I where the same in- 



tersects the line dividing townships 5 ^^'^ 
6J, running north as far as the latter county 
extends, thence west on the county line seven 
miles, thence south to the line dividing town- 
ships 5 and 6 in range 11 west, thence 
east on said line to place of beginning. The 
township was named in honor of Samuel 
Scott, at whose house the first election was 
held, Joseph Baldwin being the inspector. 

Perry township was organized September 
9th, 1840, out of the west end of Pigeon 
township, with bounds as follows: commenc- 
ing on the Ohio river at the line dividing 
fractional sections 25 and 26, in township 6 
south, of range 11 west, running thence north 
to the line dividing townships 5 and 6, thence 
west to the Posey county line, thence south 
with said river to the Ohio river, thence up 
said river to the bavou, thence up said bayou 
to where it again intersects the Ohio river, 
thence up said river with the meanders 
thereof to the place of beginning. The 
residence of Lewis C. Stinson was desig- 
nated as the polling place, and David D. 
Grimes was appointed inspector. May 14, 
1888, a change was made in the township 
boundary lines by which the following de- 
scribed territory was taken from Perry and 
added to Pigeon township: commencing at 
the northeast corner of section 26, township 
6 south, of range 11 west, and running 
thence due west along the line dividing sec- 
tions 26 and 23 in said township and range 
to the north and south half section line of 
said section 26: thence south along said half 
section line and the half section line of sec- 
tion 35 in said township and range, to the 
Ohio river; thence north and northeast up 
said river to a point where the east line of 
said section 26 strikes said river, and thence 
north along said east line of said section 26 
to the place of beginning; the territory em- 
braced beinc the east fractional half sections 
of sections 26 and 35, in township 6 south, of 



CARE OF THE POOR. 



6S 



ratline ii west. On the question of niakin<;" 
this chanifo Commissioners W^underlich and 
Kin<^ \-otetl "avc," and Commissioner I5o\ver 
voted " no." 

Kni^dit to\vnslii[i was organized Septem- 
ber 9, 1840, out of the east end of Pigeon 
townsliip, with bounds as follows: beg'inning 
on the Ohio river at the line di\'iding 
fractional sections S and 9, in township 7 
south, range 10 west, and running north to 
the line dividing townships 5 '"'"^l 6; thence 
east to the Warrick count\line, thence south 
with said line to the Ohio river, thence down 
said river with the meanders thereof to the 
place ot beginning. John S. Terrv was ap- 
jioinled inspector of elections, which were 
to be held at the school-house near the resi- 
dence of Mrs. Pauline McCollister. Sep- 
tember 7, 1846, the west one-half of section 21, 
township 6 south, of range 10 west, was 
taken from Knight and added to Pigeon 
township. 

Center township was organized Septem- 
ber 6, 1S43, with the following bounds: Be- 
ginning at the junction of Locust with Pigeon 
creek and running along said Pigeon creek 
to the Warrick countv line; thence due north 
with said line to the northeast corner of 
section No. 24, township 5 south, of range 
10 west; thence due west to the east line 
of Armstrong township; thence due south 
to Locust creek; thence along Locust creek 
to the place of beginning. The residence 
of George L. Schnee was named as the 
polling place. 

German township, formed out of Perrv 
and Armstrong, September i, 1845, was 
bounded as follows: commencing at the 
northeast corner of section 14, township 5 
south, range 11 west, and running thence 
west to the northwest corner of section 15, 
same town and range; thence south to the 
southwest corner last named of section 7; 
thence west to the northwest corner of sec- 



tion 19, same town and range; thence south 
to the southwest corner of section 7, in town- 
ship 6, range 11 west; thence east to the 
southeast corner of section 11, town and 
range last named; thence north to the place 
of beginning. The residence of Michael 
Muentzer was fixed as the place of holding 
elections, and John Rettig was apjiointed 
inspector. 

T/ic Poor. — One of the chief objects of 
social organization is mutual protection. In- 
cident to this among civilized people is the 
care of those who, because of age, natural 
defect, disease or unavoidable misfortune, 
have become unable to support themselves. 
The relief of this dependent class, from a 
time long anterior to the period written of in 
these pages, has been reco'gnized as a public 
duty worthy an honorable and conscientious 
performance. The means adopted in earlv 
times for giving such relief do not accord 
with the advanced ideas that now obtain 
among humanitarians, but they were the 
best permitted h\ the times and circum- 
stances. When this county was formed the 
laws of the state provided for the appoint- 
ment of overseers of the poor and defined 
their duties, the chief of which was to cause 
all public charges to be farmed out on con- 
tract annualh- in such manner as would best 
promote the public good. Minors were 
bound out as apprentices; males until twen- 
t\--one years of age, and females until 
eighteen years of age. The indentures of 
apprenticeship were entered of record, and 
the apprentice was provided with lawful 
means for the maintenance of his natural 
rights against the oppressions of the master. 
The farming out of these unhappv individ- 
uals was not a sale into involuntary servi- 
tude, though it partook much of that nature. 
The sale was public and to the lowest bidder 
without much regard to the character or fit- 
ness of the purchaser. The buyer was en- 



61 



COUNTY ORGANIZATION. 



titled to the labor of the person sold. The 
price was not an amount paid for this labor, 
but was the sum received b}' the buver from 
the county for supporting the pauper. It 
represented the difference, in the bu3'er's 
judgment, between the worth of the labor to 
be received and the cost of supporting the 
laborer. Men and women were sold under 
the same conditions; and at times two mem- 
bers of one familv offered at the same sale 
were bought by different persons and thus 
separated. This system was kept up for 
twent}^ years after the organization of the 
county. In 1823 the records show that an 
allowance of nearly $50 was made to John 
B. Stinson, "for keeping Benjamin Davis, a 
pauper, being the balance in full of the sum 
for which said Davis was sold when said 
Stinson became the purchaser." In 1837 
John Clark and Zerah Fairchild, overseers 
in Scott township, officially reported the 
sale of Jane Thompson for one year to 
David Judkins, who was to receive $52 for 
the year's maintenance. At the same time 
Samuel McDonald and Simpson Richey, 
overseers in Armstrong township, reported 
the sale for the next vear of Samuel Bryant 
to George Bryant, of Virginia McGehee to 
Stephen Woodrow, and of Polly and Carrell 
McGehee to John Taylor, the prices ranging 
from $8 to $130. One of the earliest acts 
or the board of commissioners was the ap- 
pointment of overseers of the poor; the first 
being John Armstrong, in Armstrong town- 
ship, and Jesse McCallister, in Pigeon 
township. The names of the overseers 
show that selections for this office were care- 
fully made. Among those serving in earl\- 
times were William Gratehouse, John John- 
son, James Martin, Sr., Luke Wood, John 
M. Dunham, John Stoner, Moses Pruitt, 
John Bryant, Jr., Elisha Harrison, Amos 
Clark and others whose names were equal 
to these as guarantees of upright and hon- 



orable conduct. Overseers were paid a 
small per diem when actually employed, and 
were reimbursed for money laid out in be- 
half of the poor. The expense on this ac- 
count during the J'ear 1818 did not exceed 
$25. Dr. Wm. Trafton, the pioneer phvsi- 
cian, who afterward became prominent in 
the profession and in local public affairs, was 
allowed $ro for services rendered the poor 
of the county during that }-ear. During the 
sickly seasons that followed, many were af- 
flicted and helpless; the work of the over- 
seer was much increased, and it became 
necessary in 1S20 to appoint a person in 
each township to settle in behalf of the 
county with the overseers. For this pur- 
pose John B. Stinson, Henry Ewing and 
Lewis G. Ragar were appointed in Pigeon, 
Armstrong, and Union townships respect- 
iveh', then the onh" townships in the countv. 
Though 1820 inaugurated a period of the 
most general and fatal sickness ever known 
to the count}-, the disposition to help one 
another was so strong among the settlers 
that but few, in comparison with what might 
reasonably have been expected, were forced 
to receive public alms. The entire amount 
expended in that year was a little in excess 
of $100. During that unhappy period 
many a sad stor\^ was recorded on the pub- 
lic records in few words. Several allowances 
for "keeping the Morgans" were followed 
in February ,1821, by this record: "$13 al- 
lowed for two coffins and two graves for 
Mr. Morgan and his child." Thus simply 
the last words in the stories of two lives 
were written. In 1824, for keeping Benja- 
min Davis alone, $142 were allowed, and he 
was supported by the county about fifteen 
years. These facts are recorded not to re- 
flect upon the person named, for poverty of it- 
self is not a disgrace, but to show the laud- 
able conduct of the community, itself poor, 
in thus relievinfj want. When sickness and 



CAEE OF THE POOR. 



05 



death took tlieir bliyhting hands from the 
community, paupers did not increase as rap- 
idly as the growtii of the county would 
seem to have justified. As late as 1834 ^^^^ 
poor expenses for tlie vear did not exceed 

$255- 

The adoption of a new system of caring 
for the poor was determined upon in 1S3S. 
Joiin W. Lilliston, John iNIitchell and Marcus 
Sherwood were appointed by the commis- 
sioners to purchase a farm for the purpose 
of erecting an asylum thereon where the 
poor might find a home. In January of the 
following year the county purchased, for 
$i,Soo.oo, from Seth and Jonathan Fair- 
child, fifty-nine and one-half acres of land 
lying about one-half mile south of Mechanics- 
ville, and appointed Judge William Olmstead 
to have a suitable building erected for the 
use of the poor. The farm and house were 
let for $70.00 per year to Elijah and Samuel 
H. Prince, who agreed to keep in a proper 
manner all poor sent to them bv the over- 
seers for $2.00 per week each. The plan 
was not satisfactory, and in February, 1840, 
this farm was sold to William Onvett at the 
price which the count}- had paid. Another 
effort was made in 1843, when Willard Car- 
penter leased to the county for five 3-ears 
twenty acres east of the city near Hull's Hill 
at $250.00 per annum, agreeing to build a 
substantial frame house to cost not less than 
$500.00. This transaction led to a bitter 
discussion in the commissioners' court. 
R. II. Gould, the keeper of a tavern and sa- 
loon, was allowed, about the same time, 
$25.00 for keeping Mrs. Plumer, a pauper. 
At the following April term, Commissioner 
Kennerly solemnly protested against the al- 
lowance to Gould, complaining that it had 
been made without the presentation of an 
account, against the advice and counsel of 
William R. Morgan, the overseer, who was 
present objecting, as well as against the 



opinion and vote of himself, and vigorously 
denounced the agreement made with Mr. 
Carpenter as extremely improper because 
effected b}- the votes of Grimes and Car- 
penter himself, while he, Kennerl)-, was op- 
posing the matter and endeavoring to ob- 
struct and destroy it by motions to adjourn. 
He asserted that Mr. Carpenter at first held 
aloof but subsequently seeing that success 
was impossible through such a policy, rising 
from his seat said, with anger and defiance 
in his tones, that he would not be outdone, 
and casting his own vote for the proposi- 
tion, carried it. His final thrust was the 
statement that Mr. Carpenter was Gould's 
landlord and probably interested in his tavern. 
To this Mr. Carpenter replied enthusiasti- 
cally at great length. He denied that Gould 
had filed no account, and explained that in 
fact a claim for $150.00 had been made. 
While the pauper had not been sent to him 
by the o\-erseer, 3-et in equity he seemed 
entitled to some compensation for her sup- 
port, and inasmuch as Gould had that dav 
taken out a license to sell intoxicants, the fee 
for which was $25.00, an allowance to equal 
that amount was made in order to settle the 
matter justly and amicably. He denied that 
any relation save that of landlord and ten- 
ant existed between Gould and himself. 
Pronouncing the charge of impropriety in 
the least untrue in nearly ever}- particular, 
he proceeded to say that primarih- his land 
had been suggested by others than himself, 
and after much talk and deliberation the 
proposition had been passed b\- the votes of 
his associates, himself taking no part: that 
then Mr. Kennerly grew stubborn, trying in 
various wa_\s to cause a postponement, when 
displeased with such tactics he concluded to 
end the matter by voting for it himself. Mr. 
Kennerh- had signed the records, and at the 
next meeting substantially ratified the con- 
tract in proceedings had concerning the mat" 



66 



CO UNTY ORGANIZA TION. 



ter, in which Mr. Carpenter took no part. 
For this his antagonist, with effecti\e force, 
charged him with placing himself in the 
awkward predicament of protesting against 
his own votes. 

In September, 1844, William Onyett, still 
owing a part of the purchase mone}' for the 
original poor farm, resol:! it to the count}-. 
Mr. Carpenter's protests against this trans- 
action were vigorous, but to no avail. He 
had been keeping the poor under agreement 
with the commissioners for $1,500 per }-ear. 
They surrendered his land, and in June, 
1S45, employed George Bates to keep them 
for $1,200 per year. Mr. Bates served the 
county as supermtendent of its poor-farm 
for se\eral vears. While in the dischar<re 
of his duties, an insane inmate of the asvlum 
took his life by striking hun on the head 
with an ax. 

This sj-stem of collectively farming out 
the poor was little if any in advance of that 
wiiich had previouslv prevailed, for in fact 
they were sold to the lowest bidder — now 
in the aggregate instead of individually. 
But care was taken to have them supported 
decently and as became their station. Rev. 
Robert Parrett, Simeon Long and Philip 
Ilornbrook, men representing the best ele- 
ments of society, were appointed to visit 
and inspect the condition of the poor-house 
at least once a year. The plan of visits of 
inspection thus inaugurated has been con- 
tinued e\er since, thougli now performed bv 
the commissioners in person. In 1S40, a 
farm more convenient to the city was pur- 
chased from John Echols, for $1,600. It 
contained thirty acres and lav within the 
present limits of the city. Soon after this 
the system of supporting the poor was en- 
tirely changed, the element of farming out 
the unfortunates being for the first time 
eliminated. Edward Andrews, in 1853, was 
appointed superintendent, the county under- 



taking to furnish all provisions for the poor 
and for Andrews' familj', he to be allowed 
$200 per }'ear and unavoidable expenses for 
extra nurses, in case of sickness. Philip 
Jenkerbrandt was afterward employed on 
similar terms, except that he received $500 
per year. This plan was continued in prac- 
tice about ten years, but soon after the com- 
mencement of the civil war there was such 
an increase in the number of the poor that 
the old system of contracting with the low- 
est bidder for their support was again in- 
augurated, when Patrick Garvev agreed to 
keep all properly chargeable to the county 
for permanent support for $2,490 per year. A 
substantial brick building was erected on the 
Echols farm, which in 1S6S, was enlarged and 
added to at considerable cost to accommo- 
date the increasing numbers asking for 
shelter under its roof. The cost of support- 
ing the poor had i^apidly increased. In 1850 
the expenses were $2,638.22; in 185S, 
$3,845.73; in 1866, $10,731.99; in 1868, 
$12,767.33; in 1871, $23,288.49; and in 1875, 
$29,890.19. During and after the civil war 
period many thousands of dollars were ex- 
pended for the relief of soldiers' families, 
which are not here included. 

In May, 1882, the commissioners bought 
from George W. Hornby, a farm of 161.74 
acres in Center township, paving for it 
$9,704.40. The old farm was laid out into 
lots and sold In' Hon. Alvah Johnson, as 
agent for the county, the proceeds amount- 
ing to about $35,000. Plans for a new asy- 
lum on the Hornby farm, were made by 
Clark & Pyne, architects. A contract for 
the buildin<j was entered into with Charles 
Lieb, of Rockport, Ind., for $24,800. By 
reason of a change in the plans, and the ad- 
dition of a barn and boiler house, the con- 
tractor was paid over $48,000; the total cost 
of the buildings was $52,846.53. It is a 
handsome brick edifice, comfortable, com- 



y.-^'ATSF^^^.^^!** 




ELECTIONS. 



67 



modious and especially fitted for the purpose 
which it was designed to serve. In the 
same year tiie count\- purchased a tract of 
land from Silas S. Scantlin for $4,000, near 
the northeast limits of Evansville, and erected 
thereon, at a cost of $9,453.05, a count}' hos- 
pital for the treatment of contagious diseases. 
At least ten \-ears prior to these purchases 
there had been expended about $20,000 in 
establishing asylums for orphan children. 
.\11 of these institutions are governed bv 
humane rules, and the unfortunate inmates 
are considerately treated. At the poor- 
house Warren Bonnel is emploved at $800 
per annum as superintendent, the county 
furnishing all necessary provisions; Dr. J. C. 
Minton renders professional services to the 
sick; his annual salary is $575. 

Many poor are temporarily aided bv the 
count}' without being sent to the asylum. 
The blind, insane, deaf and dumb are sup- 
ported at the state institutions, the expense 
of clothing and transportation being borne 
by the county. A like expense is incurred 
in behalf of those sent to the House of 
Refuge and the Female Reformatory. A 
statement is here appended of the expenses 
of the countv in these charities since 1879, 1 
in order to exhibit in the clearest manner ' 
the extent of the public's benefactions: 

1879 $27,813 24 

1880 26,230 60 

1 88 1 26,109 ^5 

1882 25,936 07 

18S3 .3.3,974 17 

1884 35>896 45 

1885 36,822 82 

1886 24,078 66 

18S7 33,401 19 

Elections. — In order to show the increase 
in the number of voters and the political com- 
plexion of the county from time to time, a 
statement of the vote polled in the several 
townships at the various presidential elec- 
4 



tions since 1824, so far as it is possible to 
obtain the same, is here made : 

1824. 

Clay Adams Jackson 

Townships. and and and 

Sanfoid. Crawford. Calhoun. 

Pigeon 43 27 22 

Scott 13 6 10 

ArmstroniT* ... ... 

Union* ... ... 

Totals* 



1828. 

Jackson ■ Adams 

Townshiiis. and and 

Calhoun. Rusk. 

Pigeon 87 79 

Scott 14 9 

Union 7 16 

Armstrong* ... 

Totals* 108 104 

1832. 

Dem. Whig. 

Jackson Clay 

Townships. and and 

VanBuren. Sergeant. 

Pigeon 130 57 

Armstrong 22 29 

Union 18 16 

Scottf 

Totals* 170 102 

1836.* 



1840. 

Whig. 
Harrison 
Townships and 

Tyler. 

Pigeon 486 

Armstrong 21 

Union 63 

Scott 51 

Knight 7 

Totals 628 370 

* Official returns lost. 

t No vote returned by this township. 



Dem. 
VanBuren 

and 
. M. Johnson. 

49 
40 

16 
14 



68 



CO UXTY ORGAXIZA TJOX. 



1844. 

Whig. 

Clay 
Townshiji.s, and 

Fielinghuysen. 

Pigeon 4S5 

Armstrong. . 5 

Union 48 

Scott 65 

Perry 8 

Knight 19 

Center 45 

Totals 675 



1848. 

Taylor 
Townships. and 

Fillmore. 

Pigeon 342 

Armstrong .... 13 

Union 88 

Scott 90 

Perry 34 

Knight 55 

Center 82 

German 30 

Totals 734 



1852. 

T>en\. 

Pierce 
Townships. and 

King. 

Pigeon 695 

Armstrong .... 143 

Union 51 

Scott 56 

Perry 82 

Knight 62 

Center 71 

German 162 

Totals 1)322 



Dem. 




Polk 
and 


Birney 
and 


Dallas. 


Morris 


374 




43 




53 




17 




3 




II 


. . . 


55 


I 



556 



Cass 

and 

Butler. 

259 
71 
47 
41 

54 
55 
39 

lOI 

667 



VanBuren 

and 
Adams. 

8 



10 

I 



Whig. 


Free Soil 


Scott 

and 

Graham. 


Hale 

and 

Julian. 


571 
18 






78 






87 
26 






42 

97 

22 







IS56. 

Dem. Free Sgil. Rep. 

Buchanan Fillmore Fremont 

Townships. and and and 

Breckenridge. Donelson. Dayton. 

Pigeon 1,153 468 252 

Armstrong .... 175 12 5 

Union 38 93 3 

Scott 49 63 28 

Perry 100 43 12 

Knight 80 53 4 

Center 92 98 38 

German 193 10 30 

Totals 1,880 840 372 



Townships. 

Pigeon . . . 
Armstrong. 
Union . . 
Scott . . . 
Perry . . 
Knight . 
Center . 
German 



Rep. 

Lincoln 

and 
Hamlin. 



1S60. 

Dem. Dem. Fnion. 

Douglas Breckenridge Bell 



I 



,223 

50 
89 

1.39 
80 

51 
131 
104 



and 
Johnson. 

939 
120 

41 
67 

59 

66 

82 

168 



941 



Totals. . 1,867 Ij542 



1864. 

Rep. 
Lincoln 
Townships. and 

Johnson. 

Pigeon 1,873 

Armstrong 46 

Union 146 

Scott 159 

Perry 150 

Knight 82 

Center 178 

German 90 

Totals 2,724 



and 
Lane. 

100 

37 

9 
6 

13 

12 

5 

I 

I S3 



and 
Everett. 

219 



19 

15 

6 
26 
17 



302 



Dem. 

McCIellan 

and 
Pendleton. 

1,266 

184 

68 

112 

71 
127 

84 
202 



,114 



ELECTIONS. 



69 



1868. 

Kep. Dem. 

(Slant Seymour 

Townships. and anil 

Colfax. Blair. 

Pigeon 2,335 2,100 

Armstrong 44 221 

Union 141 77 

-"^cott 193 139 

Perry 206 117 

Knight 75 173 

Center 226 12S 

Cjorman ...;.... 170 188 

Totals 3,390 3,143 



1872. 

Kep. 
Grant 
Townsliips. and 

Wilson. 

Pigeon 2,919 

Armstrong ... 33 

Union 149 

Scott 201 

Perry 188 

Knight 171 

Center 223 

German 130 

Totals 4'0^^4 



1876. 

Rep. 
Hayes 
Townships. and 

Wheeler 

Pigeon 2,996 

Armstrong ... 49 

Union no 

Scott 211 

Perry 189 

Knight 170 

Center 217 

German 127 

Totals 4)069 



Lib. Rep. r>em. 

Greeley O'Connor 

and and 

Brown. Julian. 

2,454 
204 

66 
ri7 
109 



159 

iiS 

3,381 



Dem. 


hid. 


Tilden 


Cooper 


and 


and 


lendricks. 


Gary. 


2,879 


157 


247 




126 


7 


156 


I 


174 


20 


212 


I 


157 


19 


174 


I 



1880. 

Kep. 
Garfield 
Townships. and 

Arthur. 

Pigeon 3,627 

Armstrong ... 62 

Union 130 

Scott 217 

Perry 243 

Knight 202 

Center 259 

German 165 

Totals " 4,905 



Dem. 
Hancock 

and 
Englisli. 

3,153 
252 
116 
180 
202 
230 
166 
1S5 



4,484 



Ind. 
Weaver 

and 
Chambers. 

4 

'> 

17 

4 

14 



235 



Townships. 

Pigeon . . . 
Armstrong 
Union. . . . 
Scott .... 
Perry . . . . 
Knight . . . 
Center . . . 
German . . 

Totals . 



4,125 



206 



To\\'nships. 

Evans\-ille 
Armstrong 
Union. . . . 

Scott 

Perry .... 
Knight . . . 
Center . . . 
German . . 

Totals . 



1884. 



Kep. 
Blaine 

and 
Loi^an. 

4,154 
65 
102 
199 
262 
205 

293 
165 



Dem. 
Cleveland 

and 
Hendricks. 

4,089 

251 
102 
182 
246 

239 
208 

182 



Nat. Pro. 
Butler. St.John. 



90 
2 

I 
2 

10 

5 
7 



8 
2 



5,445 5,499 117 



10 



Kep. 
Harrison 

and 
Morton. 

4,740 

64 
104 

i«3 

259 
188 

313 

175 



Dem. 
Cleveland 

and 
Thurman. 

4,510 

231 

102 

184 

219 

261 

213 

170 



Union Lab. Pro. 
Streeter Fisk 



and 



13 



and 
Brooks. 

52 
I 
I 

I 

4 
4 



6,026 5,890 14 65 



10 



COUXTY ORGANIZATION. 



Avenues of Travel. — The highway, as a 
means of bringinir men into social and busi- 
ness contact, is an educator and producer of 
wealth. The pioneers' blazed trail and ser- 
Brazelton farm — adjacent to the town of 
pentine road, winding their way through 
dense and wolf-infested forests from settle- 
ment to settlement, were the first fruits of 
that aggressive, enterprising public spirit 
which has built the highways of banded steel 
now traversing the land from ocean to ocean 
and from lake to gulf; that spirit which has 
brought into cultivation a rich but once un- 
appreciated territorv, and built busv towns 
and magnificent cities where less than a cen- 
tury ago were wild and pathless forests. 
Prior to the organization of Vanderburgh 
count)- several roads had been cut out across 
the territory embraced in its boundaries, for 
settlers' cabins were raised a dozen years be- 
fore the county was organized. There were 
roads from Evansville to Vincennes, to Dar- 
lington, to New Harmony and other neigh- 
boring towns, from Anthony's mill on Pigeon 
creek, to the mouth of Green river and else- 
where, some of which were inherited, as it 
were, from the count}- of Warrick. But be- 
fore the commencement of Warrick countv's 
existence, when the territory embraced in 
Vanderburgh county was a part of, and un- 
der the jurisdiction of, Knox county, there 
were few, if an)-, legall}- established roads. 
Settlers were extremely scarce. When they 
left their cabins for business or pleasure their 
movements were directed by the Indian 
trails or footpaths marked through the woods 
by blazes on the trees. George Linxweiler, 
the pioneer, assisted in blazing out one of 
the first roads in this section, which after- 
ward became an established thoroughfare, 
from the Wheatstone farm east to the Red 
Bank trail, and north nearlv along the line 
of the old Princeton road to the intersection 
of the Red Bank trail near the house of 



John Withrow, not far from the village of 
Warrenton. Of the settlements along this 
road Mr. William Linxweiler savs, "There 
were at that time but four houses along the 
entire route from the Ohio river to the 
Princeton, and these were rude cabins, such 
as the hardy pioneers erected hastily when- 
ever they found a site which their fancy 
suggested to be a good point for location." 
This was about 1811. 

The system of establishing hiijhwavs has 
remained substantially the same from the 
earliest times. The citizens of the locality 
desiring the outlet petitioned the board of 
commissioners, who, if granting the prayer 
of the petitioners, appointed three disinter- 
ested citizens or "viewers" to ^-iew, mark 
and lay out the proposed highway, if, in their 
judgment, it would be of public utility. The 
routes were not well defined as is now re- 
quired. Often only the desired termini were 
named, the object, as expressed, being to 
get from one to the other "b}' the nearest 
and best way," and this was left to the de- 
termination of the viewers. Among the 
earliest acts of the commissioners was the 
appointment of Matthias Whetstone, Patrick 
Calvert and James Patton to view a desired 
road "from the west boundary line of Van- 
derburgh county at or near where John 
McCrery and William Cater priz'' tobacco 
last season, from thence the nearest and best 
way through the settlements on the forks of 
the Big creek, thence the nearest and best 
way to intersect the road leading from 
Evansville to Princeton at or near Julius 
Gibson's." From that time like petitions 
have so abounded that a mere catalogue of 
the roads established with descriptions 
of the routes would fill a volume. Scarcely 
a re<jular session of the board of com- 
missioners has passed without the con- 
sideration of papers pertaining to this 
subject; and many a war of words 



AVENUES OF TRAVEL. 



has attended their hearing. Remonstrances 
have followed petitions, damages have been 
claimed and whether denied or allowed 
neighborh' friendships have been broken 
and life-long enmities made. Annuallj' sup- 
ervisors were appointed who had charge of 
certain defined districts and were empowered 
to warn out "the hands" in a manner famil- 
iar to the able-bodied men of the present 
day. Some of these supervisors, as shown 
by the records, were men who in later years 
achieved fame in the nation's wars and coun- 
cil chambers. 

With all the care that could be bestowed 
on these old dirt roads at certain seasons, 
they were almost impassable. Mud holes 
of boundless area and fathomless depth were 
everywhere found. It is told of a respect- 
able citizen of Ohio, who traversed the 
state about 1825, that upon his return home, 
when asked about his travels, and whethre 
he had been pretty much through the state, 
he replied that he could not say with certainty, 
but he thought he had been prettv nearly 
through in some places. 

When Indiana was admitted to the Union, 
it was provided by law that five per cent 
of the proceeds arising from the sale of the 
pubhc lands, should be set apart for the pur- 
pose of building roads; two per cent for a 
state road leading to the permanent seat of 
government, and three per cent to be used 
by the several counties on the roads 
within their borders. This was known as 
the "three per cent fund," and was placed 
in the hands of a trustee charged with its 
safe-keeping and proper disbursement. 
He gave bond, reported his doings to the 
commissioners and received a small per diem 
when actually and necessarih- employed. 
As the sales of land advanced, the fund was 
distributed to the counties by legislative ap- 
propriations. Believing that a part of the 
fund was never distributed, certain counties 



as late as 1881, made efforts to obtain what 
might be due them from the state officials, 
but without avail. 

In a countrj- traversed by streams, ferries 
form an important part of the highway S3S- 
tem. These were established on the Ohio 
river, at the present site of Evansville, at 
Henderson, Ky., and at the mouth of Green 
river, before this county had an official ex- 
istence. That at the mouth of Pigeon creek 
was established in 1820. A license fee of from 
$3 to $10 was charged for the privilege of 
their operation, and rates chargeable were 
fixed b}' the commissioners. Probably the 
first to serve the public as ferryman at 
Evansville, was Hugh McGary, from the 
first so conspicuously identified with the in- 
terests of the town, for the site of the pres- 
ent cit}-, as before stated, was known as 
McGary's ferry. Daniel Worsham and 
Elisha Harrison were other early ferr\men 
at this point. At the mouth of Green river, 
Elisha Durphey was the first mentioned in 
the records, though perhaps others pre- 
ceded him, for among the earliest settlers 
were those in that locality. One of the ear- 
liest ferries was that of William Anthony, 
who became a veteran in the service, near 
the present site of the railroad bridge in 
Union township. That at the mouth of 
Pigeon creek was kept by Mrs. Nellie 
Sweezer, whose name was perpetuated in 
naming the pond at that place. The interior 
of the county was not traversed by many 
streams that could not in most seasons be 
easily forded; still at various points there 
were insignificant ferries. For several years 
steam ferries have been operated at Evans- 
ville, and at Henderson, Ky. That at the 
mouth of Green liver is maintained by the 
old-time oarsman with his skiff and flat. 
Bridges began to be built at a very early 
time. One of the first constructed was at 
Negley's mill, across Pigeon creek on the 



72 



COUNTY ORGANIZATION. 



Princeton road. From 1830 to 1S40, vari- 
ous appropriations, small in amount, were 
made from the county funds to aid in the re- 
pair or building of bridges. The bayou and 
Pigeon creek were the principal streams 
spanned by these structures. The state 
legislature appropriated $400 to aid in erect- 
ing the bridge near the mouth of Pigeon 
creek, and much of the three per cent fund 
was used for the same purpose. Manj- lib- 
eral private subscriptions were also made, as 
was customary here in those days, and John 
B. Stinson advanced $500, which, because of 
the depleted treasury, was not returned to 
him for several years. In January, 1840, 
Amos Clark, J. B. Stinson, J. B. McCall 
and Willard Carpenter were authorized to 
build a toll bridge at the point last referred 
to, but before any action was taken, the au- 
thority was revoked. In 1850, the county 
expended on bridges and culverts, $3,807.43; 
in 1858, $17,084.38; in 1870, $23,038, and 
during the eight years since 1879, 
$150,529.29. In every part of the couny- 
where the public convenience has demanded 
it, the streams have been spanned by sub- 
stantial bridges, all of which are free to the 
public. 

That produce without a market is not 
wealth, was early understood. Cheap and 
rapid transportation, even before the era of 
railroads, was a problem which engaged the 
thought of intelli<rent men. As the countv 
grew in population, a surplus of produce be- 
gan to form a part of every farmer's pos- 
sessions, and seeking to dispose of it in 
winter or spring, roads "without bottom" 
were what he had to contend with. The 
entire resources of the county had been di- 
verted to other uses, and an}- great better- 
ment of the highways though public agency 
seemed impracticable. A field for private 
enterprise was opened by the legislature, 
when, in 1849, it authorized the incorpora- 



tion of plank road companies. In February, 
1 85 1, the Central Plank Road Company of 
Vanderburgh county was chartered, and in 
July following, permission was granted by 
the commissioners to build a plank road to 
Princeton from Evansville, on the state road. 
The company was required to build a double 
track as far as Neglej^'s mill, and to allow 
paupers and provisions for the poor asylum 
to pass free of toll. This was the only road 
of the kind in the county. It was a good 
road, but never extended bcN'ond Pigeon 
creek. The incorporators at first thought 
they had a valuable franchise, but after oper- 
ating the road ten or a dozen years, became 
convinced of the contrary, and in March, 
1865, Henry C. Gwathne}-, secretar}- and 
treasurer, and probably the largest stock- 
holder in the company, appeared before the 
board of commissioners and formally aban- 
doned all rights under the charter, surren- 
dering the road bed, which again became a 
public highway. In this connection the 
venerable forerunner and probable suggester 
of plank roads deserves mention. The 
"corduroy," of poles or rails laid side by 
side in muddy places, gave the traveler the 
severest and most vigorous shaking up that 
it was possible for any human contrivance 
to administer. A ride over it in a "jolt- 
wa^on" was an experience equal almost to 
the famous ride of Horace Greeley in the 
stage coach of Hank Monk. 

Other laws authorizing the incorporation 
of turnpike or gravel road companies were 
enacted, but under these no organizations 
were effected in this county. In the sum- 
mer of 1870, however, a system of improve- 
ment was begun by the county, which has 
since been prosecuted with such vigor that 
at this time all of the principal thoroughfares 
leading out of Evansville, and the chief cross 
roads in all parts of the county, are graveled 
and kept in good condition. The system 



AVENUES OF TRAVEL. 



73 



was comniciued in an experimental andcau- 
tious way. Contracts to gravel about one 
mile on each of the roads from the city to 
Oak Mill and Locust Hill cemeteries, were 
let to Jacob S. I^owery, the city and county 
agreeing to share ecjually the expense, 
which was provided for by an issue of bonds 
bearing interest at nine per cent per an- 
num. The work was found to be very 
costly, yet of such advantage to the general 
public that its continuance and extension 
were determined upon. In 1879 alone, there 
were expended in this work nearly $68,000, 
and in the two years following. o\er $11 2,000. 
In later years the amount expended has 
been less than formerly, though in the past 
four years it exceeded $102,000. 

As early as 1822 Governor William 
Hendricks, in his message to the legislature, 
directed attention to the subject of internal 
improvements. Corydon was then the seat 
of government, and all supplies, not immedi- 
ate products of the soil, were brought from 
Louis^■ille in wagons. The town was of lit- 
tle importance save when the law-makers 
assembled, and the Louisville road was one 
of the bottomless and miry sort. " Waiting 
for the wagon," was the common excuse 
with landlords for the lack of the most ordi- 
nary articles when requested bv their guests. 
If for no other reason, because of this state 
of things, the legislative mind ought to 
have been favorable to any suggested 
method of improvement in transportation 
facilities. But there were weightier reasons 
than those of personal convenience. A few 
years before, the Indian titles to the greater 
part of the central and eastern portions of 
the state had been extinguished, and settlers 
had pushed their way into the new country 
in great numbers. In most places they 
found a rich and fertile soil w'hich, with little 
cultivation, yielded far more than was neces- 
sary to supply immediate wants. To give 



a market to this surplus was the desidera- 
tum. The governor seemed to realize what 
possibilities awaited development in the great 
state over which he had been called to pre- 
side. But at the verv time of his message 
the causes were in action which soon pro- 
duced all over the new state a period of de- 
pression and business inactivity from w'hich 
recovery was slow. Ten years later, how- 
ever, prosperity had returned and the future 
seemed to hold in its hand the richest of 
promises. From the south and the east 
came immigrants of wealth and character. 
The spirit of the age w'as progressive. It 
demanded improvement and the develop- 
ment of natural resources. Foreign impor- 
tations destroyed the manufactories which 
had grown up in the east during the war 
with England, and abandoning these able 
and experienced men came with their capi- 
tal to engage in commerce in the west. The 
practicabilit}^ of railroads and canals had 
been demonstrated. The facilities they 
afforded to travel and business were quickly 
recognized. The legislature commenced 
chartering railroad companies, tentatively at 
first, and then boldly, the seat of govern- 
ment had been changed to Indianapolis, the 
state road leading thereto was being con- 
structed, and congress, in 1827, had made 
its first grant of lands to the Wabash & Erie 
canal. A frenzy, epidemic like, spread 
among the Hoosier jieople. Thev clamored 
for legislation authorizing a gigantic scheme 
of development. New York, Pennsylvania 
and Ohio had met with some success in the 
prosecution of similar work, and these facts 
tired the zeal of those advocating the plan. 
Engineers, would-be contractors, and those 
awaiting places on the innumerable boards 
and commissions that would necessarily- 
come into existence, as incidents to the plan, 
in every possible way added fuel to the 
flame. Lo\al and stalwart supporters to 



74 



COUNTY ORGAXIZATIOy. 



these were the cohorts of speculators who 
saw vast fortunes in the increased values of 
town lots and lands. The strong hand of 
the state alone could support this enterprise. 
The stock of the railroad companies already 
chartered was not taken, and this augured 
that individual effort was not to be depended 
on. In 1835-6, a bill providing for a gen- 
eral system of internal improvement became 
a law. Its provisions were unwise and 
ruinous, because its visionarj- and enthusi- 
astic projectors in imagination created com- 
mercial necessities which in realitv had no 
existence. In man}- cases the termini of 
railroad lines planned, and on which work 
was commenced, did not exist except on 
paper. Such roads led to no surplus of la- 
bor or produce, and to no market. It was 
not possible for them to profit anyone but 
the town-site company and its hangers-on. 
Governor Noah Noble, an energetic, capa- 
ble and unselfish man, was unfortunate 
enough to be the chief promoter of the sys- 
tem. Among its advocates, next to him in 
efficiency and zeal, were Messrs. Burr and 
Evans, the former a canal commissioner, 
and the latter the speaker of the house of 
representatives. The completion of the 
works authorized would have cost thirty 
millions of dollars. Such individual pros- 
perity as would result from this expenditure 
of money was enough to throw entire com- 
munities into a paroxysm of jo}'. In the 
political campaign that followed, all other 
issues were insignificant; the line was drawn 
between the element of progress and that 
of obstruction ; the candidates for guberna- 
torial honors were both whigs, and national 
questions were wholly lost sight of. Mr. 
Dumont, the anti-improvement candidate, 
did not advocate the abandonment of the 
system, but onl}- desired to impose some 
limit to its various extension. Such was the 
feeling in the state, that he was defeated bj- 



Governor Wallace b}' more than 9,000 
votes. A 3'ear later, the folly and futilitv of 
the scheme began to dawn upon the mental 
retina of the self-deceived public, and soon 
thereafter the credit of the state failed, 
which occurred fortunately before it had 
succeeded in fastening upon itself the whole 
of the indebtedness contemplated. Out of 
the wreck of the colossal undertaking came 
some Efood, though it was in no degree 
commensurate with the cost, for the means 
of actual development were thus constructed 
befoie they otherwise, in all probabilit\-, 
would have bten. 

The extension of the Wabash tS: Erie 
canal from the north, and its construction 
from the Ohio river, commencing at Evans- 
ville, was a part of the general plan pro- 
vided for, and as soon as practicable 
ground was broken at this place; the failure 
of the state system in 1838 caused a suspen- 
sion of the work, but there were still hopes 
that the canal might be made a potent fac- 
tor in advancing the welfare of the state. 
Through national aid it was completed to 
Terre Haute, in 1S49, and to Evansville in 
1853. When finished, it was 459 miles long: 
375 in Indiana, and 84 in Ohio. The Indiana 
portion cost about $6,000,000. The Miami 
canal, 181 miles long, connected it with Cin- 
cinnati. 

Manv contractors did their work in bad 
faith. The embankments in some places 
were filled with logs and brush, in conse- 
quence of which the water, when turned in- 
to the excavation, found its way through the 
crevices and spread over the adjoining lands. 
The canal boats were uncertain and unre- 
liable, and were, therefore, not well patron- 
ized. On the whole the canal had but little, 
if anv, influence on the growth of the town, 
and its meagre usefulness was of short dura- 
tion, being entirely abandoned about 1864. 
The commerce of the Ohio river and the 



A VENUES OF TEA VEL. 



7.T 



relation of this count}- tiiereto, are subjects 
too vast for appropriate consideration in the 
limited space here avaih;ble. Tlie brightest 
hopes of the earl}- settlers so far as they in- 
volved the material development of the cit}- 
and county, were crystalized into facts by 
the potent influence of "the beautiful river," 
not, however, as a joy-giving quantity, but as 
a highway bringing men together and af- 
fordinij means for an exchange of commodi- 
ties. As soon as a surplus of produce 
began to be brought to the village for dis- 
posal, means of carrying it to the world's 
markets were immediately de\ised. Chief 
of these was the flat-boat, still familiar to 
every resident along the banks of the river, 
though the magnitude of the business trans- 
acted by this means has so diminished that 
it affords no adequate idea of the palmy days 
of the past. From a small beginning, flat- 
boating increased rapidly until it was not un- 
common to see the channel dotted with them 
as far as the eye could reach. At some 
seasons fleets of forty or fifty boats loaded 
with hay, corn, pork, lard, venison, hams, 
eggs, poultry and other farm products, 
manned by sturdy crews, went together from 
these parts to New Orleans and 'the south. 
Some of the boats used were built at or near 
Evansville. When the hull was completed 
they were launched into the river bottom- 
side up, and then "turned" by loading one 
side with dirt and swinging the boat into the 
current with strong lines fastened to the un- 
loaded side. Most of the boats, however, 
were bought at Cincinnati and other up-river 
towns. These were open boats which had 
been loaded with salt and other commodities 
in the Kanawha and other rivers. When 
btought here they were fitted up to suit the 
cargo which they were designed to trans- 
port. They were some times sent out by 
merchants and at others by farmers, either 
singly or by se\eral combined. The dignity 



of labor was then everywhere recognized, 
and some of the best men in the community 
were engaged in flat-boating, among them 
Gen. Joseph Lane, and others equal!}- as 
prominent. The crew consisted of from five 
to twelve men who were subject to call at all 
hours. The pilot who had charge of the 
craft, b}- pounding on the deck warned the 
men to turn out from their berths and man 
the oars. The pilot was an important per- 
sonage, and in this school many were edu- 
cated who afterward held in their hands the • 
lives of many human beings as they stood' 
at their wheels guiding the palatial passen- 
ger steamers which later traversed the 
waters. Among these were Barney Cody, 
William Elliott, William Dougherty, Thomas 
J. Stinson, William Onyett, Jack Angel and 
many others. The introduction of steam- 
boating did not at first check the transporta- 
tion of produce by flat-boats. The county 
grew rapidly in population and its surplus 
created an increasing demand for boats of 
all sorts. At length, however, steamboat- 
ing began to draw heavily upon the flat-boat 
interests and finally, practically drove it from 
the trade, except as an occasional carrier of 
a heavy cargo whose owner w-as in no haste 
to o-et to market. Flat-boats from the in- 
terior, which came out of the Wabash in 
(Treat numbers in early times, ceased with 
the building of railroads from about 1840 to 
1850. 

The first successful experiments at steam- 
boating were made in 1807, by Robert Ful- 
ton, on the Hudson river. In April, 1809, 
Nicholas J. Roosevelt, of New York, vis- 
ited the western rivers and made a survey 
from Pittsburg to New Orleans. Finding 
favorable conditions the territorial legislature 
was applied to for a charter, and in Decem- 
ber, 1810, an act was passed incorporating 
the " Ohio Steamboat Navigation Company," 
by which' Daniel D. Tompkins, Robert R. 



76 



CO XJNTY OB GA NIZA TIOX. 



Livingston, De Witt Clinton, Robert Fulton 
and Nicholas J. Roosevelt were made a bod}- 
politic to navigate the western waters under 
Fulton's and Livingston's patent. In Octo- 
ber of the next s-ear, ttie first steamboat 
built on the western waters was launched at 
Pittsburg. She was called the A^czi.' Orleans, 
was 410 tons burden, had a powerful engine, 
and was altogether quite handsome in ap- 
pearance. She was designed to plv be- 
tween Natchez and New Orleans, and left 
Pittsburg for the lower river in command of 
N. J. Roosevelt without passengers or 
freight. She made from eight to ten miles 
an hour, and completed the trip in safety- 
While waiting for water to tret over the falls 
she made several trips between Louisville 
and Cincinnati, and was admired and won- 
dered at by all who saw her. Strange and 
ridiculous reports were circulated as to the 
noises then heard for the first time bv the 
people thinly scattered through the dense 
forests near the river. At Louisville, it is 
said, the timid and superstitious were greatly 
alarmed and attributed the unusual sounds 
to the fallinti into the river of a burnine: 
comet. The settlers in this count}- had heard 
with amazement of her construction and all 
along the shore were on the lookout for her 
coming. There was then no tow-n here, but 
the pioneers watched what they considered 
the wonder of the age as she steamed by 
waking the stillness of the forest with a 
puffing and blowing, such as the steamers of 
to-day are not guilty of. This boat after 
two years' service was wrecked, and sunk 
near Baton Rouge, La. 

The Comet and the J^csiiv/'iis both passed 
down in 1814, but neither returned to the 
upper river. The Enterprise, built at 
Brownsville, Pa., and owned by a company 
there, made two voyages to Louisville, in 
the summer of 1S14, under command of 
Capt. I. Gregg. She afterward \Vent south. 



and in May, 181 5, under command of Capt- 
Henry M. Shreve, made the first trip from 
New Orleans to Louisville — consuming but 
twenty-five days in the trip. The yEtna 
and the IVashino-fon were the next with 
which the people of this localit}- became at 
all familiar. The latter had two decks, the 
boilers being on the upper deck. She was the 
first boat built in this style; under command 
of Capt. Shreve, she did much to convince 
the public of the practicability of navigating 
the western waters. All early steamers 
were side-wheelers, and generally had but 
one engine. The earlv experiments of steam- 
boating had no direct influence at the time 
on the growth of this countv. Even as late 
as 1832, few steamers stopped at the strug- 
gling village of Evansville, then of com- 
mercial importance, though once in awhile a 
"high pressure" passed up or down. The 
business of shipping was done principally by 
keel boats and barges or flat-boats, the for- 
mer using sails on their up-stream trips 
when it was practicable, and resorting to the 
cordelle when the wind was adverse. This 
sort of navigation was tedious and expensive, 
and those engaged in it clearly earned all 
the money it brought them. 

In 1834, ^he establishment of a newspaper 
and a bank in Evansville, brought the town 
into notice throughout the surrounding coun- 
try, and attracted to this point for shipment 
much of the surplus produce yielded by the 
rich lands within and far beyond the county 
limits. Improvements and substantial devel- 
opment commenced at once. Commerce 
with her magic wand began to effect a trans- 
formation out of which has come a ma<rnifi- 
cent cit\' and a wealthy countv. The Ohio 
became the great highway between the east 
and the west, and through the Mississippi 
poured the products of the northern interior 
into a market whence it was scattered to all 
parts of the civilized world. The returning 



AVENUES OF TRAVEL. 



boats brought coffee, sugar, rice and other 
products of the tropics which were here un- 
loaded and sent by wagon to Vincennes, 
Terre Haute, La Fayette and other towns 
far inland. The levee from end to end was 
covered with freight piles, and steamers laj' 
for hours loadinif or unloading their cargoes. 
Evansville became one of the largest ship- 
ping points in the Mississippi valley, and 
there seemed to be in no probability of an 
early decline in the steamboat carrying trade. 
With the advent of railroads during the 
decade that followed an appreciable diminu- 
tion in the amount of the river trade re- 
sulted. The through steamers from I'ittshurg 
to St. Louis began to be taken from the 
trade. Merchants discovered that transporta- 
tion bv water was too slow. A bill of jioods 
could be ordered by rail and half disposed of 
before the arrival the steamer which broutrht 
other goods ordered at the same time. 
Quick sales and a freijuent turning of mone}' 
were what the merchants wanted, and a de- 
cline of the steamboat business was a neces 
sary sequence. Vet this decline was slow, 
because other places not favored with the 
railroad, were sufficient to support a large 
steamboat business. The boats were grad- 
ualh' put in short trades with a railroad cen- 
ter as a distributing point for less favored 
communities. The change thus commenced 
in transportation methods did not effect the 
growth of Evansville or the development of the 
count}', for stimulated by the newly adopted 
agency, the cit}- became more than ever 
prosperous in becoming a depot for dis- 
tribution instead of a mere contributor to 
the markets of other cities. Attention was 
wiselv paid to manufacturing interests, 
crude material was converted into industrial 
implements of all sorts, and a considerable 
and constantly increasing trade grew up 
with the surrounding country towns of In- 
diana, Illinois and Kentucky, which induced 



men of sense and capital to establish lines of 
steamers with Evansville as a home port. 

As a result, at the present time, there are 
more than sixty steamers registered at 
Evansville, and regular packets ply between 
this cit_\- and all neighboring points on the 
Ohio and its tributaries. 

R a i7 r oa tt s. -T^htt internal improxement 
bill of 1835 provided for the construction of 
a railroad running northward from Evans- 
ville, and until some time in 1837 its success- 
ful operation was looked forward to with 
great expectations. The collapse of the 
plan of general public work put an end to 
all such hopes. It was more than ten years 
before anxthing further was done. In the 
meantime Evansville had grown and pros- 
pered ; a city charter had been granted, and 
her citizens were zealous and progressive. 
Intelligent and far-seeing men began to take 
steps to draw the surplus of the rich interior 
to Evansville for shipment. Laws had been 
passed by which local aid might be granted 
to public works upon a vote of the people. 
At its March term, 1849, ^^^ board of 
commissioners of the county ordered an 
election to be held on April 12th following, 
to take the sense of the people on the ques- 
tion of subscribing for stock in the Evans- 
ville «& Indianapolis Railroad Compan^• to 
the amount of $100,000. The poll showed 
624 votes for, and 288 against, the proposi- 
tion. In June of the same year the countv 
auditor was directed to subscribe for 500 
shares of the stock at once, and 1,500 shares 
additional as soon as the comjianv was clu]\ 
organized. To show the condition of the 
county treasury at that time, it ma}' be 
mentioned that the treasurer was directed to 
negotiate a note for $1,020.50, running four 
months, at the Evansville Branch Bank, or 
elsewhere, and applv the proceeds to the 
payment of the subscription, that being $2 
each on 500 shares. In August, 1849, Jas. 



78 



COUNTY ORGANIZATIOX. 



T. Walker was authorized to vote the stock 
— 500 shares — at the election of directors, 
and was instructed to vote for Samuel Hall 
and James Boswell, of Gibson county, and 
James Lockhart, John Ingle, Jr., John S. 
Hopkins, James G. Jones, John Hewson, 
Samuel Orr and Michael P. Jones, of Van- 
derburgh. At the next election Mr. Walker 
voted as proxy 2,000 shares, this time for 
the same gentlemen, except that the name 
of Willard Carpenter was substituted for that 
of Mr. Boswell. 

To pay the remainder due on its subscrip- 
tion, the county, in December, 1849, issued 
$99,000 in six per cent 10-25 year bonds, 
which were delivered to Samuel Hall, presi- 
dent of the road, in return for a certificate 
for 2,000 shares of stock. The bonds were 
issued in small denominations, the interest 
was payable in Evansville, and they were in- 
artistically executed. These facts interfered 
with their sale, and later they were ex- 
changed for a new issue, in large denomina- 
tions, with coupons payable in New York, 
and having an appearance that might, at 
least, not offend the fastidious taste of east- 
ern bond buyers. Even in those days se- 
curities were judged somewhat by their 
looks. The people were taxed to pay the 
interest on these bonds. In June, 1854, ^^^ 
county auditor \vas authorized to issue cer- 
tificates of payment of taxes levied in 1850, 
'51, '52 and '53 to each tax-payer. These 
were presented at the company's office and 
a sort of scrip was issued for them. When a 
sufficient amount of this was accumulated 
(perhaps $50.00 worth) railroad stock was 
issued to the tax-payer, who thus became a 
part owner of the road. The compan}' soon 
found that the people were getting too 
much stock, and stopped transactions of that 
character 

The county held its stock for many j-ears, 
drawing dividends. In 1875 Philip Decker 



proposed to bu\- the shares held by the 
county, and a sale was actually made on 
April 19, of that year', to Mr. Decker for 
Arnold E. Schrseder, $36,000.00 being the 
amount of the purchase money. Robert D. 
Richardson in the circuit court secured an 
injunction against the county commissioners, 
preventing the sale. In the following June 
Messrs. Decker, Schra^der, W. R. McKeen, 
and John E. Martin returned the stock and 
received back their monev. On June 30, 
1881, the stock was offered at public auction 
b}- Auditor Will Warren, and was sold to 
David J. Mackey for $150,000.00. 

The city of Evansville, as well as the 
county of Vanderburgh, aided in the con- 
struction of this pioneer road bv subscribing 
for $100,000.00 of its stock, which in 1881 
was also sold to D. J. Mackey for $150,- 
000.00. 

The road was completed and put in oper- 
ation in 1853. Its name at first was the 
Evansville & Indianapolis, later it was 
changed to the Evansville & Crawfordsville, 
and is now the Evansville Si Terre Haute. 
Its first president was Samuel Hall, of 
Princeton, an able man, at one time judge of 
the circuit court of this district, the ver}' 
essence of honor, and a broad man of affairs. 
His successor in the presidency was John 
Ingle, Jr., one of the most acute thinkers 
and able business managers ever known to 
this city. He attained an exalted position 
as a lawyer, was recognized as an efficient 
executive officer, upright and honorable in 
every transaction, and in all respects a highly 
useful citizen. He maintained control of the 
road almost up to the time of his death, and 
then gave wav to John E. Martin, who was 
a worthv successor. The road improved 
rapidlv under his management, and he was 
in all respects a capable and thoroughlv 
honest manager. Those who knew him 
well and were in a position to know the facts, 



RAILROADS. 



s;n- that he was a superior man and officer. 
His connection with this road terminated 
when D. J. Mackey assumed control. Mr. 
Mackey's management has been able and 
asxiiressive. Under him the road has con- 
stantlv improved. Its road-bed is now in 
excellent condition, and its equipment unex- 
celled. Its varied connections afford 
Evansville direct communication with all 
cities north and east, and its facilities for the 
comfortable conveyance of passengers and 
the rapid handling of freight, are of the 
highest order. 

In recent years there has been a rivalry 
between the cities of Evansville and Terre 
Haute over the location of the general 
offices and shops of this road. The con- 
trolliny interest is held bv Evansville citizens, 
and the offices and shops have been retained 
at this place. 

T/ic S/ra/'g'/// Line. — The pioneer road 
had scarcelv been completed before efforts 
were made to construct a line to Indianapo- 
lis. The soul of the effort was Willard 
Carpenter, who worked with indefatigable 
zeal for its success. In the personal men- 
tion made of that gentlemen elsewhere in 
this volume is a succinct account of the 
earlv reverses which overtook, and for manv 
years checked, the enterprise. It was first 
called the Evansville, Indianapolis & Cle\e- 
land Straight Line Railroad Company. 
Right of wa}- through the county poor farm 
was granted it in 1854. In 1869 the board 
of commissioners was asked to order an 
election to grant aid to the road, but the}- de- 
clined to make the order. After the first 
failure years went by without any effort at 
its revival. At length, however, R. G. 
Herve}-, of Terre Haute, an experienced 
and prominent railroad man, took hold of 
the old franchise and induced the citv, bv a 
vote of the people, to grant aid to the 
amount of $300,000. This monev, how- 



ever, was never paid, the road not being con- 
structed as promised. However, the city's 
promise hung over it as a debt for many 
years, and was at length compromised by an 
agreement on the part of the city to pay 
$196,000.00. Bonds were issued for this 
amount. Mr. Ilervey failed to complete 
the road, although having its construc- 
tion well advanced, and later sold his inter- 
ests to D. J. Mackey. Mr. Mackey paid 
Hervey's liabilities for grading, etc., in de- 
benture bonds, which subsequentlv became 
practically worthless and could hardlv be sold 
for 2 cents on the dollar. The road is now 
a part of the so-called Mackey system, runs 
through a rich territorv, is well managed, 
and is an important factor in the railroad 
system of this city. 

In 1879 the Local Trade Railroad Com- 
pan}- undertook the construction of a system 
of roads entering at Evansville, and de- 
signed, as indicated b\^ the name, to secure 
to this citv the commercial trade of the sur- 
rounding countrv. Robert A. Hill was its 
president. It first asked public aid to the 
extent of $100,000; this petition was with- 
drawn and $150,000 were asked for. This 
amount the people refused to grant. Sub- 
sequentl}- $65,000 were voted to the road 
on condition that it be completed by Jan- 
uar_v 1st, 1881. The road was not built 
and the bonds were destroyed. A 
proposition was then submitted by the Local 
Trade Compan\- by which it undertook the 
construction of the Peoria, Decatur cS: 
Evansville Road as a part of its system, and 
asking $100,000 as aid in the construction 
of the roads. The proposition did not meet 
with popular appro\al. The Peoria, Deca- 
tur & Evansville Road later asked the city 
to subscribe for $125,000 of its stock, agree- 
ing to construct its road and maintain its 
shops in this city. The amount was voted 
and bonds were issued for 1,250 shares of 



80 



'COUNTY ORGANIZATION. 



stock, Ma}- 1st, 1880. A building for the 
company's shops was erected, but shops 
were not maintained. The bonds were 
taken up by the city in 1881, the stock 
being sold for $125,000, and the road be- 
came a part of the " Mackey system " by 
which it is now operated. Running through 
a surpassingly rich country it is one of the 
most valuable lines entering the city. 

The lines owned and operated b\' the 
Louisville & Nashville Railroad Company, 
form an extensive and important part of the 
Evansville railway system. The story of 
their construction is somewhat complicated. 
In 1870 the city and county respectively 
subscribed for $150,000.00 and $121,000.00 
of stock in the E\-ans\alle, Cincinnati & 
Paducah Railroad Company, which amounts 
were subsequently doubled, upon a con- 
solidation of that road with the Evansville & 
Southern Illinois, and the St. Louis & South- 
western Railroad companies. In 1873 the 
consolidated lines under the name of the St. 
Louis & Southwestern Railroad Compan}^, 
delivered its stock certificates to the city and 
county and received bonds in payment there- 
for. The city had also subscribed for $300,- 
000.00 of the stock of the Evansville, 
Henderson & Nashville Railroad Company, 
had paid $50,000.00 in cash, and had deliv- 
ered bonds for the remainder of the amount. 
By the consolidation of these various hues, 
connectinsx Evansville with the south and 
west, the name of the city was omitted from 
the company's titles. This aroused the op- 
position of many citizens, among them II. E. 
Read, Esq., who has always been watchful 
of the public interest, and steps were taken 
to prevent the deliver}' of the bonds. Gen. 
E. F. Winslow, then president of the road, 
secured a compromise of the matter by 
agreeing that the road should be advertised 
on all its cars, at all its stations, and in its 
advertising matter as the St. Louis, Evans- 



ville & Nashville Railroad. On this promise 
the bonds were obtained, the name of the 
road as indicated was used as promised, but 
in a very short time it was erased from the 
cars and not thereafter used. It was gen- 
erally understood, also, that the contract upon 
which the people voted aid to the road con- 
tained a stipulation by which the company 
was to build and maintain its shops in this 
cit}'. But the original paper was by some 
means lost, and the record of the contract 
showed no reference to the matte- of its 
shops. The road located its shops at Mt. 
Vernon, Ills. Under Gen. Winslow the 
western and southern divisions of the line 
were consolidated in 1872, in order, as was 
claimed, to lessen the cost of management 
and operation. The consolidation accom- 
plished, the western division was bonded for 
$1,500,000, and the southern division for 
$1,100,000, by which the stock of the road, 
of which the cit\- held $600,000, was made 
practicall}- worthless. Tlie road in 1874 
passed into the hands of a receiver, and 
afterward into the possession of the Louis- 
ville & Nashville Railroad Company. The 
bonds issued b}- the city form a part of its 
present debt. The connection between the 
two divisions was effected bv means of 
transfer boats from this city to Henderson, 
Ky., the road ha\-ing for a long time free 
use of the wharf. In 1885 ^ magnificent 
steel bridge 3,686 feet in length, and costing 
$3,000,000, was constructed at Henderson, 
by which through trains are now run direct 
from Nashville to St. Louis bv wav of 
Evansville. The Louisville & Nashville 
Railroad Company- was chiefly instrumental 
in building the bridge, owns large amounts 
of its stock and bonds, and controls its use. 
This road has done much, under progressive 
management, to extend the commerce of this 
citv. Connecting Evansville with the great 
states of the south, it traverses in its course 



RAILROADS. 



St 



a wealtliv, fertile and beautiful country 
noted not less for its varied and enchanting 
scencrN' than for the value of its agricultural 
and mineral products. The offices for the 
division of the line between St. Louis, Mo., 
and Nashville, Tenn., are situated in this 
city, and provisions have been made by 
which the shops for the dixision are soon to 
be established here. 

The Lake Erie, Evansville & Southwest- 
ern Railroad was designed to connect this 
point with the chief cities of northern Ohio 
and the southwest to the Pacific coast. This 
company constructed its road as far as 
Boonville, Ind., and for a time was unable, 
because of reverses, to push beyond that 
point. The road passed into the hands of a 
receiver and subsequently became the prop- 
erty of the Louisville, Evansville & St. 
Louis Railroad Compan\' (the air line), in 
whose hands its connections have been 
greatly extended. It traverses the counties 
of Warrick, Spencer, Perry and Dubois, and 
at Huntingburgh connects directly with the 
main line from Louisville to St. Louis. This 
line opened up a countr\- of \ast mineral 
resources, materially increased the trade of 
Evansville and enlarged its manufacturing 
facilities. B\' contracts recently entered into 
this entire line has become a part of the 
Mackey system and is an important artery in 
Evansville's commerce. 

The Ohio \"alle}- Road, running from 
Evansville to Nashville, Tenn., bv way of 
Princeton and Ilopkinsville, Ky., traverses a 
fine agricultural country, and is a valuable 
ac(|uisition to the railroad of this place. It 
has been built but recently, but already the 
great good to be derived from it is becoming 
manifest. The Belt Line traverses the sub- 
urbs of the city connecting the \-arious rail- 
road lines and chief manufacturing concerns. 
The Evansville & Louisville Narrow 
Gauge Railroad Company, in 1873, asked 



the county to appropriate $225,000 to aid 
in the construction of its line, but the finan- 
cial panic of that year caused a withdrawal 
of the petition before action was taken. In 
1874, the Evansville, Jack.son & New Or- 
leans Railroad Company asked that the 
county subscribe for $300,000 of its stock ; 
an election was ordered but the order was 
subsequently rescinded. In 1875, the Hen- 
derson Mining & Transportation Compan\- 
asked for $100,000 to aid in huilding a road 
from the river bank opposite Evansville to 
Henderson, Ky. It was commonly callea the 
"Gap Road," but nothing material was 
realized. In 1875, the Evansville & New- 
burgh Narrow Gauge Railroad asked 
Knight township for $21,065.30, but the 
proposition was defeated at the polls. These 
propositions show the extent of the efforts 
made some fifteen j'ears ago for additional 
railroad facilities. Since that time some of 
the roads already mentioned at length, have 
been constructed and placed in operation. 
Unsuccessful attempts have also been made 
to obtain other railroad connections. Pro- 
gressive citizens agree that the full develop- 
ment of the resources of this famed locality 
demands new lines to parts of the country not 
now reached, and competing roads to points 
already connected by rail with Evansville — 
the only debatable question being as to the 
extent to which the public shall aid these 
enterprises. There is now a strong senti- 
ment in favor of extending proper aid to all 
such undertakings, but Evansville has been 
so heavily drawn upon in the past, and her 
generosity has been so imposed upon, in 
some cases, that the people are slow to 
give hearty encouragement to even what is 
recognized as a probable source of great 
public profit. Out of the vast sums donated 
to various rnads the only direct monetary re- 
turns were from the sale of E. & T. II. and 
P., I). & E. stocks. 



82 



COUNTY ORGANIZATION. 



In 1888, the sum of $60,000 was voted to 
the Evansville Suburban & Newburgh 
Railroad, to aid in the construction of its 
line (a dummy line), from this city to New- 
burgh, Ind., and to secure the location of the 
railroad shops of St. Louis & Nashville di- 
vision of the L. & N. Railroad at this place- 
These works are in process of construction. 
Other roads are planned, the chief of these 
being, perhaps, the Evansville & Chicago and 
Evansville & Chattanooga. 

This brief exposition of the raihva\- S3S- 
tem centering here, is sufficient to indicate 
its probable influence upon Evansville's fu- 
ture. That it will be the most powerful 
agent in increasing the growth and aiding 
the business of the cit\- can hardlv be ques- 
tioned. Its net work of lines reaches in all 
directions into rich and valuable territories. 
That Evansville has it in her power to sup- 
plant Louisville and Cincinnati, as the gate 
through which the traffic from the west and 
northwest shall pass to the south, is not the 
visionary dream of an idle brain. The 
achievements of the past and present condi- 
tions suggest at once a greatness for the 
citv, measured only by the wants and pro- 
ducts of an extensive and fertile countrv. 

Ag'n'ciiltitnil Societies. — One of the most 
important of man's occupations is that of 
agriculture. In fact, it forms the ground 
work for all other classes of labor, and no 
other industrial branch holds to its service 
a larger portion of the population. In tilling 
the soil as in ever}' other vocation, action, to 
result in success, must be guided by intelli- 
gence. The best results in educating the 
masses in any particular branch of science 
are brought about, and always have been, by 
concerted action. The needs of organiza- 
tion for the dissemination of useful knowl- 
edge, and of coming together for the ex- 
change of ideas and the comparison of 
various results obtained through different 



modes and processes, were early recognized 
by the more advanced citizens, and led to 
attempts at the formation of societies for 
the promotion of agricultural, horticultural 
and industrial interests. As early as 1829 
the Indiana legislature enacted laws for 
the organization and encouragement of such 
societies, but for many years the results 
throughout the state were meagre. When 
Joseph A. Wright was elected governor he 
manifested a great interest in the improve- 
ment of the conditions surrounding the agri- 
culturist. Februar}^ 14, 1S51, a law was 
enacted which afforded means of encourage- 
ment not contained in former laws. By its 
provisions a State Board of Agriculture was 
formed with Gov. Wright as president, and 
through the influence of .this organization 
and that of the governor, in his individual 
capacity, many district and county societies 
were formed. 

The Vanderburgh County Agricultural 
Societ}' was organized soon after the pas- 
sage of the act of 1851, and comprised 
among its membership some of the best 
citizens of the county. For many years 
Colonel Philip Hornbrook was secretary of 
the society and did much to advance its 
interests. The fair grounds were first 
located on the state road, north of the city, 
and near Pigeon creek. Here a fair degree 
of success was obtained, creditable disphus 
were made in all the departments, and the 
people from all parts of the county gave 
the enterprise a cordial support. Much 
substantial good was accomplished through 
its agencv bv the scattering of useful knowl- 
edge among the people, by directing their 
energies to a more telling activitj- and by 
pricking their ambitions. At all of the early 
fairs speeches were made by learned men 
upon agricultural subjects and the topics of 
the times. A great variety of useful articles 
were offered as premiums for the best of 



AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 



85 



every conceivable thing that might be ex- 
hibited, from the finest and best of horses 
and cattle to a pair of socks or a " pretty 
coat." xVmong the exhibits contending for 
prizes were all sorts of live stock, fowls, 
dogs, products of the field, garden, orchard 
and dairy, pickles, preserves, butter, etc., 
agricultural implements, mechanical produc- 
tions, machine woolen goods, domestic man- 
ufactures, needlework, plowing, horseman- 
ship, plans for farm houses, barns, cottages, 
and model farms, essays on farming gener- 
all)-, on hog-raising, etc. A healthy rivalry 
in these matters could not help but produce 
beneficial results. In many a household the 
annual meeting of the societ}- — the county 
fair, as it was called — held when "the frost 
was on the pumpkin and the fodder in the 
shock" was looked forward to as the social 
event of the year, and what were there heard 
and seen furnished themes for conversation on 
long winter e\enings tomanv afamih* gather- 
ing about a wide-mouthed, cheerful fire-place. 
Some time late in the " fifties " new grounds 
were selected. They were located on the 
E. & C. (now E. & T. H.) railroad lines, 
about three miles from the city. For a short 
time the society was moderately successful 
in their new location. During the war 
period the grounds were used by Mr. William 
Dean, who was connected with the federal 
quartermaster's department, as a corral for 
government horses. Ahcv the war the fairs 
became mere farces and entirely unlike those 
of earlier days. They lost the support of 
the people and year after year money was 
lost by the company. The decline contin- 
ued until 1873, when a new board of direct- 
ors was elected, and it was resolved to have 
a fair and exposition creditable alike to in- 
dividual exhibitors and to the county in 
general. The new directors vigorously en- 
ered upon their work and successfully con- 
ducted an exposition in the following 



September, from which about $40,000 were 
realized, and which was attended by about 
40,000 people. It was, however, devoted 
more to a display of manufactured articles 
and the evidences of Evansville's great 
progress as a city, and to the delights of the 
turf, than to an exhibit of the fruits 
of husbandry. The new grounds were 
twent3--five acres in extent, the exposition 
building was two stories high, cruciform in 
shape, 220x170 feet, and contained about 
80,000 feet of exhibition space. Commodi- 
ous amphitheaters, stands for the judges, re- 
porters and musicians, stables, stock pens, 
etc., etc., were also provided. After the 
successful effort of 1S73, the society again 
began to decline. Heavy debts were in- 
curred, to meet which the grounds were at 
length disposed of. They now belong to Mr. 
Charles Schulte. Private dri\ing parks have 
since been conducted near the city, but no 
incorporated societies have been formed. 

Horse- Thief Detective Association. — When 
the country was new and redress of wrongs 
in the courts was difficult and slow, a band 
of reculators often assumed the duty of 
taking some persistent violator of the law 
and of administering such punishment as 
was deemed best for the public good. The 
man who unmercifulh' abused his wife or 
child, or the one who changed the ear-marks 
on his neighbor's hogs so as to destroy evi- 
dence of "vested rights," was a good sub- 
ject for regulation. But the daring villain 
who left the neighborhood on a horse not 
his own succeeded more than any other cul- 
prit in awakening thorough and widespread 
indignation. His crime was always magni- 
fied and never, until very recent years, did it 
find appropriate place in its relation to other 
offenses against law. In the "Circuit 
Rider," Edward Eggleston says: "It is a 
singular tribute to the value of a horse that 
among barbarous or half-civilized peo- 



36 



CO UNTY OR GANtZA TlON. 



pie horse-stealing is accounted an offense 
more atrocious than homicide. In such a 
community to steal a man's horse is the 
greatest of larcenies — is to rob him of the 
stepping stone to civilization." No less a 
tribute was paid to the worth of this favor- 
ite animal by the framers of the code of 
laws for the territory of Indiana. For the 
first conviction of horse-stealing, the guilty 
one was to paj' the value of the horse and 
costs occasioned by his theft, and to receive 
at the whipping post not less than fifty nor 
more than two hundred stripes, and for the 
second conviction, death! In 1S52 the legisla- 
ture passed a law authorizing the formation 
of associations for the purpose of catching 
horse-thieves and bringing them to punish- 
ment. Seven years later the citizens of 
Scott and Center townships held a public 
meeting and organized as a corporation, the 
" Vanderburgh County Vigilance Com- 
mittee," for the detection and apprehension 
of horse-thieves and other felons. The 
leaders in the movement were Dr. Thomas 
H. Rucker and Samuel McCutchan. For 
some years its existence was maintained and 
effective work in the detection and punish- 
ment of crime was accomplished. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Capt. James D. Parvin, auditor of Van- 
derburgh county, though in the prime of his 
career, has already achieved an honorable 
record as soldier and citizen. It is not 
sought to attribute to him the attainment of 
greatness, as measured by ordinary stand- 
ards, but in the purity and excellence of 
his character he exhibits, in a marked de- 
gree, the qualities which adorn genuine 
manhood and insure the largest measure of 
usefulness to society. He descends from an 
honorable ancestry. His paternal grand- 
father, Mark Parvin, a sturdy pioneer, was 
a native of Pennsylvania, born at Reading, 



October 20, 1770, who early settled in Gib- 
son county, Ind. There, in 1810, at the 
homestead of Gen. Robert Evans, he was 
married to Miss Martha Evans, a sister of 
the distinguished general. His name was 
identified with the early annals of Gibson 
county, where his death occurred December 
29, 1830. The father of Captain Parvin, 
James 'McMillan Parvin, was born at Win- 
chester, Clark county, Ky., May 22, 1818. 
When twelve years of age he settled in 
Gibson county, Ind., and there learned the 
trade of a blacksmith, in the shop of Willis 
Howe. Coming to Evansville, in 1840, he 
was engaged as a merchant for about fifteen 
years, at the end of this time removing to 
Carlisle, lad., where he resided until his 
death. May 7, 1877. He was a man of prom- 
inence in social and business circles, and in 
politics was known as a staunch republican. 
September 17, 1839, he was united in mar- 
riage to Miss Elizabeth Birdsall, an estimable 
lady, native of New Jersey, born January 
13, 181S, who, at the age of seventeen 
years, came to Indiana with her parents. 
Six children were born of this union, five of 
whom are living. The second of these, 
James D. Parvin, was born in this cit)-, April 
8, 1844. He received a common school 
education in the public schools of this city 
and Carlisle, Ind. At the age of eighteen 
he enlisted in the Union Army to serve three 
years. September i, 1862, he was mustered 
as commissary sergeant in the Sixty-fifth 
Regiment, Indiana Infantry, and continued 
as such until September, 1863, when he was 
honorably discharged, because of physical 
disability. Returning home he recuperated 
his strength and. May 25, 1864, again en- 
listed in Company F, One Hundred and 
Thirty-seventh Indiana Volunteers, in which 
he served faithfully until October, 1864. On 
the 2 2d of February- following, he was com- 
missioned captain, Company G, One Hun- 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



87 



dred and Forty-ninth Indiana Infantry, and 
remained with his command until mustered 
out, at Nashville, Tenn., in October, 1865. 
Returning from the service he located in this 
city and immediately embarked in the pork 
and grain business, and later was engaged 
successfully as a dealer in coal and coke. 
Dealing fairly with all men, and pursuing 
his interests with energy, good sense and 
honor, financial success and personal popu- 
larity were both attained. Having been an 
active member of the republican party dur- 
ing his entire manhood, he was elected in 
1886 as the nominee of that part\', to 
the important otfice which he now holds. 
His popularity was amply demonstrated by 
the fact that his majority of 957 votes was 
more than twice as great as that of any 
other candidate whose name was on the 
ticket. The duties of his office have been 
discharged with great fidelit}' and unsur- 
passed efficienc}-. He is a prominent mem- 
ber of the K. of P., I. O. O. F., K. of H., 
A. O. U. W. and G. A. R. fraternities. 
October 20, 186S, he was married to Miss 
Jeannette Ehrman, a native of York, Pa., 
and daughter of Dr. E. J. Ehrman, who was 
born at Jaxthausen, Wurtemburg, Germany, 
October 29, 1819, and died in this city in 
1881. He was one of the tirst ph3-sicians to 
adopt and advocate the homoeopathic school 
of medical practice in Pennsylvania, where, 
in the county of York, he practiced his pro- 
fession for many years. Coming to Evans- 
ville in early days, he introduced homoeopathy 
in this place, and after a severe struggle against 
ignorance and prejudice built up a large 
practice. He was known in his day as one 
of the leading physicians in the citv. In 
1840, he was married to Elizabeth Churchill, 
an estimable lad}^, a native of Prussia, who 
still resides in this city. 

Charles T. Jenkins, clerk of the circuit 
court of Vanderburgh county, was born in 



Evansville, March 12th, 1845. His pater- 
nal grandfather, Richard Jenkins, was a 
native of Kentucky, born in 1793, and pos- 
sessed the sterling qualities of manliness 
peculiar to the better classes of the pioneer 
era in the west. His father, Samuel T. 
Jenkins, was born in Hamilton, Ohio, in 
1822, and died in this city in 1852, much 
respected. His name was closely associ- 
ated with the earl}- history of this county. 
In early daj's the Jenkins family came to 
Vanderburgh count}- and settled in the vil- 
lage of Evansville. When but a boy 
Samuel was appointed deputy clerk of the 
new count}', and so apparent were his abil- 
ities and so acceptable his service that even 
before he attained his majority he was 
elected to the office when he was serving as 
deputy. He was three limes chosen to dis- 
charge the duties of that important position, 
and died while in office. He was a man of 
correct business habits, well qualified, effi- 
cient, trustworthy and popular with the 
masses. The mother of Charles Jenkins 
was Elizabeth Chute, a native of Vermont, 
born in 1S24, now residing at Washington, 
D. C, who belonged to a prominent pioneer 
family, natives of Vermont, distinguished 
for many polite and cultivated adornments 
of character, and for many years favorably 
known in Evansville. The immediate sub- 
ject of this mention was reared and educated 
in this city, his studies being afterward 
continued for a time at Oxford, Ohio. 
His capacity for mental work was early 
manifest. When fifteen years of age 
he accepted a position as accountant for 
Morgan, Reed & Co., and excepting the 
period covered by his military service, re- 
mained with that firm six years, when he 
embarked in the boot and shoe trade with 
H. T. Chute. At the end of four years he 
removed to the country and engaged in 
farming for eight years. Being popular and 



88 



CO UNTY ORG A XIZA TIOX. 



competent he was elected, in 1880, as the 
nominee of the republican party, to the 
office of count}' recorder, and four years 
later to his present office. A re-election in 
1888 by a largely increased majority- was a 
high testimonial to his popularity and worth. 
His official life has been one of the most 
satisfactory the county has ever known, and 
his widespread popularity is exceeded by that 
of but few men in this part of the state. His 
military career was brief but honorable. 
During the greater part of the civil war 
period, he was a youth, too young for ser- 
vice. In April, 1S64, he enlisted in the 
Thirty-sixth Indiana Infantr\- for four months, 
and after a faithful service, at the expiration 
of the term of his enlistment was honorably 
discharged. In 1865 he was united in mar- 
riage to Miss Diana M. Hall, of Carlisle, 
Ind., born April 18, 1S45, daughter of John 
M. and Margaret Hall, natives of England. 
These parents have one son, Samuel M., 
born December 4, 1S66. Mr. Jenkins is a 
prominent member of the I. O. O. F., K. of 
P., and G. A. R. fraternities, and actively 
interested in the progress of the cit}'. 

Capt. August Leich, county treasurer of 
Vanderburgh county, was born in Prussia in 
the year 1842, and, at the age of six years, 
removed to America with his parents. He 
is what may be termed a self-made man. 
He received a common school education, 
and was then thrown on his own resources. 
At an early age he sold books and news- 
papers about the wharves and steamboats, 
and was known among the newsboys of that 
day as particularly enterprising. For a 
time he was employed as cabin boy and cook 
on Ohio and Mississippi river steamers, and 
later as a clci'k in the post-offices at Evans- 
ville and Terre Haute, and in the drug store 
of his brother, Charles Leich. The work 
of a house and sign painter then engaged his 
attention for a time, and during the winter of 



of 1860-1 he taught a night school, his pupils 
being j'oung mechanics and laborers, nearly 
all of whom enlisted in the cause of the 
Union when the war broke out. In Jul}-, 
1861, he enlisted in Company F, Twenty- 
fourth Indiana Infantry, was appointed fifer 
of his company, and, in the following Feb- 
ruary, was promoted to principal musician 
of his regiment. He served until the close 
of the war, and, on returning home, was 
employed as book-keeper by Leich & Carls- 
stedt. With this firm he went to Cincinnati, 
and was there engaged for several years in 
the county auditor's office, and as a book- 
keeper in various business houses. He 
returned to Evansville in 1S72, and for four- 
teen years was in the employ of Leich & 
Lemcke, of this city. In i8S6he was elected 
county treasurer, and re-elected in 1S88. 
He is an efficient, accommodating and popu- 
lar officer. He has been prominently con- 
nected with the military companies organized 
here since the war, and is now a leading 
member of Farragut Post, G. A. R., of 
which he has been adjutant since its organi- 
zation in 1 88 1. He is also a member of 
Knights of Pythias, Orion Lodge, No. 35, 
also Uniform Rank, Evansville Division, No. 
4. Captain Leich was married January 12, 
1889, to Miss Mathilde Klenk, daughter of 
Louis Klenk, an old citizen of Evansville. 

Louis Sihler, county recorder of Vander- 
burg county, was born in Wurtemberg, Ger- 
many, May 25, 1833, being the son of 
Louis and Agathe (Schleicher) Sihler, na- 
tives of Germany, born in iSoo and 1S05, 
respectively. His parents died in their native 
country, the father December 19, 1S32, the 
mother in 1867. Of three children, Louis 
Sihler is the only survivor. He grew to 
manhood and received a good education in 
the land of his birth. Early thrown upon 
his own resources, he developed the sterling 
traits of character which have marked his 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



8.0 



conduct in the maturcr years of his life. He 
served an apprenticeship of three years 
witli a inercliant iti liis native town, wliere 
his mother continued to reside after tlie 
deatii of her hushand, and at the age of 
twenty years emigrated to tlie United States. 
Evansvilie was his objecti\'e point, and reach- 
intr here he was at once engaged as a clerk. 
From that time until 1866 he continued in 
the mercantile business, chiefly as a clerk. 
In 1872, having developed considerable tactiti 
political work, and possessing the elements of 
popularity, he was appointed deput}- recorder 
of Vanderburgh county. In this capacity he 
served faithfulh' for twelve years, at the 
end of which time he was elected by a ma- 
jorit}- of 206 to the office where he had so 
long served as a deputy, being the candidate of 
the republican party. His efficiency and 
fidelity were rewarded in iSSS, by an election 
to a second term. True to every trust, and 
in a manly wa}' performing every duty as 
citizen and officer, he has attained a high 
place in popular esteem. He is a member 
of the A. O. U. W. His marriage occurred 
in i860 to Charlotta Lixt, who was born in 
German V in 1841. He is the father of five 
children, Henrietta, Charles, Lona, Margaret 
and Clara. 

Frank Pritchett, sheriff of Vanderburgh 
county, is a native of Evansvilie, born April 
14, 1853. I lis father, Scth Pritchett, was 
born in 1819, in the then pelt}' ^•illage of 
Evansvilie, the Pritchett family being one of 
the earliest to settle in Vanderburgh county. 
He was one of the early blacksmiths of the 
town, and at one time was engaged in the 
carriage business. His wife, whose maiden 
name was Emma Grant, was born in England 
in 1829. These aged people are still re- 
spected residents of the city. They are the 
parents of three living children. The oldest 
of these, Frank, was reared in this cit\' and 
was educated in the public schools. In early 



manhood he learned the blacksmith trade, at 
which he worked until 1875, and for three 
years he was engaged in teaming. In 187S 
he was appointed patrolman on the Evansvilie 
police force, and serving one year was ap- 
pointed deputy city marshal. In April, 1881, 
he was appointed deputy sheriff of Vander- 
burgh county under sheriff Thomas Kerth, 
and while so serving was made chief of thecit}' 
police force. This position he filled so 
acceptabh' that when the bill providing 
for the '• metropolitan system " became 
a law he was appointed superinten- 
dent of the newly organized force, 
which position he held until 1S86. He was 
door-keeper of the state senate during the 
session of 1887, having made a successful 
candidacy against twenty-eight opposing 
applicants for the position. In September, 
1 888, he was nominated bj- the democratic 
party for sheriff, receiving the unanimous 
support of the convention. His election by 
a majority of 634 votes was a personal tri- 
umph and a high testimonial of his popu- 
larity. . October 14, 1878, he was married to 
Miss Louisa Kerth, who was born in this 
city in 185S. They have three children: 
Percy, Frank and Florence. Mr. Pritchett 
is a member of the I. O. O. F. and K. of H. 
fraternities. His courage and fearless dis- 
charge of everv official dutv have won him 
the reputation of being efficient and reliable. 
August. Pfafflin. — The ex(pisite beauty of 
mathematics reaches a high stage in its 
development in the science of civil engi- 
neering. The mind that masters its 
niceties must be above the ordinary. The 
importance of the office of county surveyor 
has always been recognized. Gen. Robert 
M. Evans was the first to perform its duties 
in this county. Its present occupant is 
August Pfafflin, a young man whose suc- 
cess in life has been largely of his own 
making. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio 



90 



COUNTY ORGANIZATION. 



December i6, 1857, his parents being 
August and Emily (Schneider) Pfafflin, 
natives of Germany, who, emigrating to the 
United States in 1847, settled at Cincinnati, 
Ohio, and moved thence in 1869 to Evans- 
ville. August Pfafflin, the elder, was 
educated as a civil engineer and served b}' 
appointment and election as county surveyor 
for Vanderburgh county from 1871 to 1874. 
He was a well-known citizen, and died at 
his home in the city in 1882. The subject 
of this mention was educated in the public 
schools of the city and at the Evansville 
Commercial College. In 1877 he entered 
the Southern Machine Works and began to 
learn the trade of a machinist. After five 
years' service in these works, four years 
were spent in the shops of the Louisville, 
Evansville & St. Louis Railroad and the 
Evansville tS: Terre Haute Railroad. The 
practical instruction received in this admir- 
able school made of Mr. Pfafflin a thor- 
oughly skilled workman. In the spring of 
1887 he was appointed deputy city 
surveyor, in which capacity he served the 
public until June, 1888, when he was 
appointed county surveyor, to which office 
he was elected by the people November 6, 
1888. He was married November 17, 
1885, to Miss Anna Steineker, who was 
born in Henderson, Ky., June 9, 1S59. 
A daughter, Edna, was born of this union, 
September 17, 18S7. He is a member of 
the K. of H., and in politics he is a 
republican. 

Christian Wunderlich, county commis- 
sioner of Vanderburgh county, was born in 
Prussia, January 24, 1S43. His parents. 
Christian and Maria (Domheifer) Wunder- 
lich, natives of Prussia, born in 1814 and 
1820, respectively, for many years were 
residents of Perry township, this county, 
where the father still lives, the mother hav- 
ing died November 19, 1888. His paternal 



grandfather was Christian F. Wunderlich, 
born in Germany about 1756, and died in his 
native country about 1849. The father of 
the subject of this mention was a farmer b}' 
occupation, and coming to the United States 
in 1854 settled in Vanderburgh county, and 
two years later brought his familv from the 
fatherland to this new countiy. Commis- 
sioner Wunderlich is the eldest in a family 
of seven children, five of whom are now 
living. He attended the schools of his na- 
tive land, and since coming to this country 
his education has been obtained in the prac- 
tical school of experience. When the life 
of the nation was threatened by armed re- 
bellion he responded promptly to the call to 
arms. Juh' 26, 1861, he enlisted in the First 
Indiana Battery, and participated in the bat- 
tles at Pea Ridge, Magnolia Hill, Champion 
Hill, and Big Biack River, the siege of 
Vicksburg and in the Red River campaign. 
He performed every duty with that patriotic 
zeal which characterizes the heroic soldier. 
He was honorably discharged at Indianap- 
olis, September 13, 1864. Coming home he 
worked on the farm until 1865, when he 
came to Evansville and learned the carpen- 
ter's trade. In December, 1866, he accept- 
ed a position on the police force of this city, 
and served until April, 1868, when he 
again employed himself at his trade. One 
year later, however, he was elected city 
marshal and held this office five years. In 
1874 ^^^ ^^''^^ elected sheriff of the county 
by a majority of 777 votes, and two years 
later was re-elected, his majority being 659. 
He was appointed deputy United States mar- 
shal for Indiana in 1879, and served two j-ears 
in that capacity. His first election as county 
commissioner of this county occurred in 1884, 
and his re-election in 1S86. During his 
occupancy of this office important public im- 
provements have been inaugurated, and 
some completed. As a guardian of the 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



01 



people's interests, and yet as a progressive 
man of affairs, he has discharged his many 
official duties with great credit to himself and 
with advantage to the public. In the building 
of the magnificent new court-house he has ex- 
ercised rare good judgment, and his work in 
this connection will be to him a perpetual me- 
morial. He was married in 1865 to Miss Eliza- 
beth Grunner, born in Germany, Februar}' 
17, 1844. Of this union eight children have 
been born: Emma, William C, Isabelle, 
Christian J., Frederick, John C, Elizabeth 
and Meta. Mr. Wunderlich is an earnest re- 
publican, and has taken an active part in the 
affairs of his party. He is a member of the 
F. & A. M., I. O. O. F., and A. O. U. W. 
fraternities. Active and progressive, he has 
made his own wav in life and is now one of 
the prominent men of the countv. 

John J. Hays, treasurer of Vanderburgh 
county from 1883 to 1887, was born in 
London, England, in 1834, of Irish parent- 
age, and was the second son of Thomas and 
Ann (Hurlev) Hays. His parents emigrated 
to America before he was a year old, and set- 
tled for a few years in New York City, re- 
moving afterward to Indiana. Fort Wayne 
became the permanent residence of the 
family, and there his parents died, his father 
in 1863, and his mother the year after. The 
boys of the family, four in number, were 
early apprenticed to trades, John as a car- 
penter. Leaving home at the age of 
eighteen he set out for New Orleans, ex- 
pecting to go thence to California, but meet- 
ing disappointments in the south he retraced 
his steps and arrived in Evansville in March, 
1853. He at once went to work in the car 
shops of the E. & C. R'y Co., and remained 
so employed until August 15, 1861, when 
he gave up his position to enlist in the war 
for the preservation of the Union. He had 
previously been a lieutenant of the Union 
Artillery Company. He started to St. Louis 



to join the First Indiana Cavalry, the lieu- 
tenant-colonel of which, John Smith Gavitt, 
afterward killed in the war, was a warm 
personal friend, but the regiment had its full 
quota and he was compelled to look else- 
where for service. On September i, 1861, 
he enlisted as an ordinary seaman on the 
gun-boat "Conestoga," was advanced to 
carpenter's mate in a short time; and in a 
few months was promoted to the position of 
acting carpenter, his commission emanating 
from the navy department and bearing the 
signature of Gideon Welles, secretary of 
the navy. On the "Conestoga," and later 
on the "Fort Hindman," he rendered daring 
and effective service. After the war he 
returned to peaceful pursuits, and was 
for a time in the employ of the Evans- 
ville & Terre Haute Railway. May 29, 
1873, he was married to Miss Lucilla 
A. Mills, born in Evansville, October 2, 
1852, daughter of Isaac R. and Susan R. 
Mills. Their union gave them two children, 
John, Jr., born March 21, 1877, and Perry 
M., born February 4, 1880. Mr. Hays was 
an active member of the G. A. R., and of 
the Masonic order. In 1882 he was the 
democratic candidate for treasurer of Van- 
derburgh county, and was elected by a ma- 
jority of 328. Two years later he was 
re-elected, on the independent ticket, by a 
majoritv of 202. In the year following the 
expiration of his term of office he died, 
June 13, 1888. 

Anthony C. Hawkins, deputy clerk of the 
circuit court of Vanderburgh county, was 
born in Union county, Ky., August 31, 1851, 
and is the son of Anthony S. and Elizabeth J-. 
(Hopgood) Hawkins, natives of Kentucky, 
born in 1814 and 1S16, respectively. He 
was the fourth of seven children, six of whom 
survive. His boyhood was spent on the 
farm and in the country schools. At the 
age of eighteen years he entered Princeton 



92 



COUNTY ORGANIZATION. 



Academy, and after three years' study, was 
engaged as a teacher for a short time. 
While at Princeton, Ky., he read law in the 
office of Judge William Bradley. Coming 
to Evansville in 1873 he entered the law 
office of Luke Wood, a prominent attorney 
at that time, and there continued his studies 
until admitted to the bar in 1874. ^ part- 
nership was then formed with his recent pre- 
ceptor, under the firm name of Wood & 
Hawkins, which was pleasantly and profit- 
ably continued for some time. For five 
years from 1876 Mr. Hawkins pursued the 
practice alone, and at the end of that period 
formed a partnership with S. R. Hornbrook, 
which continued until November, 1884, 
since which time he has served as deput}' 
clerk. In politics he has always been a 
staunch republican, and a potent factor in the 
achievement of that parly's successes. In 
May, 1876, he became a Knight of P3'thias 
and has taken an active part in the work of 
the order. For five years he has been dis- 
trict deputy. He was married June 26, 1879, 
to Mollie E. Brown, born in Hamilton, Ohio, 
April 19, 1S54, daughter of Lyman B. and 
Mary (Doellinger) Brown. Of this union 
two children have been born: Electa D., and 
Allen C. 

Louis H. Legler, deputy county auditor, 
of Vanderburgh county, was born at Berlin, 
Canada, December 21, 1855. His parents were 
Dr. Henry T. and Augusta (Pfeiffer) Leg- 
ler, natives of Saxony and Maj'ence, Ger- 
many, respectivel)'. Dr. Legler practiced 
his profession in Canada for some years, and 
coming to the United States about the com- 
mencement of the civil war offered his ser- 
vices to the government. He was attached 
to the medical staff of a New York reci- 
ment, and rendered a valuable service 
extending throughout the war, being 
mustered out at its close as a surgeon. 
At the end of his service he emigrated 



west and located in Evansville, where he 
was known as a successful practioner from 
1S66 to 1876. He is now at Oakland, Cali- 
fornia. Louis Legler was educated in the 
public schools of this cit}' and at Wells & 
Rank's Commercial College. At fifteen 
years of age he entered the employ of F. 
Hopkins & Co., and remained with that well 
known house as a salesman for twelve 
jears. At the end of this time he was 
offered, and accepted, the position of deputy 
city treasurer, which he held under Treas- 
urers Marlett and Sansom. Thereafter for 
two and a half 3'ears he served as book- 
keeper for the Novelty Machine Works, and 
left that position to accept his present place, 
upon the election of Auditor Parvin in 1SS6. 
In every relation his abilitj- and integrity 
have been manifest, while his affable man- 
ners and uniform courtesy have made him 
popular. Mr. Legler is a young man with 
the greater part of his career before him, 
but the honorable record already achieved 
justifies the most favorable predictions for 
the future. He has 'been twice married. 
July 13, 1876, Miss Eva Phar, daughter of 
Jonathan Phar, a prominent private citizen 
of Knight township, became his wife. To 
this union four children were born, two of 
whom are now living. The death of Mrs. 
Legler occurred May 18, 1887. Mr. Leg- 
ler's second marriage occurred October 10, 
1888, when he was married to Miss Marion 
Bonnel, daughter of Warren Bonnel. 

William A. Page, deputy sheriff of Van- 
derburgh county, was born at Mt. Carmel, 
111., April 2, 1 841. His father, W. T. Page, 
was a native of Rutland, Vt., and died sev- 
eral years ago at Philadelphia, Pa. His 
mother, Anna E. Page, was born in Mar- 
garafeth, Ireland, came to America about 
1830, and is now living at Chicago, 111. To 
these parents five children were born, as 
follows; Emma P. (afterward Mrs. Borden, 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



OS 



now deceased), Fanny V. (now Mrs. Col- 
burn, of Portland, Ore.), Mary E. (now 
Mrs. Hodge, of Philadelphia, Pa.), Char- 
lotte P. (now Mrs. Borden, of Chicago, 111.), 
and William A. The only son, William A., 
lived in his native place until ten years of 
age, and has since resided in Evans\ille. 
Being thrown upon his own resources early 
in life his education was only such as could 
be obtained in the public schools. At the 
age of twelve vears he began the battle ot 
life for liimself, and since that time has made 
his own way. At the age of thirteen, he 
entered the employ of the Canal Bank, and 
was subsequently promoted teller, being the 
youngest man to fill that position in Evans- 
ville. In July, 1S62, he enlisted in the Fed- 
eral Arm}', and in August following, was 
promoted to be adjutant of the Sixty-fifth 
Indiana Infantry. He served faithfulh- until 
the spring of 1865, when he was honorably 



discharged because of physical disability. 
After the close of the war he resided in St. 
St. Louis one year, having charge of the 
Inland Insurance Department of the Home 
Insurance Company of New York. After- 
ward, representing the same company and 
others, he made his home for two years 
at Vicksburg, Miss. From November, 
1882, he has been deputy sheriff of the 
county and has fearlessl}- discharged the du- 
ties of his position. He is a member of the 
following fraternities: W. H. Stearn Lodge 
No. I, F. & A. M., of Vicksburg, Miss., 
Ben Hur Lodge No 197, K. of P., of this 
city, Excelsior Lodge No. 38, A. O. U. W., 
and Farragut Post, G. A. R. He was mar- 
ried December 15, 1869, at Madison, Ind., 
to Miss Annie Davidson. Of this union five 
children have been born : Alexander G. (now 
of San Diego, Cal.), ^'^ictoria, Marion, 
Emma and Annie. 



CHAPTER IV. 

The City of Evansville — Col. Hugh McGary, the First Permanent Settler — 
The Warrick County Seat — Disastrous Legislation — The Renaissance of 
1817-18, Under Evans, Jones and McGary — Seat of a New County — Evans- 
ville of 1820 — Hard Times and Sickness — The Town of 1831 — Disasters 
OF 1832 — Day Begins to Dawn — The Wabash and Erie Canal Phantom — 
Birth OF River Commerce — The Town of 1835-37 — Crisis of 1837 — The 
Boom IN the 'Forties — The First Railroads — The War Period — Depres- 
sion AND Panic — The Railroad Era — The Present City — Its Boundless 
Energies and Limitless Resources. 



®CCASIONALLY an individual attains 
distinction through circumstances 
which he has no hand in shaping, 
though more often he molds the events and 
creates the means by which prominence 
among his fellows is secured. He whose 
name is inseparably connected with the earl}- 
annals of the now extensive and prosperous 
city of Evansville was not the creation of 
adventitious surroundings. His iron will 
and dauntless courage were forced to over- 
come many serious obstacles. Had he 
yielded to adversity, a city might have grown 
up near where Evansville now is, forced into 
existence and fastened by the great natural 
advantages of the location, but with a dif- 
ferent name and history. Speculations as to 
such a result do not lessen the importance of 
the achievements of Col. Hugh McGar}-, the 
founder and preserver of a village, which by 
a process of gradual development, has be- 
come a commercial and manufacturing 
metropolis, well known throughout the Mis- 
sissippi valley — a city standing abreast of 
the age, in the possession of its varied im- 
provements and enlightening influences, and 
holding in its hand the welfare and happi- 
ness of more than 50,000 souls. 



Col. McGary, a sturdy pioneer, early 
emigrated from Kentucky to the new Indiana 
territory and settled in what is now Gibson 
count}-. Leaving his inland cabin he made 
his wav to the banks of the Ohio river 
and purchased from the government, on 
March 27, 181 2, the land now covered by 
the city of Evansville. He was not the first 
pioneer to visit this point. Others of the 
Anglo-Saxon race had preceded him into the 
trackless forest, not onlv as pursuers of the 
wild fur-bearing animals that infested the 
countrv, but as prospective settlers, seeking 
new homes for themselves and their de- 
scendants. Previous to McGarv's settlement 
and for some years afterward, an Indian vil- 
lage of the Shawnee tribe occupied the lands 
near the mouth of Pigeon creek. At times 
these aborigines were quite troublesome. 

A temporary settlement had been made 
by some white adventurer before the com- 
ing of McGary, near the spot where he 
afterward built his home. In 1809, George 
Miller, with his family, came here from 
Kentucky. When the rude raft of this 
pioneer was landed on the northern shore of 
the river, his attention was attracted at once 
by a deserted cabin standing in the vicinity 

94 



THE DAWN OF A CITY. 



95 



of the present corner of Vine and Water 
streets. The cabin, made of newh- cut 
timbers, appeared to have been built but 
recenll}-, and about it, in the unbroken 
forest, there was no apparent evidence of 
an}- other attempt at settlement. This cabin 
was a welcome sight to the adventurer. 
Beneath its roof his family found a shelter 
far more comfortable than the}- had antici- 
pated. However, they were not allowed to 
remain unmolested, being visited by the 
Indians, whose demonstrations of hostility 
drove them back to the Kentucky shore 
more than once. With the courage and de- 
termination characteristic of pioneers, they 
returned persistently, and at length were 
allowed to occupy the cabin in comparative 
peace. Here they remained a few months, 
and then pushed forward, in search of a 
permanent home, to a point three or four 
miles west of the city, where, in what is now 
Perry township, they settled, and for many 
years were numbered among the most re- 
spectable members of the community. 

In other parts of the county settlers' cabins 
had been erected previously, and in many 
places the woodman's ax was filling the wild 
forest with its resounding music of industry 
and progress. 

The seeds of civilization had been scat- 
tered, though but thinl}-, and here and there 
in the wilderness the bright flowers, lifting 
their heads above the dead leaves of barbar- 
ism, were ripening a ri:h fruitage. Along 
the banks of the river opposite Henderson, 
or Red Banks, as it was then called, further 
eastward opposite the mouth of Green river, 
along the course of Pigeon creek, and in 
various other localities, the pioneers, drifting 
here singly and in small groups, had formed 
limited settlements. One of the first houses, 
and perhaps the first (for after the lapse of 
eighty years, in the absence ol any recorded 
evidence, it is impossible to determine with 



certainty the question of priority), raised in 
this immediate vicinity, was a log cabin, 
which stood on the west bank of Pigeon 
creek, on land long since swept away by 
the ever encroaching waters of the Ohio 
river. The names of the pioneers who 
felled the first trees on the site of the city 
and raised the first log cabins must forever 
remain in obscurity. While their acts were 
a part of the beginning of the great develop- 
ment whose culmination the citizen to-day 
enjoys, they had no thought of building a 
town, and took no steps in that direction. 

Col. McGary was the first permanent 
settler; the first man whose mind grasped 
the unusual and almost immeasurable 
advantages of this location ; and to his good 
sense and unyielding determination were 
due more than to those of any other indi- 
vidual the successful early growth of the 
village. He belonged to the " rough and 
tumble ■' element of the new West. The 
qualities that gained for him a prominence 
among men were not the accomplishments 
and pleasing manners that attract the atten- 
tion of polite society, but rather the sterling 
traits of character that unflinchingly endured 
the hardships of frontier experience, and 
enabled their possessor to deal with his 
fellow-men fearlessly and with moderate 
fairness. He was without extraordinary 
ability: his equals could be found without 
difficulty among his neighbors, and before 
the town of his creation was far out upon 
the road of prosperity his intellectual super- 
iors towered above him on all sides. His 
education was limited, though for some 
years he served acceptably as an associate 
judge of the Warrick county court. A man 
of great spirit, he was pugnacious enough to 
be known as "a fighter," and this was no 
discredit to him when manhood was often 
measured by one's ability to maintain his 
e(juilibrium against the unsteadying influ- 



96 



THE CITY OF EVANSVILLE. 



ences of strong drinks, and by personal skill 
and valor in the lights resorted to by men of 
all classes to settle even the most trivial 
disputes. Morally, measured by the stand- 
ards of to-day, he was not of a high order. 
He was aggressive, and by his strong will 
and keen foresight fitted for leadership. In 
personal appearance he was of medium 
height, stoutly built, brawny; and in his 
movements agile and athletic. His com- 
plexion was swarthy, his eyes dark and 
piercing, and his countenance broad. His 
wife was a daughter of Jonathan Anthony, 
an earlv settler on Pigeon creek, who built 
the old water mill, first known bv the own- 
er's name and later as Negley's mill. She 
was a plain woman, with the simple, unaf- 
fected manners and industrious habits of her 
time. Her parents, at her christening, had 
called her Mary, but she was known by her 
associates only as " Polly " McGary. Of 
their several descendants none are left near 
the scenes of their early struggles and 
triumphs. 

Whether Hugh McGary designed the 
founding of a town when he left Gibson 
count)- to locate on the banks of the river; 
or the advantages of his situation, at first 
selected for no other than the purposes of a 
home and a farm, forced upon him the 
thought, is a matter of speculation. In sup- 
port of the latter view it may be said that 
when he came the vast measures of wealth 
hidden in the bosom of the earth were un- 
discovered, no attempts had been made to 
reckon the true value of the boundless for- 
ests; commerce, of rich meaning now, was 
then a word seldom passing the lips of the 
pioneer; the county of Warrick was not then 
organized, and existing conditions gave little 
favor to the entertainment of a design of 
founding a town. It is certain that he did 
not come with a colonv and the means requi- 
site for forcing development and growth. 



On the other hand the vast extent of Knox 
county, then having jurisdiction over this 
territory, and the constantly growing tide of 
immigration argued to a shrewd observer 
of the times that new counties must soon be 
formed and new towns estabhshed as their 
seats of government. Then and for many 
years later villages hung all their hopes for 
growth and greatness upon the one fact of 
possessing the court-house and having the 
public business transacted within their limits. 
The formation of a new county out of the 
southern portion of Knox, may have been 
talked of seriously before McGary left his 
home in Gibson county. As a matter of 
fact a new county was formed within a year 
after he entered the lands on which the 
town was subsequently laid out. How soon 
he took possession after making the entry, 
it is not possible to say. 

Immigrants came in almost exclusively 
from Kentucky, and McGary's was soon 
recognized as a convenient place for cross- 
ing the river. He provided a ferry which 
gave to this point the name of McGarj-'s 
Ferr}'. At length the time arrived for Mc- 
Gary to take the first step in the prosecu- 
tion of a work which later he pursued with 
great zeal and energy. The territorial 
legislature, in an act approved March 9th, 
1813, authorized the organization of Gibson 
and Warrick counties, the latter to include 
all that territory lying west of Harrison 
county and south of " Rector's base line," 
embracing the present counties of Perry, 
Spencer, Warrick, Vanderburgh and Posey. 
A general law passed at the same session 
of the legislature prescribed methods b\' 
which seats of justice for new counties should 
be selected. It provided for the appointment 
by the legislature at the time of authoriz- 
ing the formation of any new county, of five 
disinterested commissioners to perform this 
duty, but no such appointment was embraced 



A BRIEF REIGN. 



91 



in the act forming the two new counties, 
and the legislature adjourned without cor- 
recting the important defect. During the 
next session of tlie law-makers, on December 
14, 1813, the matter received attention. 
Commissioners were appointed, directed to 
meet at the mill of Jonathan Anthony, and 
select a favorable site for the county town. 
No place in the extensive territory of the 
new county was especially convenient to the 
settlers scattered from Harrison county 
to the Wabash. McGary's place was far 
from being central, but the men in whose 
hands lay the power of selection were to 
conduct their deliberations at the mill of his 
father-in-law, and he was shrewd enough to 
seize upon this opportunity of placing before 
them the advantages of his location. By 
offering to donate 100 acres of land 
to the new county he secured a favorable 
report, and the choice of his lands for the 
location of the county town. The report 
was .submitted on June 13th, 1814, and was 
signed by the following commissioners, 
Wm. Prince, Daniel Putnam, Alexander 
Deven, John Milburn and Wm. Hargrove. 
With reference to the subject the records of 
the Warrick county court bear this entry: 
"Tuesday, Junk 14, 1S14. 
"Ordered by the courts that the donation 
of one hundred acres of land for the perma- 
nent seat of justice for Warrick county be 
called the town of Evansville and known in 
law b}- that name. The agent for Warrick 
county is ordered to proceed immediately 
to lay off Evansville into town lots making 
the streets on the bank of the river one hun- 
dred feet wide and all other streets sixty 
feet wide. * * *" 

"AENK.A.S McAllister, 1 , , 
"J.vmesMarrs, ' J"'l8"'^^. 

"Daniel Grass. \ E^^4">'-^'s. 

The embryonic city was named in ' honor 
of Gen. Robert M. Evans, a distinguished 



soldier and citizen of Gibson county, who at 
that time was in no way identified with the 
place. Col. McGary and Gen. Evans had 
been neighbors in earlier times. Recogniz- 
ing the General's worth and the advantages 
to be gained through the weight of his in- 
fluence, McGary doubtless took this means 
of enlisting his interest in the welfare of the 
town. The belief has been current that the 
town was first called McGary ton, but instead 
of being supported by any trustworthy evi- 
dence this idea is positively refuted b}- the 
public records, as indicated above. From 
the outset, in all deeds of convej'ance and 
papers of a legal character the town was 
designated as Evansville. For obvious rea- 
sons, during the earl}- part of its career the 
village was very generally spoken of by set- 
tlers on both sides of the river as McGary's 
Ferry or McGary's town. 

As directed by the court, the agent for 
the county, Nathaniel Claypool, proceeded 
without delay to lav out the town, and before 
the month of June was passed his work was 
finished. The town as then platted does not 
appear upon any of the maps to-day. Indeed, 
by subsequent legislative enactments that 
town was virtually blotted out of existence, 
and after a lapse of time another or second 
Evansville rose on its site. In this first town 
the public square was the second block from 
the river in the extreme eastern portion of 
the town. Including this square there 
were 100 lots. From memoranda on the 
records it is learned that owners of lots in 
the place were Hugh McGar\', Nathaniel 
Claypool, R. M. Evans, J. Talbot, Wm. 
Wagnon, R. Fitzgarratt, J. B. Stinson, E. 
Stinson, T. E. Alsop, George Linxweiler, J. « 
Wheatstone, F. Wheatstone, Ashbel Ander- 
son, Daniel Miller, R. McGary, M. McClain, 
L. Tacketl, J. Miller, W. M. Gilligen, E. 
Hill, James Marrs, Henry Webster, and 
Wm. G. Buckler. Manv of these lot owners 



D8 



THE CITY OF EVANSVILLE. 



were non-residents. The town then con- 
sisted of less than half a dozen small log 
cabins, rudely constructed and located to 
suit the convenience of settlers, with little or 
no regard to the arrangement of streets. 

In compliance with his offer made to the 
commissioners to secure the location of the 
county town on his lands, Hugh McGary 
joined by Polly, his wife, on Jul}- 15, 1814, 
executed a deed of conveyance by which 
100 acres of land were conveyed to Nathaniel 
Claypool as the agent of Warrick county. 

Notwithstanding the evident insignilicance 
of the place the objects of McGary's ambi- 
tion seemed destined to be achieved. 
Thoroughly absorbed in the prospects of 
handsome realizations, he little suspected 
that his hopes even then rested on a bending 
reed, soon to be broken. But he and those 
whom he had induced to take an interest in 
his town were soon made to taste the bitter- 
ness of disappointment. Before the town 
was three months old the legislature appar- 
ently had fixed its doom. The formation of 
Posey county in the southwestern corner of 
the territory so altered the boundaries of 
Warrick county as to place Evansville at one 
extremity of the river border, still more than 
fifty miles in length. Because of this a law 
was enacted, providing for the removal of 
the seat of justice of Warrick county from 
Evansville to a point some thirteen miles 
eastward, on fractional section No. 7, in 
township 7 south, of range 8 west, which 
was referred to in the act directing the 
change as "the place at first selected bj- the 
commissioners appointed for the purpose by 
an act of the legislature at its previous ses- 
sion." There is no ready explanation in the 
public records of these significant words. 
They indicate bej'ond doubt that McGary's 
town was not first choice with the locating 
commissioners, and was decided upon only 
after some effort on the part of McGary. 



The act was approved by Thomas Posey, 
governor, September i, 1814. The new 
town, established by its provisions, was 
called Darlington, and after a brief and 
uneventful career passed out of existence, its 
decadence beintr due to the removal of 
the scat of justice for Warrick count}' to 
the town of Boonville. This legislation 
seemed disastrous to Evansville. As if 
anticipating an entire abandonment of the 
place, the legislature provided a means of 
escape to those who had risked money on 
its future growth by investing in its lots, by 
authorizing a return of all purchase moneys 
and a cancellation of deeds, etc. Thus 
Evansville was practically legislated out of 
existence ; the town, as the work of a sur- 
veyor was left, but its soul was taken 
away. 

McGary, fearful lest he might be unable 
to stem the tide setting in against him, and 
seekins to save himself to some extent, be- 
came a purchaser of lots in the new town of 
Darlington. This was but the placing of an 
anchor, not a removal from a sinking ship 
to one ttiat seemed starting with favorable 
winds upon a promising mission. Instead of 
surrendering and abandoning hope, he busied 
his brain to discover some means of avoid- 
ing disaster. 

In the summer of 1815, Hugh McGary 
& Co. were granted a license to vend mer- 
chandise, by the board of commissioners of 
Warrick county, and at that time opened 
the first store in the village of Evansville. 
Near the mouth of Pigeon creek, at an 
early day, probably as early as iSii, a 
Frenchman, whose name is unknown, estab- 
lished a trading post where he exchanged 
trinkets and ammunition for the furs col- 
lected by the Indians. But the hostilities 
incident upon the war of 181 2 drove him 
from these parts, and when McGary com- 
menced merchandising he had no competitors 



AGAIN A CAPITAL. 



99 



near at hand. In the following year Indiana 
was admitted to the Union; immigration, 
receiving fresh impulses from this fact, was 
largely increased; good health generally 
prevailed, and an era of prosperity was be- 
gun. Nevertheless, Evansville continued to 
go down. Town lots decreased in value 
until they were worth little more than neigh- 
boring wild lands. The late William Linx- 
weiler said, "as an evidence of the value of 
real estate in the infancy days of Evansville, 
I may mention the fact that Hugh McGary 
offered my father an acre of ground on the 
corner of the block where the First National 
Bank now stands, for thirty hogs which had 
been fatted on masf. At the time dressed 
pork was selling for one dollar and a quar- 
ter per hundred weight, pajable in trade or 
labor. This was just before McGary sold 
the whole of that part of the town site lying 
above Main street to James W. Jones and 
Gen. Evans." 

In the meantime McGary was not idle. 
He retained his residence in Evansville, and 
made his hospitable home a favorite resort 
for all classes of citizens. Two years had 
elapsed since what seemed to be the death 
warrant of his town had been signed, and it 
still kept up at least the appearance of life. 
During this time McGary was on the bench 
as an associate judge, and made himself and 
his house so popular with the president 
judge and attorneys, that regardless of the 
law's directions, courts were frequently held 
at his home instead of at that of Daniel 
Rhoads, or in the court-house at Darlington. 
Indeed, the validity of judgments rendered 
under these circumstances was afterward 
questioned, and it became necessary to have 
the legislature pass a special act confirming 
and legalizing them. 

The formation of a new county, with 
Evansville as the central point, was the idea 
which suggested itself as a means of relief 



from the deplorable condition into which the 
town was rapidly sinking, and from the 
death which was visibly near at hand. This 
McGary set about to accomplish with char- 
acteristic determination. Had the choice of 
a town been left to a popular vote, or had it 
been possible for the court, as was done in 
much earlier times, to establish the lines of 
a new county, his designs in that respect 
might have been readily gratified. To have 
the plan favorably acted on by the legisla- 
ture was not so free from difficulty. A 
reformation in the world's affairs, or an 
important step in the advancement or 
civiHzation of mankind, is seldom the result 
solely of individual effort. Conditions slowly 
ripen, circumstances gradually associate 
themselves into proper relations, when, at 
the right juncture, some sagacious agent of 
the times enlists the aid of others, perhaps 
more able than himself in many respects, 
and, by shaping forces and directing events, 
accomplishes a good for the world and a 
name for himself. But he who sets this 
train in motion, and then so governs its 
movements as to reap a reward, is not so 
much a mere "creature of circumstances " as a 
skilled workman knowing the art of mould- 
ing the frangible and stubborn clay of events. 
The county had within its borders some 
discreet politicians, who were not wiUing to 
permit their welfare, political as well as 
financial, to be put in jeopardy. To carry 
out his plan the necessity for influential co- 
workers became immediatelv evident. The 
active interest of Gen. Robert M. Evans and 
James W. Jones was obtained by a transfer 
to them, from Hugh McGary and Polly, 
his wife, for $1,300, on June 20, 181 7, 
of all that part of the fractional section 
on which Evansville was laid out lying 
above Main street, except thirty acres pre- 
viously conveyed to Carter Beaman, contain- 
ing about 130 acres. 



100 



THE CITY OF EVANSVILLE. 



On the 17th of July following, Evansville, 
it may be said, was born again. On that 
da}' Evans, Jones and McGary prepared a 
plan for a town ignoring the streets and lots 
as previously laid out. What they then 
platted is known on the maps of to-dav as 
the " original plan," and reaches, north and 
south, from Third to Water streets, and east 
and west, from Chestnut to Division streets. 
One-half of the public square as shown in 
the plat lav above Third street. There 
were 144 lots, eight of which constitute a 
block, and the following statement as to the 
plan of the town was signed by the propri- 
etors. 

"This town is laid out in squares of 
eighteen poles by eighteen poles and eighteen 
links: there is an alley of twenty feet wide 
through the center of each s(|uare, and at 
the rear of each lot; the lots contain one- 
fourth of an acre and one-half pole; Water 
street is about 100 feet wide. Main street is 
seventv-six feet wide, all other streets are 
sixty feet wide throughout ; the block through 
which Main street and Third passes is re- 
served as a public square." 

The men whom McGary associated with 
him in his final effort to put new life and 
vigor into his town were able, by reason of 
their large accj^uaintance and influence, and 
their knowledge of men and affairs, to ren- 
der him valuable aid. Gen. Robert Moro-an 
Evans, whose name was perpetuated in 
christening the town, was born in 1783, in 
Frederick county, V^a. ; and at Paris, Kv., in 
1803, was married to Miss Jane Trimble, a 
sister of Judge Robert Trimble of the su- 
preme court of the United States. When 
twenty-two 3'ears of age he -came to Indiana 
territory, his richest possessions being youth, 
health and intellect. He settled in the wil- 
derness about two miles north of where 
Princeton now is, and at the first sale of 
public lands, in 1S07, bought the place which 



his fancv had selected for a home. After 
four years of pioneer life in the woods he 
went to \"incennes, where he kept a tavern 
for two years, returning at the end of this 
time to his home in the woods. When the 
war of 181 2 with Great Britain was begun, 
he offered his services to his country, and in 
the campaigns of that period gained distinc- 
tion, serving with such gallantry and signal 
abilit}' that he rose to the rank of brigadier 
general. At the close of the war he re- 
turned to Gibson county and resumed the 
arduous work of improving his homestead. 
His fellow citizens soon elected him to the 
oflice of count}' clerk, in which capacity he 
rendered satisfactory service. It was not 
until 1S24 that he moved to Evansville, and 
there remained but one year, during which 
time he resided on his farm near the strug- 
gling village. Moving then to New Har- 
monv, at that time a prosperous village un- 
der the control of German socialists, he 
occupied himself as the landlord of a hotel, 
at the same time engaging in agricultural 
pursuits on lands near that place. After an 
absence of about four 3'ears he returned to 
Evansville, where he remained until his 
death in 1S44, living an honorable life and 
holding a high place in the esteem of the 
people. In personal appearance he was tall 
and commanding, of dignified bearing, with 
a smooth face and open countenance, always 
attracting attention and admiration. On all 
occasions he was agreeable and entertaining, 
and in business transactions a man of sterling 
integrity. In the combination between him- 
self, McGar}' and Jones for the betterment 
of their fortunes and the building up of the 
town of Evansville, he was the man of power 
and influence. 

James W.Jones, as an adventurous pioneer, 
had pushed his way into the forests of Indi- 
ana territory' soon after the organization of a 
territorial government, and settled near the 



OPPOSIXG ELEMENTS. 



If) I 



town of Princeton, where, as a neighbor, he 
enjoyed the acijuaintance of Gen. Evans and 
Col. McGary. He was a man of pleasing 
address, a clever talker, and possessed some 
means. He, however, lacked that enterpris- 
ing, persisting spirit and sharp business 
abilitv essential to a successful competition 
with the men who came upon the stage of 
action in the business life of Evansville be- 
fore his career was ended. For a time he 
succeeded in business and public life. His 
popularity and his hold upon the contidence 
of the people' were shown by the fact that 
for several years he was selected to perform 
the duties of clerk of the circuit court. At 
the same time he prosecuted his business in- 
terests with profit, but in the latter part of 
his career he sustained losses and at length 
returned to Gibson county, where he died. 
He was eminently respectable, always, and 
his sons became in their day prominent and 
useful citizens. 

Having thus glanced at the characters of 
the men who were endea\oring to save the | 
young town from abandonment, it may be of 
interest to know somethin<r of those who 
made up the opposition. These were chiefly 
Col. Ratliff Boon and Judge Daniel Grass, 
men of large attainments and influence. 
Some facts as to their personality and the 
manner in which those interested in the suc- 
cess of Evansville at length obtained the 
formation of a new countv so bounded as to 
make Evans\ille a central point are recited 
elsewhere in these pages, in the chapter 
concerning the organization of the countv. 

A short time before his death, in i8Si, 
Gen. Joseph Lane, whose name occupies an 
honorable place in the annals of this county 
and in the history of the nation, wrote a letter 
concerning the formation of Vanderburgh 
county from which the following quotations 
are made : 

"It was while engaged in delivering logs 




(to the steam saw-mill of J. J. Audubon at 
Red Banks in 1816) and rowing back in our 
skiff that I got acquainted with every one 
living on the bank of the river, and especi- 
ally did I get well acquainted with Col. Hugh 
McGary, and was rather pleased with him. 
He talked well on the subject of his town 
site and of the ultimate greatness of his 
prospective city. With him I walked over 
a portion of the land. A portion of it I had 
walked over the year before, solitary and 
alone. I found him quite in earnest about 
his town. Not long after this he put up his 
hewed log house, not far from Mitchell's 
corner; I think near the spot where, some 
time after, James Lewis built his dwelling 
house. Upon tiiis occasion we camped near 
his house, and he spent most of the night 
with us, and talked much and complained 
bitterly of Col. Ratliff Boon, who was, as 
he held, the only obstacle to his success; 
that he. Boon, was opposed to the formation 
of a new county out of Warrick, Posey and 
Gibson, and so arranging the boundaries as 
to make his town site central. I was fond of 
Boon and did not like to hear him abused, 
but said nothing until after I had obtained em- 
ployment in theclerk's office (at Darlington). 
Then the first time I saw Boon I took the 
liberty of savnng to him that, perhaps he 
had it in his power, or if he wished he could 
have a new county formed out of the coun- 
ties above named and still have them large 
enough, and by so doing he would make 
many friends. A few months after I hap- 
pened to be present at a conversation held 
in the clerk's office while our circuit court 
was in session, between Boon, McGary, 
Gen. Evans and Judge Daniel Grass, all 
leading men, in which the whole programme 
of a new county was fullv discussed. Boon 
mentioned that such chipping of Warrick 
county would necessitate the re-location of 
the county seat, and the probable point 



102 



THE CITY OF EVAXSVILLE. 



would be at or near Settee Down's vil- 
lage, where he, a Shawnee chief, had lived 
with his little band until rSii, and who, be- 
fore he left to join his nation, had killed some 
white people in the French Island neighbor- 
hood. He was followed and killed by a 
partv of citizens, among whom Boon figured 
conspicuously. 

" The count}- seat was re-located and 
located as above mentioned, or suggested, 
and Boon's name is, and rightly should be, 
perpetuated. Boonville is still the C(junty 
seat of Warrick county. The boundaries 
of Spencer countv were so fixed as to 
insure the location of the county seat at 
Rockport, a good location. Vanderburgh 
count\' was formed so as to make McGary's 
town site fit in exactly. Gen. Evans had now 
become part owner. The count}- seat was 
located and the name of the new proprietor 
was perpetuated in the now famous city of 
Evansville. * -* * * * I have 
endea^•ored to give the little I know of the 
influence of the men who shaped and 
formed boundaries of counties and location 
of county seats, all of which was understood 
by the actors a year or two before the great 
work was accomplished, all of them more 
or less interested; and still all they did 
resulted in great public good. Ratliff 
Boon, Daniel Grass and Gen. Robert M. 
Evans were more than ordinarv men in 
their day, and deserve a place in the history 
of Indiana." 

Confidence in the ultimate ratification by 
the legislature of the plan agreed upon in 
this conference at Darlington had a salutary 
effect upon the town of Evansville. Though 
this legal ratification was not made until 
January, i8iS, the town in the previous 
summer had been replatted and a large por- 
tion of the contiguous territory had passed 
into the possession of Gen. Evans and Mr. 
Jones. In the meantime, in 1816, J. Vigus 



had been licensed to vend foreign merchan- 
dise in the place, and others found here a 
favorable place for permanent location. The 
enthusiasm of McGar\' and his great confi- 
dence in the future greatness of his town, 
no doubt, had much influence in causing set- 
tlers to locate in the place. He evinced his 
determination to achie\e success by making- 
such improvements as the facilities of the 
times afforded. At length the whole plan 
received legislative approval. The bill pro- 
vidinir fir the organization of Vanderburgh 
countv and carrying out other features of 
the scheme became a law on January 7, 
1818, and McGary was permitted to enjoy a 
triumph and a gratification of his ambition, 
such as seldom comes to the pioneer. That 
his hopes had been almost crushed when the 
tide of prosperity seemed turned from his 
doors to those of Darlington, appears in the 
fact that, while the legislature had provided 
means for his recovery of title to the 100 acres 
of his town site previouslj- conveyed to War- 
rick county, he had neglected to repossess 
himself of these lands. When the new 
county of Vanderburgh was formed, it was 
found that the title to a great portion of 
the lands on which the new Evansville 
stood was vested in Warrick count}', and 
there seemed to be some doubt as to the 
existence of a lawful warrant for their trans- 
fer to McGary. To correct this condition of 
affairs the legislature passed an act to au- 
thorize the agent of Warrick county to re- 
convey to Hugh McGary, the lands which he 
had previously- conveyed to Warrick county 
through its agent. The act was approved 
by Jonathan Jennings, governor, Januar}' 
28, 181S. 

About this time Col. McGary succeeded 
in having a post-office established at Evans- 
ville with himself as postmaster. His com- 
mission was dated February 20, 1818. The 
mails came b}- land from Vincennes at widel}' 



OFFJCJA L REPORTS. 



10.^ 



separated inttTvaLs, but even this mail ser- 
vice was a great boon to the settlers. 

As commissioners to determine the loca- 
tion of the seat of government for the new 
county the legislature appointed Wm. Mar- 
grove, Archibald Scott, Arthur Harbison, 
John Stephens, and John x-Mlen. Of tiiese, 
only the two first named appeared at the 
time and place designated for their meeting. 
To till the \'acancies occasioned by the failure 
of the other members of the commission to 
be present, Thomas E. Casselberry, Wilson 
BuUett, and Elias Barker were appointed. 
When these men were readv for the trans- 
action of business the following proposition 
was submitted for their consideration : 

T/ic Hinwrablc, the Commiss.ioiiers ap- 
fioinlcd pitrsnant to lazv to Jix the pcnuanoit 
s.cat of justice for V^inderhurgh county: 

Gentlemen: — The undersigned proprie- 
tors of the town of Evansville beg leave to 
present to your consideration the following 
proposition, to-wit ; Provided you shall feel 
disposed to tix the seat of justice for the 
countN' of \'anderburgh in the town of Evans- 
ville and have the square which has been 
designated as the public square on the 
plat of said town located as the public 
S(]uare for the said seat of justice on which 
the public building shall be erected, we 
propose to give as a donation to and for 
the use of said county, lOO lots includ- 
ing said public square, that is, the lots 
included in said square with the streets and 
alle3's appertaining thereto, according to the 
plan of said town, as a donation for the use 
and benefit of said county of Vanderburgh, 
which we will convey on the terms aforesaid 
to such persons as may be autliorized to 
receive a conveyance for the same, for 
tile purpose aforesaid. In addition to the 
aforesaid donation we are authorized by 
Mr. John Gwathne}-, of Louisville, Ky., 
to give a donation to the use of said 



county of $500 in cash or such materials 
as will suit in the erection of the said 
public buildings, to be paid by the said 
John Gwathney as the said buildings pro- 
gress on order from the county commis- 
sioners, for which donation we make our- 
selves personally and individually responsible. 
On that part of the land proposed as a dona- 
tion there is a grave\ard, which is on the 
land belonging to Hugh McGary, one of the 
proprietors; at this place the said Hugh Mc- 
Gary reserves one acre of ground to include 
said graveyard in such manner as to do the 
least possible injury to said town, which he 
reserves as a graveyard, the title of which 
he will not di\est himself of in any wav. 
These proposals are respectfully submitted 
to 3'our consideration. Bv 

RoBT. M. Evans, 
James W. Jones, 
Hugh McGary, 
March 11, 18 18. Proprietors. 

Notwithstanding the pre-arranged plan 
by which Evansville was to be chosen as the 
seat of government for the county, tradition 
says that another aspirant at the proper time 
entered the lists as a competitor for the honor 
and advantage. This was Mechanicsville, 
then an insignificant collection of cabins, 
whose claims were pressed because of its 
more central location. The inducements and 
arguments offered by the promoters of this 
town were insufiicient to secure for it the 
coveted prize. The report of the commis- 
sioners is as follows: 

" Toihc Honorable.,the County Coniiiiifsioncn: 
of \'andcrbitr<yh County: 

"Gentlemen: — Having been appointed 
agreeable to law to fix the permanent seat of 
justice in and for the said county of Wander- 
burgh, being first duly sworn, we therefore 
report as follows, to wit: We have satisfac- 
toril}- examined the situation of said county 



]nA 



THE CITY OF EVANSVILLE. 



and having taken into consideration the local 
advantages of said county have determined 
on fixing the permanent seat of justice for the 
said county of Vanderburgh on the square 
designated as the public square in the plan 
of the town of Evansville. In making this 
selection we have paid respect to what we 
consider the local advantages of said county, 
although the town of Evansville is not pre- 
cisely the center of said county, yet we find 
that although the town of Evansville is on 
the bank of the Ohio river, yei from the 
bend of said river extending into said county 
much farther than the general course of said 
river is wont to do, that this site is the most 
eligible situation which can be procured 
equall}^ near the center. The proprietors of 
the said town of Evansville have proposed 
to give as a donation to the use of said 
county lOO lots, including the lots contained 
in the public square agreeably to the plan of 
said town, or in other words, land sufficient 
to make lOO lots as aforesaid, and also the 
sum of $500 in cash or material suitable for 
the use of the public building, as the)' pro- 
gress, which proposition is herewith deliv- 
ered to the honorable, the commissioners for 
the said county of Vanderburgh. The per- 
sons interested in the establishment of the 
said seat of justice at Evansville, have also 
delivered over to your commissioners a sub- 
scription list amounting to $100, for the pur- 
pose of defraying the expense of the com- 
missioners appointed to fix the seat of justice 
aforesaid; your commissioners therefore beg 
leave to report that they have accepted of, 
and fixed and established, the permanent seat 
of justice for the county of Vanderburgh, in 
the said town of Evansville aforesaid, agree- 
ably to the terms aforesaid, pursuant to the 
said proposition and donation aforesaid, by the 
said proprietors and others aforesaid made. 
The foregoing report is most respectfully 
submitted by William Hargrove, Archibald 



Scott, Elias Barker, Wilson Bullett, Thomas 
E. Casselberry. 

I "March 11, 1818." 

The deliberations of this commission were 

conducted in the warehouse of Hugh McGary. 

The county commissioners who accepted 

i this report and established the permanent 
seat of justice at Evansville, were James 
Anthony, David Brumfield and George 
Sirkle. In order to comply with the terms 
of the proposition to convey 100 lots to 
Vanderburgh count)' an enlargement to the 
city was necessary. This was called "Do- 
nation Enlargement," and appears under 
that name upon the maps of to-da\ . It em- 
braced that part of the city lying between 
Third and Fifth streets and with eastern and 
western boundaries that coincided with those 
of the original plan. Donation enlargement 
then also contained thirty-three out-lots 
lying on the lands of Evans and Jones above 
Main street, which were afterward vacated, 
and at a later day covered by the Eastern 

: enlargement. Main street was laid out sev- 

! enty-six feet wide, all other streets sixty feet 
wide, and alleys twelve feet wide. All streets, 
including those passing through 'the public 
square, were given to the people as public 
highways. The proprietors' explanation of 

! the plat of the Donation enlargement con- 
tained these words: "Lots beginning at 
145 and extending to 217 in arithmetical 
progression, are the lots given by the under- 
signed proprietors to the use of Vander- 
burgh county, together with the whole of 
the public S(|uare located in this enlarge- 
ment, and on the original plan of said town, 
as a donation for the use of said county." 
Thus it appears, counting the public square 
as eight lots, that being the number in other 
blocks of the same size, the actual donation 
fell ten lots short of the proprietors' 
promise. 

Lots in Donation enlargement were at 



FIRST INCORPORATION. 



105 



once offered for sale by the county agent, 
and by November following the sales had 
reached $4,142.00. The public square had 
been cleared, but at that time the lots sold 
were in the possession of the primeval for- 
ests. In May, 1819, and again in August of 
the same year, efforts were made to dispose 
of more of this property, to enable the new 
county to construct its public buildings. The 
lots were sold on a credit of six and twelve 
months, and notices of the sales were made 
at Princeton, Vincennes, Harmony, Spring- 
field, Evansville, Boonville and Henderson, 
Ky. The art of " booming " towns and 
selling lots at prices fixed by a confidence 
in future growth, so extensively practiced in 
late years, was not then unknown. Though 
purchases were freely made, considering the 
newness of the country and the meagreness 
of the population, some of the lots donated 
to the county in 1818 remained in its posses- 
sion unsold as late as 1840. 

Thus far McGary had guided his boat 
with safety over the rocks and through the 
shoals of adversity. On every side there 
were evidences of improvement, and the 
future held out in her extended hand the 
richest of promises. An era of general 
prosperity throughout the new state was at 
hand. Immigrants, industrious and intelli- 
gent, were coming in great numbers from 
the south and the east, and from beyond the 
ocean, to take possession of this land of 
promise. Throughout the country above 
and below the little village, sturdy pioneers 
of strong character were planting their 
homes. These were drifting from Ken- 
tucky, whither they had previously come 
from Virginia, Tennessee and the Carolinas. 
Back in the forests north of the town, along 
the road leading to Princeton and Vincennes, 
men of equal worth were establishing them- 
selves. Some of them had left the homes of 
their fathers across the sea, ?nd reaching, 



after months of trial and hardship, the town 
of Pittsburgh, in Pennsylvania, had there 
embarked in flat-boats destined for this coun- 
try, bringing with them such implements as 
might be of use in taming the wild forests 
and cultivating the soil. Buoyant with hope, 
yet ready to meet and remove any difficulty, 
and to adapt themselves to any combination 
of circumstances, they proved by their 
conduct that they possessed heroic mettle. 
In the village, houses were being erected, 
and men of tact and energy were coming to 
stay. Hugh McGary's warehouse was 
officially declared a public warehouse, in- 
spectors of produce were appointed, roads 
were opened for the convenience of the 
public, ferries were established, and every 
effort to encourage and advance the growth 
of the town was being made. 

But in 1819 and 1820 influences were in 
operation which soon thereafter produced a 
period of business depression everywhere 
throughout the land, but the waves of dis- 
tress did not reach this village until some- 
time during the second year named. The 
population of Indiana in 1800 was 4,875; 
1810, 24,500 and in 1820, 147,178. The 
greater part of this rapid increase was along 
the southern border, and Evansville and the 
surroundings country received a fair propor- 
tion of it. 

In 1 819 the question of incorporating the 
village was submitted to a popular vote for 
decision. The ancient poll book and cer- 
tificate of election, though yellow with age, 
are still well preserved, being at this time in 
the archives of the county clerk's office at 
the court-house. That the reader may have 
before him the names of the voters of that 
day, many of historic sound and some famil- 
iar to the present generation, these papers 
are here presented: "At a meeting of the 
inhabitants of the town of Evansville in the 
county of Vanderburgh and state of Indiana,on 



106 



THE CITY OF EVAXSVILLE. 



Monday, the first day of March, 1819, at the 
house of Alfred O. Warner, in said 
town, for the purpose of incorporating said 
town agreeable to the provisions of an act of 
the general assembly of the state of Indiana, 
entitled, 'An act providing for the incor- 
poration of towns in the state of Indiana," ap- 
proved January I, 1817, Hugh McGary was 
elected president of said meeting and Amos 
Clark, clerk, who, after having both taken the 
oath required of them agreeable to the provis- 
ions of said act, proceeded to secure the votes 
for and against the incorporation of said 
town, which votes were as follows, to-wit: 
Votes in favor: Daniel McDonald, Isaac 
Fairchild, John Melvin, Sylvester Bordman, 
John G. Chandler, John M. Dunham. Porter 
Fuller, Willard Clark, Hernon Barrows, 
Alanson Warner, George W. Jacobs, Hazael 
Putnam, Simeon Lewis, Wilbur Hoag, 
James Russell, Harley B. Chandler, Alfred 
O. Warner, William Trafton, William John- 
son, Elisha Harrison, James A. Boise, Seth 
Fairchild, Alpheus Fairchild, John Baldwin, 
John Conner, Richard Irvin, James Stinson, 
Thomas Johnson, Julius Gibson — 29. Votes 
against, none. 

" We, the undersigned, do certify the 
above to be a correct statement of the pro- 
ceedings of said meeting, and of the voters 
present as they voted on the cpestion of in- 
corporating the said town. 

" IIuiJH McGary, Pres. |"Seal.] 

"Amos Ci.ark, Clk. [Seal. J 

" Dated, Evansville, 12th March, 1819." 

It having been decided by this expression 

of the popular will to incorporate the village 

an election was held one week later, on 

March 8th, to determine who should serve as 

justices for the town. The certificate as to 

the results of this second election is here 

presented: "At an election held at the 

house of Alfred O. Warner, in the town of 

Evansville, on Monday, the 8th day of 



March, 1819, for the purpose of electing 
five trustees for said town agreeable to the 
provisions of an act of the general assembly 
of the state of Indiana, entitled 'An act 
providing for the incorporation of towns in 
the state of Indiana,' approved January i, 
1817. The follosving is a statement of the, 
proceedings of said election: 

"Voters' names. — William Trafton, Harley 
B. Chandler, Isaac Fairchild, Alpheus Fair- 
child, George W. Jacobs, Elisha Harrison, 
D. A. Richardson, D. F. Goldsmith, Thomas 
Johnson, John G. Chandler, Hugh McGary, 
John Baldwin, Daniel McDonald, Seth Fair- 
child, Flam Fairchild; John M. Dunham, 
Alanson Warner, Hazael Putnam, Wilbur 
Hoag, Raphael Van Horn, Loring Root, 
James Russell, Simeon Lewis. Total, 23. 
" Hugh McGary received 23 votes. 
" Elisha Harrison received 23 votes. 
" Isaac Fairchild received 24 votes. 
" Everton Kennerly received 24 votes. 
" Francis J. Bentley received 24 votes. 
" Alfred O. Warner received i vote. 
"We, the undersigned, do certify the abo\e 
to be a true statement of the proceedings of 
said election, but Elisha Harrison having 
declined serving or acting as a trustee for 
said town, we do therefore certify HughMc- 
Gary, Isaac Fairchild, Everton Kennerly, 
Francis J. Bentley, and Alfred O. Warner to 
be duly elected according to the true intent 
and meaning of said act. In witness whereof 
we have hereunto set our hands and seals the 
1 2th day of March, 18 19. 

"Hugh McGary, Pres. [Seal. J 
" Amos Clark, Clk. [Seal.]" 

At the first meeting of the board of trus- 
tees, w-hich was held on the 20th of March, 
1819, Hugh McGary was chosen president, 
Elisha Harrison, secretar}^ and lister of tax- 
able property, John Conner, treasurer, and 
Alpheus Fairchild, collector and marshal. 
The first tax lexy was twenty cents on the 



PAXOHAMA OF IS.io. 



107 



oiiL- hundred dollars worth of real property 
and a specific tax on several kinds of per- 
sonal property, the total taxes for the year 
amountins'' to $191.28 ){. 

At that time there were about lOO 
inhabitants in the town, and it was now 
yrowin^ fast enough to have a place of pub- 
lic entertainment. The hospitable house of 
Hugh McGary had been the favorite stop- 
ping place for all travelers, but in the spring 
of 1819 Alfred O. Warner and James Skid- 
more were granted permission to keep 
taverns at their houses. In those days licenses 
were not only necessary before conducting a 
business of this kind, but rates chargeable 
for all sorts of entertainmen^t and refreshment 
were fixed by the authorities. Thus, in 1S19 
the rates were, for each diet, 3714 cents; 
horse keeping, 50 cents; lodging, 121^ cents; 
yi pint rum, brandy, or wine, 50 cents; 
y, pint gin, peach or apple brandy, or 
bounce, 25 cents; and ji pint whiskey, 
12 Yz cents. In this year J. \"irgus opened a 
country store near the river bank. He was 
succeeded by Robert Armstrong and the 
Lewis Brothers. Their stocks were not 
extensive, being intended to supply onl}' 
such necessaries as were absolutely de- 
manded by their pioneer customers. Pro- 
fessional men, skilled and able, also came to 
the village about this time. More appro- 
priate mention of them is made in other 
connections. 

In 1820, John M. Dunham, Daniel F. 
Goldsmith, Presley Pritchett, William Mills, 
Jr., and John A. Chandler were elected 
trustees; James A. Boise was appointed sec- 
retarv, and Alanson Warner, treasurer. At 
this time, with the advent of liard times, due 
in part to causes which produced general 
and wide-spread distress in the east as well 
as the west, and in part to other causes 
wholly of a local nature, the growth of the 
\illage was checked. Several years elapsed 



before it again took up the march of pro- 
gress. This is, therefore, a convenient 
point in the story of its career to view the 
physical aspect of the little village, now 
grown to such magnificent proportions. 

The name of John S. Hopkins must be 
familiar to all who have given the histor}' of 
Evansville even a passing thought. From 
his young manhood until the da}' of his death, 
which occurred in 1882, he was conspicu- 
ously identified with the progress of the 
place. Possessing a sj'mpathetic nature, 
ready wit, brilliant talents, and unswerving 
integrit}', he was well equipped to lead a 
useful and honorable life. Holding at the 
will of the people, many offices of trust and 
honor, occupving a high place in business and 
social circles, and watching the development 
of the city from very early times, it is not 
strange that in later years he took a proud 
interest in its early history and attempted to 
preserve such facts concerning the pioneer 
era as might be of interest and value. With 
this end in view, assisted bj' a skilled artist, 
he reproduced upon canvas, from the tab- 
lets of his memorv, a view of Evansville as 
it appeared to him in 1S20, when he came 
with his father to make this his permanent 
home. A description of the town as it was 
at that date is here presented. The use of 
the names of streets, the numbers of lots, 
and familiar locations, gives the reader a 
correct idea, it being only necessary to keep 
in mind the general plan of the original 
town as platted upon the maps to be found 
in almost every home. 

This re\'iew will begin at the upper part 
of the town and run down the river, going 
outward from the river as occasion seems to 
require. On the river side of Water street, 
at the corner of Oak street, stood a preten- 
tious two-story frame house, which was the 
residence of Elisha Harrison, one of the 
early residents and men of enterprise and 



108 



THE CITY OF EVANSVlLLE. 



spirit, of the town of Evansville. The 
house still remains, a good deal changed in 
its general outlines and appearance, and is 
well known as the old frame residence of 
Robe'-t Barnes. On lot 33, of the Upper 
enlargement, stood a two-stor}- frame 
dwelling, where resided J. Morehouse, also 
a spirited citizen of his time. On the oppo- 
site side of First street, upon lot 40, of the 
Upper enlargement, stood a commodi- 
ous one-story frame house, which was 
the residence of Dr. Richardson. In the 
same house William Caldwell, " Old Part- 
ner," as he was familiarly called, afterward 
resided. On lot i, of the Upper enlarge- 
ment, at the upper corner of Water and 
Chestnut streets, there was a two-story frame 
house, which was the dwelling of A. Chandler, 
the father of the well remembered citizens, 
William J. and John J. Chandler. Passingout 
Chestnut street, on lot 97 of the old plan, at 
the north corner of Chestnut and Second 
streets, opposite the Cumberland Presbyte- 
rian church, stood a comfortable two-stor}- 
frame house which was the property, and 
perhaps the residence, of the grandfather 
of Col. Jackson McClain, of Henderson, Ky. 
On lot 40, old plan, fronting First street, 
where the Hon. Thomas E. Garvin now 
resides, was a one-story frame house occu- 
pied, and perhaps built, by Flam Fairchild. 

On lot 4, old plan, just above Walnut 
street, was a one-storj- frame house which 
is still standing, and was for a number of 
years known as the ferry house. Here 
hung a fair sized bell which was rung for 
the purpose of calling the ferryman across 
the river. The rear part of the house was 
built on piles driven in a ravine or natural 
water course which put into the river im- 
mediately below the Sunset park. This 
house was erected by Benjamin Jeffer}-, on 
lot 6, old plan, fronting on Water street. Be- 
tween Walnut and Locust streets was the 



residence of John Zimmerman, who served 
as one of the early postmasters of Evans- 
ville, and as clerk of Vanderburgh count)'. 
Adjoining Mr. Zimmerman's residence was 
a diminutive one-storv frame house in which 
a Mr. Crockwell kept a bakery. On lot 7, 
old plan, stood a one-story frame house in 
which James W. Jones, one of the original 
proprietors of the town site, had the office 
of countv clerk, which official po.sition he 
then held. On lot 8 at the upper corner of 
Locust and Water streets, EHsha Harrison 
had erected a low two-story frame house, 
which in 1820, was occupied as a store and 
tavern. When Edward Hopkins and family 
arrived in Evansville from the east, that 
gentlemen became in due time the proprietor 
of this establishment. He removed first to 
Saundersville and embarked in business there ; 
but returned to Evansville after the experi- 
irent of building a town at Saundersville 
had failed, and took charge of the tavern- 
stand at the corner of Water and Locust 
streets. After Mr. Hopkins removed from 
the house, it was continued as a tavern by 
John Conner. On lot 31, old plan, the site of 
the St. George hotel, stood a one-story 
frame house, with porches on both the side 
streets, which was the residence of Amos 
Clark. Lot 54, old plan, fronting on First 
street, where the Chandler block now is, was 
occupied by the residence of Dr. John Shaw, 
which was a commodious two-story frame 
dwelling. Adjoining the residence of Dr. 
Shaw was the residence of Dr. William 
Trafton, who was a skillful ph3sician and 
one of the best known citizens of his time. 
Dr. Trafton subsequently became the owner 
of the Shaw property, and made it his per- 
manent residence. On lot 89, old plan, at 
the corner of Locust and Second streets, Will- 
iam Warner, the father of Alfred O. Warner 
and Major Alanson Warner, and who was the 
fourth postmaster at Evansville, had a two- 



PANORAMA OF 1820. 



100 



story frame dwelling, where Alexander 
Johnson afterward kept a boarding house. 
The lot passed into the possession of Dr. 
Trafton, thence to Marcus Sherwood, and 
was by him sold to Major B. F. Dupuy. 
Here Maj. Dupu\- resided till the time of his 
death. 

The foregoing were all the houses above 
Locust street in 1820, which portion of the 
city embraces most of the fashionable 
and costly residences of the present day. 

On lot 9, old plan, at the lower corner 
of Locust and Water streets, where White 
& Dunkerson's tobacco ware-house now 
stands, was a one-story log house, which 
was occupied as a store by Jones & 
Harrison, until this firm gave way to 
Shanklin & Moffatt. In the rear of Mr. 
Shanklin's store was a small log house, 
which was, in 1820, the residence of Will- 
iam Stinson. On lot 40, old plan, now 
occupied by the Opera-house, stood a two- 
storj' log house with a frame addition in the 
rear toward the river, where Alfred O. 
Warner kept tavern. He was succeeded 
by his brother, Maj. Alanson Warner, who 
built the Mansion House, the first brick 
hotel in Evansville. This house was subse- 
quently the residence of Mr. Francis Linck, 
and was torn down when the Opera-house 
was built. On lot 58, old plan, fronting on 
First street, where the residence of Dr. M. 
J. Bray now stands, was a frame house in 
which Presle}- Pritchett carried on the busi- 
ness of making hats. Mr. Pritchett, who 
was a justice of the peace, also kept his 
office on the premises. Returning to the 
river front, on lot 10, old plan, now occupied 
by the American hotel buildinii, there 
stood a two-story frame house, which was 
occupied by a Mr. Vernon, and by Alexan- 
der Price as a boarding house. Subse- 
quently Edward Hopkins and his son, John. 
S. Hopkins, kept grocery in the same 



building. The next lot toward Main 
street, 11, contained a small frame house, 
painted red, and in its day ,kno\vn far and 
wide as "The Little Red," in which a store 
was kept for years, first by Lister & 
Wheeler, next by Joseph M. Caldwell, and 
afterward by the Rev. Robert Parrett and 
his son, John Parrett. On the rear part of 
the same lot Nathan Rowley had a double 
one-story log house, in one end of which he 
conducted a shoemaker's shop, employing 
two or three journeymen. Mr. Rowley 
was also a justice of the peace, and had his 
magistrate's office in the other end of the 
building. Lot 12, old plan, at the upper 
corner of Main and Water streets, contained 
a two-stor)- frame house, which was 
occupied by Robert Barnes when he first 
came to Evansville. The house, however, 
was built and in use long before Mr. Barnes 
ever saw the town. There was also another 
two-story frame house, at the rear or alle}' 
part of lot 12. It was sometimes used as a 
dwelling house, and occasionally as a place 
of business. 

At the corner of Main and First streets, 
on lot 38, old plan, where the Kazar House 
was afterward built, and which is now occu- 
pied by the banking house of the First 
National Bank, was a two-story frame 
dwelling, the residence of Dr. Seaman. On 
lot 39, adjoining the Warner tavern, was a 
two-story frame known as" Warner's Den." 
It was here that the fast 3'oung men of the 
village congregated nightly to take a hand 
in cards and other games of chance, and 
from the carousals they had there the place 
took its name. It was a noted (juarter in 
the early days of the town. 

Going out Main street, at the east corner 
of Main and First, on lot 59, old plan, there 
was a one-story frame house in which John 
M. Lockw'ood kept a grocerj-. On the same 
lot, fronting on First street, stood a tall one- 



110 



THE CITY OF ETANSVILLE. 



story log house, entered at the front door 
by a flight of wooden steps, which was the 
residence and office of John Conner, then a 
justice of the peace. On lot 60, the next 
above on Main street, there was a two- 
stor}- frame house, which was the property 
of one of the McClain fanriily, of Henderson 
county, Ky. Next to the alley, on lot 60, a 
Mr. Avery had a cabinet shop. On lot 85, 
across the allev, was a large two-story frame, 
the propert}' of Samuel Mansel. On the 
next blockbetween Secondand Third streets, 
upon lot 108, and adjoining the allev, stood 
a t\vo-stor\- log house, where x'Ynsel Wood 
kept a tavern. On a part of the same lot, 
but a few feet down the street from the 
tavern, was a small frame house, which af- 
terward became the property of James 
Scantlin, Sr., and was occupied by him for a 
series of years as a tin shop. On lot 234 of 
the Donation enlargement, being on Fifth 
street between Locust and Walnut, where 
Thomas Bullen's liver}- stable now stands, 
was a two-storv frame dwelling, the resi- 
dence of Judge John M. Dunham. His 
brother, Horace Dunham, occupied the 
same house for man}- years afterward. 

On the " Evans homestead," which em- 
braced the entire block bounded by Main, 
Fifth, Locust and Sixth streets, occupying a 
gentle rise of the ground, stood a prettv one- 
story cottage, surrounded by trees and 
shrubbery, which ivas much admired. 

The old court-house, yet standing, but 
hemmed in b}' other buildings, occupied the 
south corner of what was known as the 
" public square," at the intersection of 
Main and Third streets. On the opposite 
diagonal corner of the public square where 
the present court-house and jail stand, and 
occupying the precise location of the present 
jail, was a log structure twelve feet square 
in the clear, inside, but with walls three feet 
thick, made of hewed white oak timbers. 



which was the first jail of Vanderburgh 
county. It was from this structure that John 
Harvey was taken to suffer execution June 
27, 1S23. A considerable knoll arose in the 
rear of the court-house, and on its crest 
at the back end of lot 135, stood a 
two-stoi;y building originally a log structure, 
which was afterward framed over. This 
house stood until within a very few years 
past. It was built by William R. McGary, 
a brother of Col. Hugh McGary, and was 
for some }-ears the home of Capt. James 
Newman, and while he lived there was a 
fashionable residence. On lot 136, old plan, 
at the west corner of Third and Locust 
streets, stood the blacksmith shop of Col. 
Seth Fairchild, where the augers were 
made with which to bore salt wells. Near 
by, on the same block, ornamenting the 
crest of a small knoll or hill, stood the two- 
story house built by Wm. R. McGary, and 
which for a time was the fashionable resi- 
dence of Capt. James Newman. 

The sketch of Evansville on the upper 
side of Main street is now complete, with the 
addition of the first jail, which was below- 
Main. 

On lot 13, old plan, at the lower corner 
of Main and Water streets, stood a two- 
story frame building, the property of Will- 
iam and James Lewis, wherein these gen- 
tlemen kept a miscellaneous store, dealing in 
most all kinds of wares sold in the market. 
It was the principal store of the town for a 
considerable time. On the same lot adjoin- 
ing Lewis' store, Robert Armstrong also 
kept a store. 

Fronting on Main street adjacent to the 
alley that runs at the rear end of lot 13, 
stood the warehouse of Col. Hugh McGary 
in which the first court was held in Vander- 
burgh county. The courts continued to be held 
in McGar}-"s warehouse until the first court- 
house had sufficiently progressed to be used 



PANOBAMA OF mo. 



Ill 



for court purposes. During all this time the 
warehouse continued to be used for com- 
mercial purposes. In later years Bement & 
Viele opened a wholesale grocery in this 
same warehouse, presenting to their cus- 
tomers the largest stock of goods that had 
ever been brought to Evansville. The tirm 
continued to do business in • the premises 
until they finally erected their own -store- 
house. Subsequently this celebrated ware- 
house was removed to Sycamore street, 
between Fourth and Fifth, where it was util- 
ized by John Gavisk and others for packing 
pork. It is still standing, now in use as a 
livery stable, and may be regarded as a relic 
of former days closely identified with the 
history of Evansville. 

Where the Evansville National Bank 
building now stands, there was a one-story 
log house in which J. V. Robinson kept store. 
It was afterward occupied b\- Garrett Jones, 
a brother of James W. Jones. Two or three 
years later, J. V. Robinson built a frame 
warehouse on the corner of First and Main, 
lot 36, old plan, which was afterward occu- 
pied at various times as a store by Charles 
Stewart, John S. Hopkins, and probably 
others. In this building W. & C. Bell 
opened their drug store in later years. On 
lot 83, old plan, where the Lahr-Hopkins 
dry goods house now is, Mr. Posey had a 
two-story frame house. At the corner of 
Main and Fifth streets there was an odd kind 
of a rookery somewhat resembling a huge 
chicken coop. 

Returning to Water street, on lot 14, old 
plan, the second lot below Main street, 
stood the historical hewed log house of Col. 
Hugh McGary. It was one story and a 
half high. 36 feet long by 18 feet wide, with 
an L running back and connecting at the 
rear with the warehouse which fronted on 
Main street, as above described. This house 
of Col. McGary was a marked feature of tlie 



pioneer era. Before the plan of Evansville 
had an existence, there was a small store 
kept there, and it was the hostelry for per- 
sons passing through the wilderness who 
sought temporary- accommodations. In that 
house the first post-office was opened in 181 8, 
and there the county commissioners held 
their early meetings. 

Fronting on First street, on the rear part 
of lot 61, old plan, Daniel Tool had a small 
frame tailor shop. Tool was an Irishman 
and a Catholic. One of his failings was that 
he would occasionally get drunk and have a 
light. On such occasions, there being no 
Catholic priest at hand, as soon as he got 
over his little spree he would mount his 
horse, ride to Vincennes, visit the prie.st 
stationed there, and confessing his error ask 
for absolution. 

Next to Tool's shop there was a two-stor}' 
frame house occupied by William Kelly as 
a residence. On lot ill, old plan, near the 
corner of Sycamore and Second streets, was 
the two-stor}' frame residence of Andrew 
Graham, who was a son-in-law of Mr. King, 
a long time resident of the farm on the op- 
posite side of the river from Evansville. 
After several transfers, the Graham property 
was purchased by the Reverend Father 
Devdier for the use of the Catholic church, 
and upon the ruins of the old frame house of 
1820 arose the walls of the first Church of the 
Assumption, some twenty years later. The 
church building, later known as Viele hall, 
has been torn down within the present year 
and on its site the building of the Business 
Men's association is being erected. 

On lot 65, old plan, at the corner of First 
and Sycamore streets, where Sweetser & 
Caldwell now have their wholesale notion 
store, there stood a two-stor\- log dwelling 
house, and one of similar size and material 
stood on the adjacen t corner across First 
street, being lot 32 of the old plan. 



112 



THE CITY OF EVANSVILLE. 



Farther down First street, on lot 30, old 
plan, stood the finest brick residence of the 
cit}'. This was a large, double front, two- 
stor}' brick dwelling, built by Nicholas 
Thompson, and occupied at different times 
by various old residents. Mr. Edward Hop- 
kins resided there for a while after returning 
from Saundersville, and partially put the 
finishing touches upon its construction. In 
after years a large public hall was attached 
in the rear and the premises converted into 
a restaurant and theater. It was first called 
the Apollo, and subsequently the Mozart 
hall. On the opposite side of First street 
from this building, on lot 67, old plan, stood 
a one-storv loc hut in which dwelt a man 
named Paxton. 

On lot 1 20, old plan, where the city hos- 
pital now stands, stood a commodious two- 
story frame dwelling, erected by Varner 
Satterlee. On lot 3, Douglas addition, at 
the north corner of Division and First streets, 
was a large two-story log house, occupied 
by the Sullivan girls. On lots i, 3, and 4 of 
the Lower or McGary's enlargement there 
stood three two-story log houses. 

The fore coin c were all the houses of the 
embr3-o city in 1820, except two which were 
far removed from the center of the village. 
One of these was a good sized two-story 
frame dwelling, which stood below Goodsell 
street, and the other a two-story log house 
in the Upper enlargement, occupying a part 
of the site of the present water works, which 
was for a considerable time the residence of 
William Stinson, the father of Thomas J. 
Stinson, the well known river pilot. 

The drive down the rugged river bank 
at that time was protected from caving b}- 
interlaced wooden buttresses. Some old 
citizens have believed that this work was 
constructed nearly a generation after the 
time here mentioned. In support of their 
belief they assert that they saw the laborers 



preparing and putting the timbers together. 
This is possibly true, but the work then 
being done was probabl_v repairing and not 
original construction. Taken altogether the 
description of the town as outlined above is 
very nearly perfect. The picture from 
which it is taken stood the severe test of a 
critical examipation by man}- old residents, 
now gone forever, who pronounced it accu- 
rate in all its details. 

In viewing Evansville's condition during 
the 'period of adversity following 1820, it 
may be well to examine briefly the causes 
of that condition. During the war of 1S12, 
manufactories had grown up in the eastern 
and middle states, which emplo}'ed much of 
the capital and industry that had previously 
been engaged in commerce. This created 
a demand for western produce, which con- 
tinued active until the change of times soon 
after the peace was effected, when large im- 
portations of foreign goods induced many 
of the manufacturers to relinquish the busi- 
ness for a time and engage in commerce or 
emigrate west. Prices of produce were, 
however, kept near the previous rates until 
after 1819. In this year the banking sys- 
tem of the west began to be seriously con- 
vulsed. Specie payments were suspended 
in all the states south of New England. 
The government paid its soldiery in the west 
and bought provisions for them in money 
issued by the banks of Ohio. A large cir- 
culation was required, and banks were estab- 
ished on fictitious capital, and, as a naturall 
consequence, the country soon became 
flooded with a depreciated and often worth- 
less currenc}-. By 1822 the western banks 
had failed, and there was no longer any cir- 
culating medium. Even cut silver (which 
has been facetiously described as an at- 
tempted division of a dollar into five quar- 
ters) disappeared, and the coonskin became 
the basis for all financial transactions of lim- 



PERIOD OF ADVEKSITY. 



lis 



itod dimensions. Tlie Bank of Vincennes 
had been established in 1S14, and was pru- 
dently managed at first, but its failure was 
one of the most discreditable occurring in 
the country. Its paper became entirely 
worthless, and the go\ernment received onh' 
a small proportion of some $200,000 which, 
as the proceeds of public land sales, had 
been deposited with the bank. 

The commercial disasters and the wide- 
spread want among the people are a part of i 
the nation's histor\'. The village of Evans- I 
ville shared the general distress pre\alent 
throughout the states of the nation, and iiad 
additional woes of a local nature to endure. 
The years 1820, 1821 and 1822 were at- 
tended with more general and fatal sickness 
than ever before had been experienced. 
Bilious and intermitting fe\'ers were pre\'a- 
lent in all parts of the state. Not a neigh- ; 
borhood, and, indeed, hardly an individual, 
escaped the ravages of some form of mala- 
rial poison. The larger towns in the state | 
lost from one-fourth to one-half of their 
population, and some villages were entirely 
depopulated. All business was, in a meas- 
ure, suspended, not because of any general 
seriousness produced b\' so much sickness, 
for even in the chambers of death and at the 
grave there was much apparent levitv, but I 
more on account of a carelessness respecting 
all kinds of business, that seemed to possess 
all alike. As a direct result of the hard 
times and the general sickness, immigration 
almost wholly ceased. The price of lands i 
went down rapidlv, and there seemed no 
limit to the decline in values. There was 
absolutely no mone\- to be had, and it was 
one of the pioneer's misfortunes that the 
government would not accept produce or 
coonskins for land, but insisted on receiving 
cash. The county of Vanderburgh was 
suing, or threatening to sue, all who had 
bought lots m the Donation enlargement 



and had failed to pay for them. Property 
to large amounts was sacrificed for costs 
merely, and even creditors got no benefit. 
The details of many cases are almost beyond 
behef. In one instance, the purchaser of 
certain lands had paid three-fourths of the 
purchase money, and had mortgaged the 
property to secure the payment of the re- 
maining one-fourth; on a foreclosure of the 
mortgage, the propert}- was sold for one- 
half the amount due — that is, for one-eighth 
of the original purchase money: and the 
mortgagee, after the return of better times, 
collected the one-half remaining unpaid from 
the debtor out of other resources. Relief 
laws, the fruits of wrong principles and 
wrong feelings, were enacted, and efforts 
were made to prevent the collection of 
debts. These but added to the business 
stagnation. Congress lowered the price of 
public lands, extended the time of payment 
on lands already entered by settlers, at- 
tempted to afford relief against forfeitures, 
and in various ways sought to relieve the 
general distress, but with little success. 

For a time after this period of adversity 
was begun, some imagining it to be only 
temporar\-, continued to invest their means 
in business ventures. In 1S21 the publica- 
tion of a newspaper was commenced in the 
village. This was the Eiausvillc Gazette, 
established, and for a time conducted, by 
Gen. Elisha Harrison, a prominent man of 
his day, self-taught, energetic and able, and 
William Monroe, a practical printer, under the 
firm name of Harrison & Monroe. Later it 
passed into the individual ownership of Mr. 
Monroe and after a brief struggle for life 
passed out of existence about the latter part 
of 1824. William and James Lewis, Robert 
Barnes and John Mitchell were then ensfaired 
in mercantile pursuits here, and during this 
period of depression, probablv about 1823, 
the firm of ^hanklin & Moffatt was estab- 



^u 



THE CITY OF F.VAXSVILLE. 



lished. The first-named member of this 
firm, the late Jolin Shanklin, on account of 
his probity, integrity, and intelHgence in busi- 
ness, drew about his name a kistre which 
time has not yet dimmed. 

Among the impro\emenis in the town 
which evidenced the faith that some had 
in its abilit}' to withstand tlie storm and come 
out safely in the future, were the first 
brick houses erected. The old court- 
house still standing at the southeast 
corner of Third and Main streets, was 
the first structure of this kind erected in the 
village. Various make-shifts were resorted 
to b\' the county officials to meet the de- 
mands of the contractors. Lots in Donation 
enlargement, the notes of purchasers of 
other lots, judgments secured by the county 
against individuals, and other credits of a like 
nature, in the absence of read}- money, were 
used to keep up the work on this public 
building. The bricks for its construction 
were burned on the northwest (Quarter of the 
public square, on the site of the court house 
now in use, the wood for the purpose being 
cut from the forests in the immediate vicinity. 
The first brick residence was quite a preten- 
tious two-storj- dwelling built by Nicholas 
Thompson, on First street, between Vine 
and Sycamore. The next brick house was 
erected on Main street just below the cor- 
ner of First, by J. V. Robinson, about 1S25. 
This building was one of the most preten- 
tious habitations in ihe town in its day, and 
stood for nearly a generation. It was after- 
ward occupied for several 3-earsby Mr. John 
Walsh as a residence, and was finally torn 
down by Judge M. W. Foster, when he 
erected the storehouses now standing on 
that corner. 

It may be of interest to know that in 1824, 
for the first time, the assessed value of real 
estate appears upon the public records, as 
follows : 



Original plan $21,681 00 

Donation enlargement 2,115 06 

Upper enlargement 2,690 00 

Lower enlargement 848 00 

Total $27,334 06 

At this time the following persons were the 
trustees of the town : Amos Clark, presi- 
dent; Charles I. Battell, Harley B. Chan- 
dler, Nathan Rowley, and Josluia V. Rob- 
inson. 

Like a pall, hard times settled down upon 
the village. Taxes were unpaid and the 
collector was without a remedy. He might 
levy upon property and expose it to sale, but 
he found no purchasers. There was plenty 
of produce, and the spectre Famine was 
not in\-ading the homes of the poor, but 
business was paralyzed and motionless. 
Men ceased to make efforts to enhven trade, 
their apparently sole aim being to exist and, 
Micawber-like, wait for something to turn 
up. The maintenance of civil government 
in the village received no thought or care. 
From March 14, 1825, to January 28, 1828, 
there appears to have been no meeting of 
the town trustees, and E\ansville almost 
ceased to maintain its existence as a cor- 
porate body. There were few accjuisitions 
to business circles, and some who had estab- 
lished themselves in a period of brighter 
hopes, were forced to retire and resort to 
other means of gaining a support. 

It is a pleasure to turn from this dark pic- 
ture and look upon a can\'as illumined with 
brighter tints. Congress, by legislative en- 
actments, guaranteed a degree of protec- 
tion to home industries against disastrous 
foreign competition, and in the larger cities 
of the land, and in the country generally, 
the beneficial effects of the polic}' adopted 
were soon apparent. Here, in the immedi- 
ate vicinity of Evansville, about 182S, steady 
industry and economy had paid off most of 



BE'rUBX OF I'L'OSrEEITY. 



11-^ 



the individual debt of the countn-; the peo- 
ple had accustomed themselves' to hard 
times, and bv the tireless work of their own 
hands brought back prosperity. Tlie com- 
mencement of the national road to the slate 
capitol, which in 1825 had been removed 
from Cor\-don to hidianapolis, turned the j 
attention of emi<^rrants towards the state: [ 
the interior counties of the state were tilling ; 
with a class of good citizens, progressive : 
and industrious; congress had made its first 
grant of lands- to the Wabash & Erie canal, j 
and the subject of internal impro\'ements ■ 
had begun to wield its exciting influence [ 
upon the minds of men. The great west, 
with its apparently boundless stores of j 
wealth, with the revival of prosperity 
throughout the country, began to attract the ■ 
capitalist seeking profitable in\-estment for 
his means, as well as the impoverished 
pioneer who came seeking a home and a 
lield for the display of his energy and native 
shrewdness, his onlv talents. 

On the 2Sth of March, 1828, a board ot 
trustees was again organized, and Evansville 
revived. John Shanklin, president, John 
Conner, Alanson Warner, Jay Morehouse 
and William Lewis, all men of more than 
t)rdinary abilit\-, whose names were subse- 
quently conspicuous in public affairs in the 
town and county, were chosen as trustees. 
The tax duplicate for that ^ear shows 
that the assessment of taxes amounted to 
$107.28 Vi, a sum considerably less than that 
which appeared upon the duplicate nine 
years earlier, when the town was more pop- 
ulous and flourishing. But from that time 
onward the pulsations of new life were felt, 
and these grew in strength as the rears 
advanced. l^p to this time Evanss'ille 
had not e\en boasted of a blacksmith's 
shop, one of the earliest conveniences de- 
manded by an agricultural communitv. To 
supply the demand for a smith}-, Gen. 



Evans brought a negro, by the name of 
Worsham, from Kentucky, for the purpose 
of ojierating his trade. In the course of a 
year or two Jonathan Fairchild and his sons 
emigrated from New York, and established 
a smithv in the village of Mechanicsville, 
wliich became quite an institution in its da}'. 
For several }-ears all the livery horses in 
Evansville were taken to Fairchild's shop to 
be shod. All kinds of iron work was exe- 
cuted there, the smithy running live forges 
a good deal of the time. 

Other mechanical industries began to be 
represented, and the list of merchants grew 
in length. Stocks carried were enlarged in 
(juantity and improved in variety to satisfy 
the growing demands of a diversified popu- 
lation. Concerning this period, Judge Will- 
iam F. Parrett, in an address delivered in 
1880, used these words: " You ma}- readily 
imagine those who were engaged in business 
here as merchants closely scanning the natu- 
ral advantages of this locality. They saw, 
200 miles above us, the falls of the 
Ohio, and about the same distance to the 
northwest the old cit}- of St. Louis, which 
had been established a little more than a 
half century before by a trader by the name 
of Laclede, the navigable condition of the 
Wabash river for the greater part of each 
year, the elegant and almost continuous fit- 
ness for navigation the year round of the 
Ohio river to the Mississippi river, and 
thence to the Gulf: they saw Green river 
and other tributaries aboxe, and the Wabash, 
Cumberland and Tennessee below, not only 
supplving the Ohio \\ilh water, but these 
were themselves destined, at an early day, 
to be made to contribute largely to the trade 
and commerce of this city and locality. 
They also saw the feasibilit}- of good roads 
by the way of Princeton and Vincennes to 
the prairies of Indiana and Illinois, and also 
by the way of Petersburgh to the rich lands 



116 



THE CITY OF EVANSVILLE. 



bordering on the Patoka and White rivers; 
nor did they forget that unsurpassed and 
almost unequalled body of land near by, 
lying in the counties of Spencer, Warrick, 
Gibson and Posey. These merchants were 
soon joined by others, both German and 
American, of whom the late Asa B. Bement, 
Samuel Orr and others were true types. 
Ships began to run from New York and 
the Atlantic coast to New Orleans, and a 
superior class of steamboats began to move 
like ' things of life ' upon the Ohio and 
Mississippi rivers; and there are men here 
who well remember the trains of large 
wagons heavily loaded going out to, and 
coming in from as far out as, Rockville, 
Terre Haute, Vincennes and many interior 
towns both in Illinois and Indiana. It is 
needless to say that under such men and 
conditions all the diversifications of commer- 
cial business prospered, and the citizens 
generally hailed a bright prospect in the 
near future, and yet it may well be said of 
these men that the}- builded wiser than they 
knew." 

In mentioning the period of depression in 
Evansville, from 1820 to 1828, it was no- 
ticed that the change from good to bad was 
not sudden but gradual. So the commence- 
ment of a better era was not sharply marked, 
and during the first few years the progress 
was not easily discernible. As description 
of the town and its inhabitants in 1831, the 
words of Hon. John M. Lockwood, of Posey 
count}', are here quoted: "In 1831 I located 
there (in Evansville), boarding with Robert 
M. Evans — price of board per week $1.25. 
His residence was on his farm over the canal 
outside of the corporation, on the state road. 
From the Ohio river to Evan's farm up 
Main street there were five buildings on the 
west side and seven on the east side, and 
some other streets were built in about the 
same proportion. I found the town small 



and dull; plenty of vacant lots and no sales 
mentioned; any number could be had for 
$20 or $25; dog-fennel and stumps in every 
direction. * . * * Of the early inhab- 
itants, the men having families in 1S31, were: 
Gen. Robert M. E\ans, Dr. William Trafton, 
John Mitchell, Amos Clark, Thomas Johnson, 
Silas Stephens, John M. Dunham, Mr. 
Ruark, Capt. James Newman, Maj. Alanson 
Warner, William McNitt, William Lewis, 
Joseph Hughe\', Alpheus Fairchild, John W. 
Lilliston, William Scates, Camillus Evans, 
Edward Hopkins, Robert Barnes, Alex 
Johnson, William Dougherty, Daniel Tool, 
Alex McCallister, Henry Greek, Levi Price, 
L. J. Stinson, Dr. Phillips, James Lewis, 
Samuel Mansel, Abel Sullivan, Daniel Sul- 
livan, Clark Lewis. The unmarried men in 
Evansville, in 1831, were: John Shanklin, 
John S. Hopkins, John M. Lockwood, Will- 
iam Caldwell, William Campbell, John 
Mansel, Horace Dunham, Henry Carring- 
ton, George Thompson, James Johnson, 
Joseph Leonard, John Young, Marcus Sher- 
wood, Jolin Newman, William T. T. Jones, 
James Johnson, William Johnson, Capt. Bar- 
ber, Nathan Rowley, David McArthur, 
John Ross, George Leonard, Richard 
Leonard, Stephen Woodrow. Allowing six 
for each family, the population of Evansville 
at that time was about 216. The following 
are the names of farmers living in the vicinity 
in 1831: Robert Parrett, Emanuel Hall, 
Charles Dunk, John Duncan, James Neal, 
George W. Lindsey, Luke Wood, John B. 
Stinson, Benoni Stinson and Daniel Miller." 
The absence of Hugh McGary's name 
from this list ma}- cause an inquiry as to the 
whereabouts at that time of the founder of 
the village. Up to this time he had 
remained a citizen of the village, engaged 
in merchandising and trading, and it was 
probably not earlier than 1832 that he took 
his final departure from this place. This 



JCHF^'- -tV^-:- 



*SSI*» 




John Shanklin 



-l.V EVKXTFl'L YEAR. 



iia 



man, whose energies were spent in fouiuling 
and fostering a village which has grown to 
be one of the largest and most magnificent 
cities of a great state, left the scene of his 
early struggles and triumph under a cloud. 
He went away in humiliation and disgrace, 
— a soldier drummed out of a camp which 
he had been most instrumental in erecting. 
About 1832 he was charged before Esquire 
Jacobs, of Scott township, with stealing a 
horse from Mark Wheeler. In those daws 
a charge of homicide was perhaps less 
disgraceful than that of horse stealinsj. A 
warrant was issued for his arrest. The 
constable, Samuel Hooker, anticipating 
resistance, look five men, Joshua \V. 
Stephens, Silas Stephens, Wilson Short, 
John C. Henson and Wm. Linxweiler, to 
assist him in making the arrest, and proceed- 
ing with this martial array against tlie 
accused culprit, found him astride the stolen 
horse. Surrendering without a murmur, 
McGary returned with his captors, and was 
arraigned at the bar of justice. When 
called upon to plead he claimed to have 
purchased the horse from a man named 
Wasson, and this account of the matter was 
generally believed by fair-minded men. 
Wasson had run off and could not be found ; 
the prosecution was not pushed: the horse 
was returned to its rightful owner, and the 
matter was dropped except by the enemies 
of McGary, who with busy tongues kept 
the evil story fresh in the minds of the 
people. For awhile he bore up braveh' 
against all taunts, but his rough exterior 
covered a tender heart, which bled under 
the piercing blows of slander. He con- 
tinued apparently attentive to business, but 
at times was unable to conceal his discom- 
fort and chagrin. At length he went south, 
ostensibly on business, and never returned. 
Concerning .some events of the times 
under consideration the followinir extracts 



are made from the reminiscences of Mr. Lock- 
wood : " The most pernicious and deleterious 
events that occurred in 1S32 were the cold 
weather, the great flood, and the cholera. 
The ice froze to the thickness of twenty 
inches on the Ohio. There were no ther- 
mometers in the town, and the degree of 
coldness was not known, but to sav that it 
was cold, cold, bitter cold, iiitciisc/v cold, 
does not fully explain the extreme bitterness 
of the winter weather. The average cit- 
izen, thinly clad, suffered intensely; heavy 
cloaks and wraps were not the fashion; 
frosted feet, ears, and even noses caused 
much complaint. Dr. WiUiam Trafton crossed 
over on the ice and married his second wife, 
a Miss Butler, whose father was then living 
some distance above town. She was among 
the first of the Kentucky girls brought over 
on the ice. 

" Finally spring weather came with a lush ; 
the rain poured down in torrents; the snow 
and ice melted; the Ohio rose and over- 
flowed her banks, and Evansville lacked but 
about six inches of being on an island. The 
surging waters backed up Pigeon creek, 
rushed over the banks and up a deep ravine 
from the mouth of Pigeon and up northeast 
through the woods to the west side of Evans' 
farm, advancing until it was checked by a 
small ridge of land in the east part above 
town, lacking about six inches of connecting 
with water that came down through a ravine 
from the river near the Parrett and Lindsev 
farms, southeast of town. This great flood 
caused immense destruction of stock and 
property. Several farmers living opposite 
and above town moved over to escape being 
drowned. Houses, barns, fences, and dead 
animals floated down. A steamboat passed 
up through the cut-off above town (the 
Green river bayou) on the Indiana side, all 
in plain \ie\\ of a number of citizens on the 
river bank. 



im 



THE crrV OF EVAXaVILLE. 



'• The beautiful Oliio river had no sand-bars 
visible at any season" of the year. Its deli- 
cious water was drawn up and stored in 
whiskey barrels at most of the dwelling 
houses and cabins in town. The probable 
cause of the cholera in September, 1S32, 
that proved so fatal, may be charged to the 
dailv use for drinking and culinary purposes 
of water standing in whiskey barrels. About 
twent\'-five or thirty died, which was a large 
fatality considering the population, which 
was only about 225. This great, calamity 
had a depressing tendency — so much so that 
no sales of real estate were reported, exx'ept 
lot number 60, old plan, for $200. 

"The United States mail arrived once each 
week from Vincennes in a small two-horse 
stage, or on horseback when the roads were 
bad. Coal and cook-stoves were unheard of. 
Cooking on the liearth by the fire-place was 
the order of the day, using "Dutch ovens,'" 
skillets and lids, frying pans, etc. Not a 
newspaper was published nearer than Vin- 
cennes. Steamboats seldom passed or stopped. 
Once in a while a high pressure pU'ing be- 
tween Cincinnati and New Orleans passed 
up or down. 

"In 1833 times began to improve. A slight 
advance was made in the price of lots, but 
few sales were reported. A small increase 
was also made in population. Dr. Lane, Dr. 
A. P. Hutchinson and a few others came in. 
In the month of November in this year, on 
the morning of the 13th, before da\-light, the 
citizens were aroused to see the rain of me- 
teors that were falling thick as hail. It 
looked as if the stars had all broken loose 
and were descending to the earth. The 
sight was sublime." 

From 1831 to 1835 quite a number of 
deaths were reported in the village and vi- 
cinity from a disease called milk-sickness. 
There were shaking ague, chills and fever, 
but no disease called " snakes in the boots '" 



was heard of at that time. Evidences of 
prosperit\' became clearly visible in 1834. ^" 
the spring of that year William Town settled 
in the village and immediately made known 
his purpose of establishing a newspaper, 
which was accepted as joyful news b)' the 
citizens of the place. His means were lim- 
ited, and while teaching school, he set up a 
printing press in the old Mansel House, a 
frame on Main street, and commenced the 
publication of the £!i'aiisz'ille 'foiinuil. In 
the same year upon the establishment of the 
first state bank, Evansville was designated 
as a point for the organization of one of its 
branches. These two institutions gave the 
town a metropolitan air and attracted toward 
it the favorable notice of other communities. 
The bank especially, by enlarging the finan- 
cial facilities of the town gave an impetus to 
all departments of business. New energv 
and high hopes for the future sprang up in 
the village and encouraged the citizens to 
more than ordinar}^ effort. The news that 
Evansville was of suflicient importance to 
ha\e a branch of the state bank and a ne\vs- 
paper, went abroad, and immigration was 
measurably increased. A steady demand 
for real estate grew up, and improvement 
and development were obser\able on all 
sides. 

About this time the spirit of progress 
was thoroughly aroused throughout the 
state. It clamored for the development of 
Indiana's natural resources. The construc- 
tion of railroads and canals became the all- 
absorbing theme, not only among legislators 
but also among the people, who, acting 
under the frenzy of excitement, asked for 
legislation authorizing a gigantic scheme of 
internal improvements far beyond the actual 
needs of the country and impossible of 
realization. In 1835-6 a bill providing for a 
general system of improvements throughout 
the state became a law. It might have been 



WABASH d- ERIE CAXAL. 



121 



salutary and beneficial if prudence and com- 
mon sense had confined it to proper limits, 
but instead of this it brou"-ht sufferint; to 
the state's character and resources, and in 
the general crash that followed destro\ed 
many pri\ate fortunes. The completion of 
the \arious works authorized would have 
cost thirt\' millions of dollars, and in the 
expenditure of this vast sum many 
individuals hoped for, and expected, large 
personal benefits of a legitimate character. 
The citizens of Evansville were to be 
favored with a railroad, but their brightest 
hopes were based upon the construction of 
the Wabash & Erie canal, for which liberal 
provisions had been made in the bill This 
great thoroughfare, commencing at Toledo, 
Ohio, was to strike the head waters of the 
Wabash river and, following the fertile 
valleys of that and White ri\er, was to ter- 
minate on the Ohio at Evansville. The 
Central canal was to form a part of the 
same great system, pouring the surplus 
wealth of a large territory into the world's 
markets through the town of Evansville. 
This canal was intended to pass from 
Muncie-town through Indianapolis to Point 
Commerce, on White river, where it would 
be united to the Wabash & Erie canal. 
Thus Evansville was to be placed in the 
most favorable position that could then be 
conceived of for a commercial center, com- 
manding the outlet of two of the richest and 
most productive valleys on the hemisphere. 
An incident illustrating the customs of the 
times occurred in connection with the loca- 
tion of the southern terminus of the proposed 
canal, in the summer before the passage of 
the bill. The construction of its northern 
portion, based on the land grants of 1827, 
by the general government, was authorized 
by the legislature in 1 830-1, and during the 
following year its actual construction with 
pick and shoxel was commenced. The great 



e\ent in 1833 in Evans\'ille was the establish- 
ment here of the southern terminus of the 
thoroughfare. What was known as the 
canal dinner was one of the most interesting 
events of the important occasion. Strong 
drinks were freely indulged in, as was, cus- 
tomary at that time, and as a result, so 
remarkable was the occasion, nearly everv 
man in town, it has been asserted, was reel- 
: ing, staggering, whooping drunk in the 
i streets. The senators, representatives, and 
' other in\ited guests, with reckless abandon, 
j gave themselves up to the most unbecoming 
' indulgences. The event exceeded anv dem- 
onstration of popular joy that up to that time 
had been witnessed in the town. When the 
[ internal improvement bill had become a law, 
I business received an impetus such as it had 
never known before. The vast plan of pub- 
lic w'ork attracted the attention of the adven- 
turous spirit of the east, and immigrants from 
bevond the seas. A tide of immigration 
swept into the state such as always follows 
the announcement of facts that appeal to 
man's cupidity. The public lands of Van- 
derburgh county had for a few years been 
passing into the possession of mdustrious 
! and frugal settlers from Germany and other 
j parts of the old world. About this time the 
! influx of settlers was at its height. The 
town of Evansville was rapidly growing in 
size and commercial importance. The im- 
mediate and large success of the place 
seemed assured. 

But within a year the gigantic scheme of 
development began to crumble and fall. 
Some capitalists in the east had purchased 
the state bonds on terms that placed but 
little money in the hands of the authorities 
for immediate use. It became evident at 
once that the times were not ripe for the 
progressive steps that had been contemp- 
lated and authorized by legislative enact- 
ments. The state's credit failed, and this 



122 



THE CITY OF EVAXSVILLE. 



occurred fortunately before the immense 
debt at first intended to be incurred was 
fastened on the people. However, even 
when it was evident that the work could not 
be carried to completion, vast sums of 
money were expended in pushing forward 
the plan, the indecision of the public officials 
permitting a great waste of monev. Rail- 
roads in various parts of the stale were left 
in an incomplete condition and were soon 
abandoned altogether. The system of ca- 
nals terminating at Evansville formed a part 
of this extensive and ill-advised plan of im- 
provement. As soon as practicable ground 
was broken at this end of the gi-eat highway, 
and the work was pushed forward sufli- 
ciently to provide an excellent skating place 
for the bovs of the town in the winter of 
1S37, but no better results were achieved 
before the '-state s\stem"' broke down. 
With aggressive zeal, commendable and 
characteristic of the enterprising citizens of 
that day, in order to be readv for business 
as soon as the canal was opened, a passenger 
boat, of good appearance, substantial and 
commodious, was built, named in honor of 
that manlv pioneer, Nathan Rowlev, 
launched upon the waters and there allowed 
to float until she became a useless, rotten 
hulk. At this time, when the system had 
collapsed, the state in general and this city 
were in a far worse condition than they 
could possibly ha\e been had the work com- 
menced never been thought of. All hope 
of improvement from this source was aban- 
doned. The rapid filling of the country 
with industrious people was supporting the 
growth of the town, independently of the 
canal. A large surplus of produce was an- 
nually brought to Evansville for shipment. 
Steamers began to pl\' regularly between 
Pittsburg and St. Louis, or Cincinnati and 
New Orleans, and Evansville was the ship- 
ping point for a large area of fertile country-. 



Not content with using the boats that were 
brought here from other docks the same en- 
terprising spirit that was visible in other 
branches of business led to the construction 
of a steamer here. An account of the build- 
ing of the first boat in the town of Evans- 
ville has been given to the public by Dr. 
Floyd Stinson, and is here quoted: -'The 
Otsego was probably built in 1S34. 

" The hull of the steamer was built on the 
bank of the Ohio river, near the mouth of 

, Pigeon creek. The lumber used in building 
its hull was principally procured in the woods 
within 600 yards of the site of building, and 

j was hewed and sawed out by hand. She 
was built by Joseph Lane, Frederick E. 
Goodsell, and John M. Ham jointly. Mr. 
Sampson was the boss ship carpenter, and 
Joseph Lane, F. E. Goodsell, John M. Ham, 
W. Kirby Ham, John M. Stinson, W. H. 

j Stinson, Thomas J. Stinson, James McCorkle 
and others \vere carpenters who assisted in 
the building. When the hull was finished it 
was launched into Pigeon creek. Thomas 
Scantlin says that he was at the launching, 
and saw the bottle of wine broken on the 
hull as she went down, that being the cus- 
tom on such occasions in those da\'s. 

" The boilers and engine of the O/scgv 
were otit of the steamer Dchn.:arc which 
had l)een wrecked on the ScufTietown bar. 
They were used in a saw-mill in Evansville 
prior to being put into the Ohcgo. There 
were three boilers each twenty-four inches 
in diameter, single fiued, sixteen feet long. 
The engine had three feet stroke. The 
wheels were fourteen feet in diameter. 
When she was finished she was named Ol- 

I scgo for the town of Otsego, New York, 
Mr. Goodsell's native town. Her officers 
and crew were as follows: Captain, Joseph 
Lane for a time, and John M. Ham perma- 
nenth: clerk, William Lockhart; engineers, 

James Brown and Dow Talbott: pilots, Sam- 



I 



A FROtiFEROUS ERA. 



12.3 



iiel Lun and James Terry: carpenter, Wm. 
H. Stinson. 

" Her trial trip was up to Joseph Lane's 
iandin<j^ and back. In a short time after- 
ward slie was run to Henderson on an ex- 
cursion trip. Among the passengers 
on board were Miss Mary McNitt, 
(afterward Mrs. James Steele), Miss 
Amanda Miller (^afterward Mrs. Gro\'es), 
Thomas Scantlin and Thomas J. Stinson. 
The boat was put into the trade from 
Louisville to St. Louis, making the round 
trip in a week. She was running in this 
trade in 1S36. Some persons sa}' that she 
was run up the Wabash but her power was 
suc'.i that she had to be cordelled over 
the rapids. She was bought by Capt. 
Crochan and put in the Yazoo river trade, 
\'icksburg being her objective point. The 
next we hear of her, is that she was tied up 
at St. Louis for debt. From there she was 
' sneaked out ' and run to Evansville 
where she was again tied up for debt. She 
lav at this place for some months, part of 
the time sunk upon the sand-bar just above 
the cit}-. She was raised and again sold. 
Mr. Henry B. Oldham says that she was, in 
the 3'ear 1S39, run up the Waba.sh river, 
commanded by Capt. Alf. Bellwood, and 
at that Point Coupee or Nine Points, she 
struck a snag, sunk and was wrecked." 

Witli the departure of the prosperous 
times of 1834-36 this enterprise, like many 
others of less magnitude, was entirely 
checked. However, in later years boat 
building and repairing assumed some 
prominence. Some of the boats built here 
compared fa\orably in material and work- 
manship with an}' boats of like dimensions 
built on the western waters. 

Before passing from this fortunate era, 
whose general prosperity w;fs e\idenced by 
the fact that in 1834, of the net revenue of 
the state — ■ $45,945 /(".<.< I/kiii one per 



rent, was unpaid at the treasury when it 
became due, to that which followed the 
financial crisis of 1837, of national propor- 
tions. Some reminiscences illustrating 
the condition of the town and the char- 
acteristics of its people at that time, con- 
tributed in 1 88 1 by William Brown Butler, 
a distintfuished citizen of early times, who 
represented the county in the state legisla- 
ture and occupied other places of trust and 
honor in the community, are here inserted: 

"In the autumn of 1835 I left New York 
to visit different places in Indiana on the 
Ohio river with a view of locatin<j and doinsr 
a wholesale or jobbing dry goods business. 
After visiting Madison and New Albany, I 
arrived in Evansville in November, and re- 
mained until the last of December. I was 
most favorably impressed after my lirst visit 
there, and became satisfied that Evansville 
at no distant period must become a business 
place of note, with no rival in the state on 
the Ohio river below New Albany. It be- 
ing the natural landing point on the river of 
the great Wabash region, must make it a 
prominent business place independent of the 
advantages which would accrue to it in con- 
sequence of being the terminus of the grand 
artery of the internal improvement system. 

"My great trouble, after deciding to lo- 
cate in Evansville, was to secure a suitable 
store. The onlv one \acant that would an- 
swer my purpose was on the northwest 
corner of Main and Water streets belonging 
to the Messrs. Lewis. I had much ditliculty 
in getting a lease of it. Mr. James Lewis' 
course in the matter grew out of the impres- 
sion that I did not mean business. When I 
proposed good security, Horace Dunham 
was instructed to write out a lease at once. 
As soon as it became known what my object 
in coming to Evansville was, I was most 
kindly received bv all and prompth' furnished 
with desired information and proffers of 



l^i 



THE CITY OF EVANSVILLE. 



assistance in getting established. First among 
the citizens of Evansville who paid me par- 
ticular attention was the late Hon. James 
Lockhart. For several of my first days 
there he was much with me, inducing me to 
believe I had made a favorable impression 
on him. When the fact leaked out I ascer- 
tained that I was indebted for his kindness 
to a rather singular mistake on his part. He 
mistook me for a Mr. Barlow, an absconding 
cashier of the Commercial Bank in Albany, 
N. Y., for whose arrest a reward of $3,000 
was offered. 

" I found Evansville without a schoolmaster 
and no settled minister. Fathers Wheeler 
and Parrett, and the Rev. Benoni Stinson 
preached occasionally, I was told. The first 
religious service I attended there was when 
Bishop Kemper preached in the little school- 
house on the public square. Tlie mud was 
terrible. Mr. A. B. Carpenter, who had at- 
tended the morning service, proffered with 
his lantern to pilot all who wanted to attend 
in the evening. Quite a number accepted. 
On our arrival at the school-house the con- 
dition of our pants and boots was lament- 
able. I said to a young stranger, one of the 
party, 'Mr. Carpenter is a first rate pilot, is 
he not ? ' 'First rate," he responded. 'He 
struck the channel all the way.' 

"The seating accommodations of the 
school-house were simply loose boards on 
blocks of wood. It had a fire-place, however, 
which neither the court-house nor the church 
had. The old Presbyterian church on Sec- 
ond street, between Main and J^ocust streets, 
was the only church in Evansville at the 
time, and it was in an unfinished condition. 
Bishop Kemper's visit suggested the pro- 
priety of making the church more comfort- 
able. On mentioning the subject to Gen. 
Evans, he approved of it, and proffered to 
contribute as much toward it as I would, and 
said that his son would do the same. I at 



once wrote a brief heading to a sheet of 
foolscap, stating the object desired, and my 
subscription to the fund. Gen. Evans' and 
his son's names followed, with others who 
were present. In two or three days an 
amount sufficient was subscribed to procure 
comfortable benches with backs, in place of 
boards on blocks, for the audience, and a 
plain, respectable looking pulpit in place of 
the dry goods box with John Shanklin & Co. 
on it in bold letters facing the audience. On 
my way to the east a few days afterward, I 
purchased in Cincinnati a large stove with 
pipe for the church, which arrived and was 
put in its place the following week, when the 
carpenters had completed their part of the 
improvements. 

"The court-house was in a more unfin- 
ished state than the church. The floor was 
brick paved. There were wooden shutters, 
but no sash or glass in the windows. It was 
all open to the roof. Nothing had been 
done toward finishing or flooring the second 
stor}^ Benches with backs, for the jurors, one 
large and one small plain table for the use of 
the clerks, lawvers and court, with sundry 
spHt-bottom chairs, comprised the furniture 
of the room. 

" The jail, to me, was a great curiosity, the 
first and only one I ever saw built of logs. 
While Mr. William H. Walker was sheriff, 
a notorious Texas counterfeiter was arrested 
and lodged in the strong room of the jail, to 
await the sitting of the court. To insure 
his forthcoming when wanted, Mr. James T. 
Walker, supported with a well charged 
double-barrelled shot-gun, slept in the room 
over the prisoner. All went well for awhile, 
until one night, after locking the outside 
door and proceeding to his room, Mr. 
Walker found himself confronted by his 
prisoner, shot-gun in hand, calling on him to 
quietly surrender the fort, which he, know- 
ing the desperate character of the culprit, 



THE TOWN IN ism. 



Ho 



did without ;i murmur. Mr. Walker soon 
found himself the prisoner, and the man en 
route for Texas, taking the gun, and, I be- 
lieve, tlie ke\' of the jail with him. It re- 
quired some nerve to occupy lodgings over 
so desperate a scoundrel." 

Mr. Boyd Bullock, a well-known old-time 
resident of the city gives this general des- 
cription of the town as it appeared in 
1836, showing but little improvement in 
its appearance in sixteen years: "My 
first sight of Evansville, was in 1836. 
There was a ragged bluff bank prob- 
abl\- fort}- feet high, with a winding 
track along the river front wide enough 
for two carts or drays to pass. There were 
but two persons in the village who followed 
the business of draying. On reaching the 
top of the bank I found a few scattering 
buildings, most of Which were small frames. 
There were two hotels, or taverns, as they 
were called in those davs, one an old frame 
building kept by Mr. Thomas Johnson, and 
the other a two-story brick kept Maj. Alan- 
son Warner. The latter was a pretentious 
edifice, in fact, extra fine for those days. 
There were about fifteen buildings of all 
kinds on Water street, log and frame for the 
most part, with two or three of brick. On 
First street there were more houses than on 
any other thoroughfare — twenty-six in 
number. Main street at that time was ver}^ 
poorly built up. On the upper corner of 
Main and Water streets was John Mitchell's 
store and residence. On the opposite corner 
was an old establishment belonsrinir to the 
Lewis Brothers, with the old warehouse in 
tlie rear, in which was held the first court. 
In this building the fashionable balls were 
held, it being the onh' suitable place for a 
pastime of that character. Here apple- 
toddy was wont to be served to the company 
in an indescribable style, with gingerbread 
as an accompaniment. Across Main street 



was another old warehouse belonging to Mr. 
Mitchell. In the rear of his store on the cor- 
ner, stood the Kazar House. On the west 
side of Main street was an old frame, whereW. 
& C. Bell afterward kept a drug store. Next 
came Sherwood & Rowley's two-story brick 
store, which was torn down when the Mer- 
chants' National Bank building \\'as erected. 
Opposite this on the corner of Main and 
First stood an old log cabin and another loff 
house next to the alley, opposite which stood 
Mr. Samuel Mansel's dwelling house weath- 

' erboarded with clapboards, .\bove Second 
street on the lower side of Main were two 

I or three small frames, in one of which Mr. 
James Scantlin, Sr., kept a tin shop. There 
was nothing on the other side. The old 
court-house stood on the corner of Main and 

I Third streets. Court was held up stairs, 
while hogs and sheep contended for posses- 
sion below. Across the public square was 

I a small brick school-house. Where the 
court-house now stands there was what 
seemed to be an old brick pond from which 
I often gave my cow water. The other cor- 
ner of the square contained the old jail, 
which stood a little off the street. Farther 
out above Fourth street, stood Mr. Varner 
Satterlee's frame residence, and across the 
street Mr. Henson's brick. At that time 
there were ponds, sloughs, gullies, and 
places for back-water, running nearly from 
Main street to the river and Pigeon creek, 
near its mouth. There was an old 
graveyard between Third and Fourth 
streets, two blocks below Main, and when 
there was a funeral, which occasionally took 
place, it was no light task to cut the way 
into it, such a thicket of brushwood and 
briers covered the ground." 

In 1837 the real estate and personal 
property in Evansville was valued at 
^863,675, and the taxes assessed reached 
the sum of $3,266.06 ;/. The following 



IVl 



THE Cirr OF EVANSVtLLE. 



citizens, all prominent men of that day and 
of later years, formed the board of trustees 
and filled the town offices: Robert M. 
Evans, president; James Lockhart, Wm. 
Walker, Edward Hopkins, Abraham B. 
Coleman, John Douglass, Thomas F. 
Stockwell and Francis Amory, trustees; 
Joseph Bowles, clerk ; James Cawson, treas- 
urer; John S. Hopkins, collector ; and Amos 
Clark, attorney. 

In this year the march of Evansville's 
progress and prosperity was checked and 
the extravagant hopes of her people were 
dashed to the ground. The financial crisis 
of 1837 is a part of the country's history. 
The banks suspended specie payments, real 
estate everywhere declined in value, and 
distress prevailed in all parts of the countr}'. 
Evansville, instead of enjo3ing any immunity 
from the general calamity, received a 
greater blow, perhaps, than towns in other 
states, because of the downfall of the 
internal improvement system. The period 
from 1838 to 1844 was indeed gloomy; 
much property in the town passed into the 
hands of eastern creditors, in payment of 
the indebtedness of merchants and specula- 
tors, and for several years possessed verj' 
little market value; many were forced out 
of business and a considerable number left 
the town for other and better fields. The 
town decreased in population, wealth and 
commercial importance. For a time some 
struggled against the calamity and hoped 
for a betterment of condition.s, but at length, 
with courage and patience exhausted, went 
into bankruptcy or turned over their posses- 
sions to creditors and migrated elsewhere to 
start anew. Amongf these was Amos 
Clark, Esq., a lawyer of early times, who 
maintained a high position at the bar and 
before the people. Col. Dobyns, of 
Tennessee, married Clarissa, daughter of 
Hugh McGary, and thus became possessed 



of certain property interests in and 
about Evansville, which were entrusted to 
the management of Mr. Clark. The condi- 
tion of the times preceding and following 
the financial panic of 1837, is well shown by 
the personal letters which passed between 
these gentlemen at that time, from which 
some extracts are here made. 

Mr. Clark wrote to Col. Dobyns 
January 20, 1S37, as follows: 

"■Dear Sir: — I have been applied to re- 
peatedly for leases upon the land adjoining 
town, but have not yet given any, and think 
it best not to offer the land for sale. The 
favorable terniination of the canal renders 
the land extremely valuable. I have no 
doubt but if it were laid out in lots it might, 
a considerable portion of it, sell from one to 
two thousand dollars per acre. The canal 
terminates in a large basin at the end of the 
street which leads out from the public square, 
and by opening a street to the Princeton 
road following the course of the street which 
divides the Lower enlargement from the 
original plat, will render this land of incalcu- 
able value. Laughlin has done nothing 
concerningr the six acres on which the old 
Steam mill stood. That piece is now worth 
not less than twenty thousand dollars. * * * 
Our railroad, I have no doubt, will be com- 
menced this year. The canal on this end 
of the line is under contract and the work 
is progressing." 

Soon afterward conditions changed. On 
February 21, 1838, Mr. Clark wrote thus: 
"As to money, there is none in mv hands or 
anj'body's else in this part of the country. 
It is an article now more difficult to obtain 
than I ever knew it." He proceeded to tell of 
failures, assignments, the taking of mortgages 
and judgments to secure claims, and pictured 
the greatest financial distress. Again, June 
6, 1838, he said: "As to getting money out 
of Walker, it is out of the question at pres- 



FINANCIAL DISASTERS. 



121 



ent. * * * It is impossible now to 
collect money except by suing, and under 
existing circumstances 1 would hardly ad- 
vise that course." More than two years 
later, on Jul}' 2d, 1840, he wrote, "I tried 
everv means in m}' power to raise some 
cash for you, but it was out of the question. 
In fact there is no cash here. Town is dead 
and his estate is not settled. Goodsell is 
doing all he can, and will get through. 
Walker is worth money, but has got none, 
and says this week he expects to be pro- 
tested in bank. As to myself I shall recover 
judgments next term against some of the 
best men in the place sufficient to pav all I 
owe, and am determined to close my busi- 
ness as soon as the law will let me, so there 
is no use suing me." With an account of 
foreclosures, ejectments, etc., he portra\ ed 
greater distress than prevailed two and a 
half years earlier. The following letter is 
presented in full: 

"EvANsviLLE, 4th March, 1840. 
"/?rr/;- Sir: — I have not heard from you 
this winter, except Mr. Goodsell told me on 
my return from Harrisburgh, where I at- 
tended as a delegate to the National conven- 
tion, that he had received a letter from you. 
It will be advisable for you to be here at our 
court, b}' all means. The New Yorkers 
have brought their suit now for the land in 
an action of ejectment, of which I am this 
moment apprised, and it renders it still more 
necessary for you to be here. I have an- 
other reason why I want yi^u to come. I 
have a good little steamboat exactly calcu- 
lated for your trade which I want to sell 
you. She sold last summer at $3,500.00, 
and an additional $500.00 was laid out on 
her. I will let you take her at a fair price 
and take claims here and property for her. 
By this means you will get your pa\- and 
have it under j-our control. She is a sound, 
good boat and will carrv I suppose sixtv or 



sevent}- tons. As to any money being now col- 
lected, or for years to come, it is out of the 
question. Our legislature has passed a most 
extraordinar\- law with a view to relieve the 
people, by which it will be next to impos- 
sible to collect debts, and have taken away 
one term of our court. Our public works 
are stopped, the state is bankrupt and half 
the people in it. Produce is low and falling, 
and what is to be done God only knows. I 
returned last night from a trip far up the 
Wabash and found times harder there than 
here, if possible. Property here can not be 
sold at an}' price, and I am well satisfied I 
can make you a trade in this steamboat that 
will be much better to you than to have 
your concerns hing as they now do. You 
will, of course, be here as soon as a letter 
could reach me; if not, write immediately. 
" Yours trulv, 

"Amos Clark." 

In 1838 the census showed a population 
in Evansville of 1,228, represented as follows: 
white males, 567; white females, 621; col- 
ored males, 24; colored females, 16. In 
1840 the population of the county was 6,250, 
and of the town 2,121. In the last named 
}'ear, the mercantile interests of Evansville 
were represented by the following individ- 
uals and firms: Shanklin & Johnson, Row- 
ley & Sherwood, Henry D. Allis, John 
Mitchell, John M. Stockw'ell & Co., Burbank 
& Co., Jones & Royston, Jerome B. Lamp- 
hear, John R. Wilcox, F. C. Gwathne}', 
Alexander Price, S. W. Townsend, Edward 
Hopkins, John H. Maghee, William Cald- 
well, Fred Wetsell, Martin Schovel, A. B. 
Carpenter & Co., Charles L. Rhomann, C. 
M. Griffith, Robert Barnes, Thomas Gedney, 
Charles Folmen, Bittrolff & Geissler, Joseph 
Raim, P. Wise & Co., G. A. Meyers. G. 
Venneman »S: Co., J. E. Wood. 1>. 
Jacobs & Co., Daniel Wolsey, John 
Greek, Edward Jewell, W. cS: C. Bell, 



128 



THE CITY OF EVANSVILLE. 



Decker & Kramer, L. & P. Hornbrook, 
A. M. Klein, C. Newburgher & Co., T. G. 
Thurston, Peter Vaughn, John S. Hopkins, 
A. Laughlin, J. Farquher, G. W. Miller, 
Harrison & Walker, C D. Bourne, C. Lev}- 
& Co., and J. W. Tileston & Son. 

In the midst of these hard times the bril- 
liant and spirited campaign of 1840 was 
fought, and William Henry Harrison was 
triumphantly elected. The stirring scenes 
of that campaign can never be forgotten by 
those who witnessed them, and they form an 
interesting chapter in our national history. 

About 1842 wise legislation and private 
thrift and economy brought back a fair de- 
gree of prosperity, and the countr}- began 
to recover from the results of the panic. 
Evansville shared in the improved condition 
of affairs, but her revival was more largely 
due to favorable causes of a local nature. 
Faith in the future of the town, however, 
was not firmly fixed until about 1845. In 
the midst of the distress attending the busi- 
ness stagnation, in November, 1842, the 
town was swept by the most destructive fire 
that thus far had ever occurred in its limits. 
All the houses fronting on the east side of 
Main street, between First and Second, were 
destroyed. There were no fire engines in 
those days, and the citizens were compelled 
to carry water in buckets from a cistern lo- 
cated in the yard of the old State Bank, and 
had great difficultly in controlling the flames. 

Work on the northern portion of the 
Wabash & Erie canal had been pushed for- 
ward as much as possible. It was completed 
to La Fayette in 1841, in which year a sec- 
ond grant of land was made bv the general 
government. The sagacious and far-seeing 
men of that day held tenaciously to the idea 
that Evansville's location was exceptionally 
favorable for the building of a great city, 
and they set about industriouslv to work a 
realization of their hopes. The state debt 



was honorably compromised, but there was 
no possibility of inducing the legislature to 
undertake anew the scheme of internal im- 
provement, and the national congress was 
again looked to for aid. Hon. Conrad 
Baker, Gen. Joseph Lane, Hon. William 
j Brown Butler, Willard Carpenter and other 
prominent men did their part in effecting an 
1 honorable settlement of the state debts, and 
! in securing favorable legislation bv congress. 
In 1845 the third grant of lands for the con- 
struction of the canal was made. It included 
one-half of all unsold lands in the \'incennes 
land district. The completion of the canal 
j thus became assured, and the anticipation of 
the benefits to be derived from its success- 
i ful workings strengthened confidence in fu- 
j ture growth, and gave an impetus to business 
such as it had not felt before. At once hopes 
began to crvstalize into facts, not so 
much through the agencv of the canal 
when constructed (for, indeed, of itself 
it was a disappointment) but through the 
agency of other conditions and facts pro- 
duced by the anticipation of benefits to 
flow from the construction of this waterway. 
When pursuing wealth and prosperity in 
one direction other means silently combine 
to produce the desired results regardless of 
the touchstone sought after. Evansville be- 
came an El Dorado to which men of all 
classes flocked to better their conditions. 
Speculators visited the town, examined its 
advantages and prospects, pushed on across 
the prairies to Chicago, or went by steamer 
to St. Louis, investigated those places and 
returned to Evansville as the land of greater 
promise. Life, hope, and energy were in- 
fused into ever}- branch of business. The 
surrounding lands far to the interior had 
by this time passed from the possession of 
the government into the hands of individuals, 
and the agriculturist seeking a new home 
was forced to induce some earlier settler to 



FORTY TEARS AGO. 



129 



part with some of his holdings. Vahies of 
real estate in town and country rapidly ad- 
yanced. New farms were fast brought into 
culLixation, forests fell before the ax of prog- 
ress, and because of the productiyeness of 
the soil, which had garnered in its pores the 
accumulating richness of ages, yast quantities 
of farm products found their way into the 
markets of E\ansyille. Merchants buying 
produce and shipping it southward and fur- 
nishing supplies of tea, coffee, sugar, spices, 
and manufactured goods to the farmers mul- 
tiplied and the yolume of business transacted 
increased so rapidly as to occasion wonder 
and amazement. Long lines of wagons from 
points as far inward as Vincennes, La Fay- 
ette, and Terre Haute came to Eyansyille 
to effect these exchan<res. Mairnificent 
steamers daily landed at the wharf and lay 
for hours discharging and receiving freight. 
The levee as soon as it was constructed, in 
1848, and prior to that time the river bank 
in front of the city, from end to end was 
stacked with produce of all kinds. This was 
the commencement of Evansville's career as 
a great commercial city. Her favorable 
position for handling the products of a \ast 
and productive region, recognized for years 
and, indeed, from the first looked forward 
to as a source of greatness onl\- awaiting 
development, was now yielding the rich 
fruits so long anticipated. 

Men of large attainments, broad experi ■ 
ence and dauntless energy were coming 
from lands beyond the sea, England, Ireland 
and especially Germany, and from distant 
states, to engage in mercantile or profes- 
sional pursuits in this thriving place. Skilled 
artisans and manufacturing laborers were 
also seeking here a home. The descend- 
ants of the earlier pioneers in various parts 
of the country, of strong character and sterl- 
ing worth, in the vigor of youth, left the 
farms of their fathers and came to the town, 



to enter upon broader fields of usefulness 
than were promised at the old homesteads. 
Evansville soon became a city in its pro- 
portions, its advantages and its importance. 

On the 29th day of January, 1847, the 
governor of Indiana approved an act of the 
state legislature, granting to the citizens of 
the town of Evansville a city charter. Its 
mayor, the members of its first council, and 
its officers chosen at an election held on the 
first Monday in April, 1847, were all men of 
distinction and recognized ability. Hon. 
James G. Jones, a distinguished lawyer and 
citizen, was selected as mayor. In the 
council, which met for the first time on 
April 12, 1847, there were: L. L. Lajcock, 
First ward; Silas Stephens, Second ward; 
Willard Carpenter, Third ward; C. M. 
Griffith, Fourth ward: L. Howes, Fifth 
Ward; John Hewson, Sixth ward. The 
first oflicers of the city were: John J. 
Chandler, clerk; William Bell, assessor, col- 
lector and marshal; Samuel Orr, treasurer; 
James E. Blythe, attorney, and Wm. M. 
Walker, surveyor. At the time of its char- 
ter as a cit}', the area covered by its 
corporate authority' was about 2S0 acres. 
It had within its limits about 4,000 souls; the 
valuation of its real estate and personal prop- 
erty was $901,324; and the amount of taxes 
assessed on this valuation was $3,319.47, a 
sum adequate for the needs of the young 
city, though insignificant when compared 
with the annual expenses of to-day. 

"Up to this period, notwithstanding 
Evansville had become the most important 
shipping point between Louis\'ille and the 
mouth of the Ohio, a distance of 400 
miles, very little wharf improvements 
had been made other than the cuttinc: of 
roads through the high and almost perpen- 
dicular banks to the landing places. Hut 
the constantly growing commerce and 
increased shipping interests made it neces- 



130 



THE CITY OF EVANSVILLE. 



sarv to construct a wharf commensuratt" 
with the extensive business which was being 
established; and in March, 1848, the city 
entered into a contract with John Mitcliell, 
Marcus Sherwood and Moses Ross to grade 
the river bank and complete a wharf having 
frontage on five squares, a length of nearly 
2,000 feet. This at the time was consid- 
ered a great work, and was an important 
step forward in the commercial history of a 
place now dignified with municipal propor- 
tions and recognized by the important 
appellation of a City."' 

About this time saw- and grist-mills were 
springing into existence, some propelled by 
water and some by steam: a small foundry 
and machine shop and various other indus- 
tries which have since grown to huge pro- 
portions were begun on a small scale. The 
growth of schools and churches, as else- 
where noted, was commensurate with the 
industrial advancement, and the community 
was supplied with an ade(i[uate number of 
those practicing the learned professions. In 
1850, the census showed a population of 
5,105, and at that time there were in the 
city, 10 grist- and saw-mills, — 4 propelled by 
water; — about 100 stores, groceries and 
warehouses: 3 printing offices each issuing 
a daily newspaper; I5law3"ers; 16 physicians; 
13 preachers, and a great varietv of 
mechanical, manufacturing and mining 
laborers, all afforded constant emplovment bv 
the abundance of coal in the vicinity and the 
demands of the large region of productive 
country which made Evansville its supplv 
depot. At this time the annual exports 
from Evansville amounted in round numbers 
to about 600,000 bushels of corn, 100,000 
bushels of oats, 1,500 tons of hay, 1,500,000 
pounds of pork and bacon, and large quan- 
tities of tobacco, wheat, potatoes and other 
products of the farm. 

And now began the era of railroads. 



For several years this means of transporta- 
tion was more a feeder to the carrying 
trade of the river than a rival to it, but at 
length a revolution was wrought in the con- 
tinued progressive development, and the 
railway became the king of transportation. 
The canal was in course of construction 
when the feasibility of a railroad northward 
from the young city began to be seriously 
considered. Indeed, it was not completed 
and made read\- for boats until 1853, and 
then it had but little influence on the growth 
of the city. Awaited for anxiouslv, in its 
coming it brought no fulfillment of promises. 
A few warehouse were constructed on its 
banks and there was some handling of 
freight, but the anticipated business activity 
was not realized, even to the tenth part. Its 
meatrer usefulness was of short duration, it 
being entirely abandoned about 1864, the 
railroads by that time having absorbed the 
whole of its business as a common carrier. 
The practicabifity of railroads had been 
demonstrated, and progressive citizens were 
on the alert to keep Evansville fully abreast 
of the times. Early in 1849, the matter was 
thoroughly discussed, and at the March term 
in that year, of the board of commissioners, 
an election was ordered to be held on the 
following April 12, for the purpose of taking 
the sense of the people on the question of 
aidiuFf in the construction of the Evansville & 
Indianapolis Railroad, b}' subscribing for 
$100,000 worth of stock to be issued 
by the company proposing to build 
the road. At the election there were 
cast 624 votes in favor of the proposition and 
288 against it. The county treasury at this 
time was in a depleted condition, and when 
in June following, it became necessary for 
the county to pay $2.00 per share on the 500 
shares required to be taken at once (the 
taking of the additional 1,500 shares being 
postponed tmtil the company was propei^ly 



BEFORE THE WAR. 



1.31 



organized, etc.), it was forced to negotiate a 
note in bank to raise the necessary $i,ooo. 
At the same time the city, as a separate cor- 
porate boch', also aided in the construction 
of the road by subscribing for $100,000 of 
its stock. The president of the company 
was Samuel Hall of Gibson countw This 
pioneer railroad, whose construction was 
commenced in 1S50, was subseijuenth' 
known as the Evansxille & Crawfordsville, 
and at present as the Evansville & Terre 
Haute Railroad. Besides the incalculable 
value of this railroad to the citv and county 
in developing their natural resources, both 
cit\' antl counts' realizedhandsomely on their 
investments, the stock subscribed b^y each 
being sold in 1S81 for $150,000, to Mr. D. 
J. Mackey, whose energy and great execu- 
tive ability, as well as the public spirit con- 
trolling his actions, have made the property 
a great agent for good to the city of Evans- 
ville. 

In 1 85 3 the \aluation of real and personal 
propert\' had increased to $2,537,965.00, 
and the amount of taxes levied was 
$29,799.60. The growth of the city con- 
tinued, and in the tenth year of its career as 
a city, in 1857, the valuation of real and per- 
sonal property was $4,399,040.00, and tlie 
taxes levied amounted to $58,285.21. 

In 1857 the adjoining corporations of 
Evansville and Lamasco, which had existed 
up to this time as separate municipalities, 
were consolidated, by the annexation of La- 
masco to Evansville. In location, business 
and social interests they had been one, and 
their union under one city government was 
a consummation which added materialh' to 
their prosperity. The citv of Lamasco in- 
cluded that portion of the present city lying 
between Division street and Pigeon creek. 
It was laid out bv four gentlemen, Messrs. 
John and William Law, and Macalland Scott, 
who gave the place a no\el title, taking the 



first two letters of Laiv and Macall and the 
first three of Scot/, thus succeeding in pro- 
ducing a distinctive and hitherto unheard of 
name. Later an unsuccessful attempt was 
made to change the name of the city of 
Evans\ille to Lamasco, the friends of the 
mo\ement setting forth the ad\antage to re- 
sult from general advertisement over the 
countrw The proposition, however, was not 
adopted. 

Evansville had been made a port of entr\' 
in 1856, at which time trace chains and other 
staples of hardware were brought here" from 
foreign countries. Manufacturing industries, 
however, were gaining a foothold, and in 
some branches an advanced position had 
been reached. But the chief cause of the 
prosperit}- enjoyed at that time was co»i- 
iiicirc. The wholesale and jobbing trade 
had attained large proportions, and the ship- 
ments to the south of agricultural products 
were great. The board of trade report for 
1857, prepared under the supervision of 
Judge M. W. Foster, gave the following 
figures as representing the sales of mer- 
chandise in the city for that year: 

Groceries $2,034,629 

Dry goods 845,271 

Iron and hardware 275,000 

Boots and shoes 123,000 

Drugs and medicines 69,095 

Queensware 61,000 

In the table of "exports," in this report, 
there were the following items: 

Corn, sacks 101,683 

Oats, sacks 19,770 

Wheat, bushels 62,699 

Flour, barrels 62,228 

Pork, barrels 49,628 

Bacon, hogsheads 10,480 

Lard, kegs 58,885 

Tobacco, hogsheads 9^781 

The report shows the extent to which 
manufacturing had grown b\- the following 
items, indicating the amount of some manu- 
factured articles in that year: 



132 



THE CITY OF EVANSVILLE. 



Flour and shipstuff $477,000 

Stoves and castings 120,000 

Steam engines 165,000 

Steam boilers 33,000 

Saw-mill products 62,000 

Planing-mill products . 35,000 

Furniture 96.000 

Wagons and blacksmiths" iron . . 65,500 

Brewer}- products 58,000 

Tannery products 58,835 

The banking capital in that year, as rep- 
resented by the public banks, was $325,- 
000.00. The population of the cit)- was 
12,250, and it was estimated that during the 
year 100 houses had been erected, yalued at 
a (juarter of a million dollars. 

In this year there came to the country at 
large another linancial crisis and period of 
business depression, from which there was no 
recoyery before the outbreak of the civil 
war had changed social and business con- 
ditions. The workinir classes in Evansville 
had betrun to feel the influence of hard 
times before enlistments for the army were 
called for. Some shops had closed their 
doors and operati\'es were forced into idle- 
ness and want. The favorable position 
occupied by Evansville with reference to 
the commerce of the Ohio river, prevented 
the distress from becoming general. Its 
shipments were constantly increasing, its 
population and wealth were growing, its 
trade was being extended and the city was 
apparently maintaining a steady and healthy 
progress up to the commencement of hos- 
tilities, but there were nevertheless man\- 
niechanics and shopmen out of employ- 
ment. Indeed, the manufacturing industries 
of the cit}' were languisliing; they were 
not keeping pace with the ad\ancement 
being made in trade and agriculture. 

In i860 the citizens of Evansville wit- 
nessed the most hotly contested and exciting 
political campaign known in her history. 
The rail-splitter, Abraham Lincoln, in the 



simplicity and purity of his manhood, ex- 
hibited such elements of strength, that the 
people were wildly enthusiastic over his 
canvass. Gorgeous street parades with ban- 
ners, emblems and various spectacular con- 
trivances, soul-stirring discussions of issues 
finall}- submitted to the '• fierce arbitrament 
of the sword" for decision, and massive 
assemblies of people from the surrounding 
country, fanned the fires of patriotism and 
encouraged the enthusiasm of the people. 
Following this came the firing upon Fort 
Sumter bv an armed force in rebellion 
against the authority of the nation, and then 
in (juick succession the scenes of a civil war, 
which laid waste a great area of rich and 
prosperous territory, consumed unreckoned 
quantities of individual and public wealth, 
and sending desolation and woe to the 
homes and hearts of many people. An at- 
tempt to describe these scenes so far as 
they concern this locality, to give some 
account of what the loval people of Evans- 
ville did in those trying times, and what 
occurred in and about the city as incident to 
the prosecution of the war, is made in an- 
other chapter. As to the business interests 
of that period Hon. John W. Foster, the 
distinguished soldier, citizen, and diplomat, 
in a compilation of facts made by him in 
1868, when acting under the' authority of 
the board of trade, and basing his com- 
parisons on the tables quoted above, said: 

"In 1861, at the commencement o^ our 
late civil war, Evansville was one of the most 
important ports of southern shipments on 
the western waters. In the leading articles 
of produce and provisions it compared fav- 
orably with St. Louis and Louisville (ex- 
ceeding in many articles the latter city), as 
its shipments had largely increased since 
' 1857. There was established a regular tri- 
weekly line of packets to Cairo, mainly 
owned and controlled here. Regular packets 



THE WAR PERIOD. 



his 



were maintained between Evansville and 
Bowling Green, Kv., on Green ri\er. The 
Wabash packets made this their iiome port. 
Its steamboat interests were ver\- considera- 
ble and rapidlv mcreasing. The whole 
trade of the city came from the border 
counties of Kentuck^• on the lower Ohio and 
Illinois, the Green river xallew in Kentucky, 
the Lower Wabash valle\', and the regions 
of country traversed bv the Evansville & 
Crawfordsville railroad and the Wabash & 
Erie canal, for a distance of se\entv-five 
miles. The war caused material chan<ces in 
these interests and the circle of trade. For 
a time the steamboat interest was apparently 
destroyed. Communication with the Lower 
Mississippi was entirely cut off, and nearly 
so with Green river. The Cairo packet 
line was greatly hampered and harassed 
by military restrictions. The immense pro- 
duce and provision carrying trade from the 
Wabash ceased with the closing of business 
relations with the South. The freijjht busi- 
ness of the E\ans\ille & Crawfordsville 
railroad was, for a like reason, materially 
lessened. About this time the navigation of 
the Wabash & Erie canal became uncer- 
tain and finally closed. A valuable part of 
the trade, on this account and the cutting off 
of our New Orleans communication, was 
lost to this citv. Under these circumstances 
the future of Evansville at that time looked 
gloomy in the extreme. Hut steamboat 
owners, merchants and manufacturers, in a 
little while began to experience a more hope- 
ful state of affairs. The wants of the gov- 
ernment gave employment at remunerative 
rates to such of the steamboats as were 
not protitably engaged in the carrying busi- 
ness of the city. The grocery merchants, 
whose supply^ market at New Orleans had 
been cut off, found a more enlarged depot 
of supplies at New York, to wiiich place 
the operations of the war turned all whole- 



sale merchandise dealers. As the field of 
occupancy of the federal army was enlarged, 
the enterprise of our merchants and manu- 
facturers extended. The old packet lines 
were re-established, and new lines opened 
up the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers, 
and down the Mississippi to Memphis. 
Evans\ille became the most convenient 
point of supply for western Kentucky, and 
for the rich valleys of the Cumberland and 
I Tennessee, and received a very considerable 
trade from Memphis and the country bor- 
dering the Mississippi, between that citv and 
Cairo. From 1S62 forward the business of 
this city began to re\i\'e, and in a little while 
it exceeded that done before the war. The 
restoration of peace found it greatly in- 
creased in population and wealth, its area of 
trade enlarged threefold, its steamboat in- 
terests more than doubled, its manufactories 
much more numerous and their product 
largely multiplied, and the various depart- 
ments of industry iiuickened into new life 
and activity. Since' the close of the war, 
with all the channels of trade and commerce 
1 open and unrestricted, and with all the em- 
barrassments of finances and the fluctuation 
of values, Evansville has been enabled, not 
only to retain the business which was at- 
tracted to it b\' the changed condition of af- 
fairs, but has reached out into new fields of 
enterprise." 

The second decade in the hislor\- of 
Evans\ille as a city, ending in 1S67, not- 
withstanding some unfavorable circum- 
stances at its commencement, was, in its 
entirety, one of progress and prosperity. 
The war. blighting in its first effects, event- 
ually proved a cause of lasting good. Never 
before had the commercial interests of the 
city been so well served by its location on 
the di\iding line between a bod\' of pro- 
ducers and a bod\' of consumers as at the 
restoration of peace. The South, wealthy 



13A 



THE CITY OF EVANSVILLE. 



at the commencement of hostilities in 1861, 
" found itself as the result of four years of 
civil war entirely prostrate, without industry, 
without tools, without money, credit or 
crops; deprived of local self-government, 
and, to a great extent, of political privileges; 
the flower of its youth in hospitals, or dead 
upon the bloody, storm-rent battle-fields; 
with society disorganized, and starvation im- 
minent or actuallv present." The first 
efforts of the people to lift themselves from 
this gloomy and depressing condition were 
opposed by great obstacles. For two }-ears 
the cotton and grain crops were, to a great 
extent, failures, and much difticultv was ex- 
perienced in making .satisfactor\- arrange- 
ments for the employment of labor. The 
South had not been supplied with manu- 
facturing establishments, and was, therefore, 
compelled to seek a suppl}' of breadstuffs 
and clothing, of mechanical tools and a^ri- 
cultural implements, in other than home 
markets. This she had been accustomed to 
doing, and, therefore, while vast quantities 
of the raw material used in forminp- the 
products which she consumed were in her 
possession and easy of access, no efforts 
were as yet made to utilize these great 
sources of wealth. 

The heavy duties placed upon imported 
articles during the war bv the national 
congress encouraged manufacturing and 
rendered successful competition bv foreign 
competitors impossible. To a large portion 
of the South, Evansville was the most con- 
venient depot for supplies. Her marts were 
well supplied with every necessar}- of life, 
her factories and furnaces were in full blast, 
her merchants were liberal, conscientious, 
accommodating, honorable. Business grew 
rapidly under this new stimulus. The steam- 
boat carrying trade was then appoaching 
the height of its importance. From Pitts- 
burgh to Cairo the towns along the course 



of the Ohio ri\-er and those along its tribu- 
taries were growing in wealth and popula- 
tion. At Evansville the steamboat arrivals 
had grown from 1,493 in 1861 to 2,580 in 
1 868, and some of the exports during the 
last named year were as follows: Corn, 
2,017,794 bushels; flour, 58,840 barrels; 
hay, 12,045 bales; meal, 16,728 barrels; 
oats, 54-595 bushels; pork, 12,374 barrels; 
tobacco, 19,758 hogsheads; wheat, 175,410 
bushels. In 1867 there were 354 houses 
built in the city, their estimated value being 
$1,131,700.00. The assessed value of real 
and personal property was $i:5'7^S5555' 
and the taxes levied amounted to $165,- 
004.10. The merchandise sales amounted 
to $12,763,690.00; those in dry goods and 
groceries each exceeding three and a third 
millions of dollars. Of manufactured articles 
produced there were $2,890,202.00 worth. 
The banking capital, as represented by Na- 
tional bank stocks, was $1,550,000.00, and 
the deposits ranged from $399,397.00 to 
$692,308.00. The discounts ran, per quar- 
ter, from $1,423,174.00 to $1,547,222.00. 
This was an era of general prosperit}- and 
improvement. The favorable outlook begat 
confidence, and the growth of the city was 
then more rapid perhaps than at any other 
period of its career. Cotton mills, the largest 
in the west, and other large and important 
mills and factories were put in operation, 
street cars and other public conveniences be- 
gan to be provided, and on every hand there 
were striking; evidences of individual and 
public prosperitv. The cit\- was receiving 
valuable additions to its population bv an in- 
flux of intelligent citizens from the south and 
east. Business and professional circles were 
being recruited with a class of people that 
was in all respects highly beneficial to the 
communitv. In 1867 the enrollment for 
schools and estimates based on the \'Otes 
cast at the elections indicated a population 



BUSIXESS STAG X A TIOX. 



1S5 



of 22,000 inhabitants. Three years hiter, 
however, in 1870, the United States census 
credited the city with only 21,830 inhabi- 
tants, but this seemed so manifestly a mis- 
take that it caused L,n-eat dissatisfaction to 
those interested in ha\ing Evans\ille's im- 
portance as a city undiminished by incorrect 
statements rej^arding its size. The votes 
cast in October of that year at the congres- 
sional election numbered 4,665, and if one 
vote represented fi\e people, a basis of 
computation accepted by statisticians, the 
population was about 23,325; and estimat- 
ing one vote for everv six inhabitants, there 
were at that time 28,990 residents of the city. 
The year 186S marked the commence- 
ment of a period of depression. While the 
growth of the city continued it was not with 
the rapid strides which had characterized 
its movements from 1862 to 1867. An ab- 
normal condition of affairs continued for 
some \-ears after the close of the war. 
Among its results were an inflated paper 
currenc}-, high prices, and a stimulated 
demand for articles of trade which was not 
abated while people were forced to restrict 
their purchases and accommodate themselves 
to their chan<red conditions. During this 
settling process, or the period in which the 
public was learning its true condition, and 
especially that portion of the public which 
was drawing most heavily upon the mer- 
chants and manufacturers of Evansville for 
its supplies, there was a marked decline in 
prices, a contraction of business, a repres- 
sion of speculation, a reduction of public and 
private expenditures, and a restriction of 
commercial enterprises and improvements. 
These, together \\'ith tinancial embarrass- 
ment and uncertainty growing out of the 
questions of national currency, banking 
taxation, debt, and the aspect of political 
affairs, upon the peaceful settlement of 
which naturally depended the commercial 
8 



operations of the countrv, caused a ireneral 
depression affecting the mercantile and 
manufacturing interests of the entire coun- 
try. The chief influence affecting Evans- 
\ille locallv was the business rivalry of 
other cities in the Ohio valley. The mer- 
chants of Cincinnati, Louisville, St. Louis, 
Cairo and Paducah made \igorous efforts 
to di\'ert from E\ans\ille the large and 
valuable trade of the lower Ohio, and the 
rich \allevs of Green, Cumberland, and 
Tennessee rivers. Rival packet lines and 
mercantile agents used every exertion and 
resorted to ever}- expedient to draw the 
trade away from this city, and while at the 
close of the vear the business men viewed 
the operations of the year with satisfaction, 
there was not that increase in the volume 
of business transacted, which under fa\or- 
able conditions, the results of the previous 
years would have justified. While an in- 
crease in the general business of the city 
was observed, there was a decre ase in some 
articles of export or departments of trade 
and manufactures, when reckoned in dollars 
and cents. It is possible that there was no 
actual fallinij off in the amount of LToods 
handled and that the decrease obser\able 
was due to the decline in prices. However, 
this was a decrease in griicral bii^incsf. 

The year was the first of the national 
bankrupt act, and there were widespread 
financial embarrassment and distrust, but no 
large and disastrous failures occurred in 
this city. Some individuals were forced to 
yield before the storm of adversitv, but there 
were no failures of moment. The substan- 
tial character and reliabilit\- of the business 
men of this communit\-, were attested b\- 
the fact that the credit of but few leading 
merchants or manufactures was seriousl\- 
impaired. While conducting their business 
with just liberality toward their customers, 
and with a reasonable degree of enterprise 



136 



THE CITY OF EVAXSVILLE. 



and spirit, tliev engaged in no unhealth}- 
speculations and did not seek to extend their 
business beyond their capital or abilitj- to 
control it. At that time there was no ap- 
preciable decline in real estate values, thus 
showing that confidence in future develop- 
ment was unshaken. Rents, especially of 
business houses, were reduced to conform to 
the reduction in profits of trade, wages and 
the prices of building materials, and the 
value of improvements depreciated, but real 
property was maintained at its highest quo- 
tations throughout the vear. A revival of 
business was confidentlv hoped for, but these 
hopes rested on an unsound basis. The 
bursting of the storm and the crash of fail- 
ures was not long postponed. The crisis 
was reached in 1S73; panic and dismay were 
the results. 

Just prior to this time many valuable im- 
provements, public and private, were pro- 
vided for. A large rolling mill, now out of 
operation, extensive additions to the cotton 
mill, which had proved to be a successful 
venture, manv fine buildings for manufac- 
turing and commercial purposes, and many 
elegant private residences were erected. 
Congress had appropriated the money for 
the erection of a postoffice and custom house 
building, although work on it was not im- 
mediately commenced. The St. George 
hotel, a magnificent building, costing in the 
neighborhood of $200,000.00, was con- 
structed in response to the demands of the 
tra\-eling public and to push forward the 
growth of the cit}'. Improvements in the 
streets, wharves, and elsewhere through the 
city were undertaken. 

The extent and diversity of the manufac- 
turing industries were b\- this time very 
great. The list included 150 different 
classes of articles, and almost every- 
thing of importance in the way of ordi- 
nary manufactures was comprised in it. 



The total \alue of articles manufactured 
3'early was then estimated at $12,000,- 
000.00. The most extensive manufactures 
were heavy machinerv, such as mills, en- 
gines, etc., and furniture. The milling 
interests had assumed large proportions and 
the products in breadstuffs was up to this 
time annually increased. There were about 
150 wholesale houses, and a very con- 
siderable proportion of them carried as 
large stocks as could be found in the 
leadinij houses of similar branches in the 
principal cities of the West. Commodious 
business buildings were erected for the ac- 
commodation of this rapidly growing trade, 
until there were man\- blocks in the lower 
or wholesale part of the city that would 
have ornamented the chief wholesale streets 
of Cincinnati or St. Louis. 

The commission business had attained 
considerable importance. Large assign- 
ments of flour, grain, salt, seed, tobacco, cot- 
ton, meats and every article of commerce, 
of large or small bulk, were made to the 
houses of this city. The growth of the re- 
tail trade had been commensurate with that 
in other departments. The progressive men 
of that period, many of whom are still in the 
van and forefront of the fight for indus- 
trial supremacy, were not standing with idle 
han.-ls and watching with CDmplaisance the 
efforts of other cities to outstrip Evansville 
in the race for advantage. Railroads were 
planned in various directions, and active 
steps were taken to secure their construc- 
tion. Far-seeing men realized that the day 
was at hand for the railroad to usurp, or 
rather, by right to succeed to the throne, 
so long and so well occupied by the majestic 
river, from w'hich w'as ruled the growing 
empire of the great West. 

At length, however, the climax was 
reached in the business stagnation of the 
country. Industries that had languishes} 



TUL'CHIXG BOTTOM. 



137 



since iS6S, were now to bu (.'iit^ulfed in lh(_' 
t^eneral ruin. The linanciai panic of 1873, 
national in its proportions, swept across the 
land, bliijhting hopes and wrecking fortunes. 
The convulsions of the storm were felt in 
E\-ansville, as in other cities of like size and 
like environments. Many private enterprises 
were abandoned. Business men were dri\en 
to the wall, and their failures increased the 
general feelings of distrust. Capital was 
ti nid. Its investment was withheld for signs 
of bjtter promise. Projectors of railroads 
gave up their plans to await a recoverv from 
the season of distress. Private improve- 
ments were suspended and real estate values 
declined. Few exchanges were made and 
there was no active demand. The banks 
and leading commercial houses, however, 
w eathered the storm and there was no disas- 
trous or sensational collapse of business. 

The condition resulting immediately from 
this panic was not long continued, but after 
passing out of the trying experience, the city 
resumed the march of progress with slow 
and cautious steps. There was visible ad- 
vancement within a year, but entire confi- 
dence was not immediately restored, and 
improvement was consequently slow. Real 
estate soon recovered, though there was 
no immediate demand. Holders had un- 
shaken confidence in ultimate prosperity, and 
were not anxious to dispossess themselves at 
a sacrifice. The valuation of real and per- 
sonal property' in 1S74 was $24,758,355.00, 
and for the twelve months ending with 
Aufjust of that year, the sales of real estate 
numbered 8i4and aggregated $2,307,562.00 
These changes in possession occurred be- 
tween individual residents principally. There 
was no attempt to inflate values or raise 
prices by fictitious means. The Courier 
of May 2 of that year, contained this perti- 
nent statement: 

" Real estate has no fanciful or feverish 



values here, raised b\' rings of speculators. 
Good lots can be had for from $100 to 
$1,500 according to location and improve- 
ments. There has been a steady advance- 
ment in the value of property with each 
successi\'e yeai'. Some \'ast tracts in the 
suburbs of the city are held by foreign capi- 
talists, and they have no doubt found a profit- 
able investment. There has, however, 
been but little spiculatioa outside of purely 
legitimate channels. Property is regarded 
here b\' all a-; certain to p.i\- hiadsom.'lv, 
and there are splendid opportunities for in- 
vestments of all kinds."' 

That the financial crisis and the resulting 
depression did not long deter citizens from 
progressive activity is attested by the follow- 
ing statement from the same paper: 

"The present building season is only 
about one-third over, and }-et our contractors 
and architects have been engaged for work 
till the end of the season, while building 
material can scarcely be manufactured to 
meet the steady demand. At the opening 
of the present season, it was predicted that 
the financial stringency would affect our 
building operations disastrously, but such has 
not been the case. On the other hand it 
will e\en show much larger results. In 
addition to the large business blocks being 
erected, the number of private residences 
going up was never in numbers so great as 
in the present season. This is attested by 
all persons who are associated with this de- 
partment of business. At least two millions 
and a half dollars will be expended in build- 
incfs alone this season. A list of these 
blocks and houses, which we have secured, 
would cover four columns of this copy of 
the Courier. We have passed that period 
of development when all buildings are con- 
structed for use without regard to the 
beauties of architecture or the satisfaction 
of taste, and the city rejoices in scores of 



]38 



THE CITY OF EVANSVILLE. 



private residences which are perfect models 
of beauty and taste. In the rapid manner 
in which the city grew, no attention was 
paid to these essential elements in making a 
city attractive and beautiful, but that era has 
been passed, and in the next three years 
even greater progress will be made." 

The number of houses erected during 
the year was estimated at fully 5°° 
and the amount expended in the season's 
work and on buildings completed in that 
year, though commenced at an earlier date, 
at $3,000,000. 

With the emplo^'ment to labor afforded 
by so much building in addition to that 
engaged in the commercial and manufact- 
uring pursuits of the city, which, though 
jielding in some particulars, were generally 
holding the station gained before the 
panic, if they were not advancing, general 
distress and pressing want could not, and 
did not, prevail among the people. The 
improvement of Evansville from that time 
has continued. She has taken no back- 
ward step, never essaying a mushroom 
growth, such as has occurred in many 
" boomed" cities of late years; her advance- 
ment has been constant and substantial. The 
scenes of activity may have shifted and in 
many departments of industry " good old 
days " may have gone, never to return, but 
the general improvement of the city has 
been maintained. The population has con- 
stantly increased in numbers, its aggregate 
wealth has grown, and the individual pros- 
perity of the masses has been preserved. 
This is particularly evidenced by the fact 
that its laboring classes, its mechanics, 
miners and toilers of every sort, enjoy not 
only an abundance of the necessaries of life 
but also many of its comforts and luxuries. 
A very large proportion of these people — 
about 85 per cent of them — because of 
regular employment, good wages, thrift and 



industry, own their own homes, and, to say 
nothing of tlie wage-workers" earnings held 
by numerous building associations, the 
People's Savings Bank, an institution whose 
patrons are chiefly among the laboring 
classes, has over $650,000 in deposits, 
representing a portion of the savings of 
2,500 people. This is the condition of the 
wage-worker at this time, and it fairh- 
represents his condition at all times since 
1874, '^o'" while the agencies of Evansville's 
advancement have changed and in the 
changes invested capital has suffered, the 
laborer, shifting and becoming an adjunct of 
each new agency, has encountered no 
serious harm. 

The population of Evansville is and has 
been since a time antedating its corporation 
as a city, largely of German descent, though 
other nationalities are well represented. 
The greatest of harmony and best of feel- 
ing, generally considered, have prevailed be- 
tween employers and employes. The city 
has enjoyed a pleasing immunity from strikes 
and labor troubles of all kinds. The wage- 
workers are intelligent and enjoy undis- 
turbed the highest rights of citizenship. 
The dignity of labor is recognized by all, 
and it is only the idler who provokes con- 
tempt. 

In the early development of the vast em- 
pire of the west, the Ohio river was the 
main thoroughfare upon which the products 
of the mill and factory were brought from 
the east to their consumers in the new 
country. The wealth of surplus products 
of the rich lands of the west were put upon 
the same highway to find their way into the 
distant markets of the world; and the 
staples of the tropics were distributed to the 
agricultural and manufacturin<j centers of 
the north by the same means. In this era 
producer and consumer were separated by 
many miles of distj\nce; and commerce was 



WHEN THE RIVER WAS KING. 



139 



the soul of business activit}-. Wlien the 
citizen of Evansville desired to witness 
scenes of life and restless action he went to 
the river front. There, upon the levee, pon- 
tlerous wagons, c.irts, and dra3-s, crowded 
each other for space, and workmen hurried 
from place to place in every sort of occu- i 
pation. Vast quantities of produce, of lum- 
ber, salt, cotton, tobacco, grain, agricultural 
implements, furniture and what not were 
piled on the wharves and on the river bank. 
Warerooms, commission houses, and store- 
rooms soujiht convenient locations on Water 
street. Then, indeed, the river was king, 
and when the first railroad was built it be- 
came an obedient subject to the power on 
the throne. But at length the general con- 
struction of railroads commenced, and 
marked the decline of the river trade. 
Rapid transit was the great desideratum. 
In earlier days merchants received their 
goods by steamer from the eastern cities, 
and they were sometimes long delayed by 
obstructions to navigation. It was soon 
found that by using the facilities for ship- 
ping afforded by railroads, goods could be 
received and in a large measure sold, before 
the arrival of goods ordered at the same 
time and shipped by boat. Merchants de- 
siring to turn their capital frequentl}- soon 
gave their undivided patronage, in through 
freights, to the railroads. Gradually the 
through lines of steamers were abandoned. 
The effects of this change were seriously 
felt by many prosperous villages along the 
Ohio river. To many it was a death blow. 
From Pittsburgh to Cairo to-da}-, there are 
to be seen at short intervals, towns with 
abandoned houses and shops, dilapidated 
mines, silent mills, and all the essentials to a 
picture of " the deserted village. " The 
commerce of the Ohio gave them life. 
When that went down, or to speak more 
accuratelv, was altered from what mav be 



called a " long haul " to a " short haul " 
system, their occupation was gone, and 
when they were unable to attach themsehes 
to some other life-giving agency, thev suf- 
fered the long-continued agonies of a living 
death. 

Through the aggressive spirit and broad 
understanding of its leading men, Evansville 
was not doomed to such a condition. When 
the through freight from the commercial 
centers of the east came westward by rail, 
the steamers that made long trips, for ex- 
ample from Pittsburgh to St. Louis, or from 
Pittsburgh to New Orleans, were taken off 
and put in other trades — shorter trades to 
suppl\- different demands. River towns at 
the termini of railway branches running from 
the trunk lines were made points of distribu- 
tion for a rapidly growing countr)-, and in 
many cases the towns so utilized enjoyed a 
greater degree of prosperity for a time, by 
reason of the change. Merchants at smaller 
towns for forty or fifty miles around such a 
place, were forced by this change of con- 
ditions to make the railroad point the base 
of supplies, where previously they had 
drawn upon the east directly, by means of 
through steamers. This was true of Evans- 
ville. Far up and down the river and to all 
the towns along the tributaries of the Ohio 
the commercial emissaries found their way 
and following them were large shipments of 
merchandise. To the commission men and 
merchants of Evansville came the surplus 
products of the same rich country, instead of 
going directl}- to distant points by water 
transportation as in earlier times. 

Under these circumstances the river trade 
grew iinmensely, but this was in the infancy 
of the giant railroad system. When the 
country, thus supplied by steamers, making 
daily and tri-weekly trips, became covered 
with a network of railroads, it could not be 
expected that the same amount and kind of 



no 



THE CITY OF EVAXSVILLE. 



business would be transacted on tlie water. 
If Evansville had blindlv clung to commerce 
to the exxlusion of other factors that enter 
largel}' into the growth of modern cities in 
the middle states, her people would have 
suffered for the want of employment, or her 
population would have decreased and her 
growth been effectually checked. For when 
supply depots, themselves directlv connected 
b}' rail with producers and consumers, multi- 
plied, the usefulness of Evansville would 
have been diminished, and at length, it seems 
reasonable to believe, the city would have 
been of little more importance than other 
towns that supply a limited agricultural 
region. But early in her career the mer- 
chant and manufacturer joined hands. Be- 
fore passing, however, to the consideration 
of the relative influence of manufacturing 
upon the growth of the city, the results of 
her commerce may profitably engage some 
attention. 

The cheapness of water transportation 
makes the river a desirable means of get- 
ting many kinds of produce to market, and 
there are many portions of an exceedingly 
productive country still directly dependent 
upon the river as the carrier of its supplies, 
with Evansville as a supply depot. These 
considerations serve to keep up the business 
about the wharves, though its volume is not 
so great as formerly. At the present time 
there are as many steamers registered at 
this port as there have been at any previous 
time, and regular packet lines to all the 
principal places between Louisville and 
Paducah, and along the Tennessee, Cum- 
berland and Green rivers, make Evans\ille 
their home port. But the commerce of the 
place has, especiall}- in late years, drawn 
the railroad into its service. The pioneer 
road, the Evansville & Terre Haute, is 
splendidly equipped, and handles large 
quantities of freight. In 1872 the St. Louis 



& Southeastern, running from St. Louis to 
Evansville, was consolidated with the Evans- 
ville, Henderson & Nashville, and thus 
through trains to the south were supplied. 
Subsequently these Hnes became the prop- 
erty of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad 
Company. Its trains were transferred bv 
boat between Evansville and Henderson un- 
til 1885, when the Ohio river was spanned 
by a steel bridge, 3,686 feet long, and cost- 
ing $3,000,000, which connects Evansville 
directly with the wealth of the south, so 
extensively traversed by the great L. & N. 
system. Later, the Louisville, Evansville 
& St. Louis railroad (air line) furnishing a 
direct route to the East, the Peoria, Decatur 
& Evansville railroad traversing the rich 
lands of eastern Illinois, the Evansville & 
Indianapolis railroad (straight line) afford- 
ing an outlet for a mining and agricultural 
region of great wealth, the Ohio Valley 
railroad and the Belt Line, have been con- 
structed. Aid has been voted to other lines, 
and many additions to the alread}' splendid 
system of railroads centering here are pro- 
posed. To any one familiar with the good 
results that flow in such large streams from 
these powerful agencies in the development 
of cities, the fact that Evansville maintains a 
stead}' growth can bring no surprise. In 
1880 the population of the city, by the cen- 
sus report, was a little in excess of 29,000. 
This census was probably not well taken, 
for, b}' careful estimates, based on the num- 
ber of voters in the citv at that time, the 
number of children in the schools, and the 
number of names in the city directory, the 
population was shown to be at least 40,000. 
The assessed valuation of propert}' amount- 
ed to $18,152,005, being divided as follows: 
Real estate, $7,769,805; improvements, 
$5>i49'5S.'5; personal property, $5,232,645. 
In that year the wholesale and jobbing trade 
was very large in all classes of articles. 



RAILROAD DEVELOPMENT. 



m 



The annual sales of some of these, as estimated 
upon merchants' reports, are here (juoted: 
Groceries, $3, S50,ooo;dry goods and notions, 
$2,Soo,ooo; hardware, $180,000; boots and 
shoes, $1,800,000; leather, $500,000; drugs, 
$740,000; clothing, $1,500,000; hats, caps 
and furs, $500,000; china, glass and queens- 
ware, $350,000; pork packers, $700,000. 

Those who, as thev grew up into a 
knowledge of affairs, and in the active 
periods of their careers saw that Evans- 
ville's prosperity was drawn almost entirely 
from the river trade, as was the fact in 
earlier days, may view the alterations in 
that trade as a mark of the cit3''s decline. If 
so, they err, for not onl)' is the number of 
boats registered larger than ever before, 
but the changes in the character of their 
business have been such as to furnish 
employment to a greater number of men 
and women residing in Evansville. For- 
merl\- steamers brought raw materials and 
manufactured goods here from different 
localities, and E\-ansville merely effected an 
exchange between the separated consumers 
and producers. Now these steamers bring 
crude materials and carry away manufact- 
ured goods, the transformation from one 
condition to the other being effected by the 
brains and hands of the toilers here. 
Besides the steamers, in this work there are 
the great steel highways leading in all 
directions, over which are run, with system- 
atic regularity, thousands of freighted cars 
in every month of the year, themselves 
furnishing employment to a vast number of 
workmen whose families are a portion of 
Evansville's societ\-, assisting to support its 
schools and churches, and each doing some- 
thing to enhance the public welfare. 

That the founders and earh' settlers of 
this citj- builded better than they knew is 
nowhere more strikingly exhibited than in 
tiie fact thai the place selected by them is so 



favorably located for the development of 
vast stores of natural wealth of the existence 
of which they at that time had no knowl- 
edge. That immeasurable quantities of 
coal la}' under the surface of the new land 
where the}- were raising their rude cabins, 
that the extensive forests of hard wood, with 
the passage of years, would enter into the 
world's consumption at so great a value, and 
that mountains of building stone and rich 
ores, so essential to the satisfaction of needs 
they could not dream of then, were to the 
southward, within easy access, could not 
possibly ha\-e entered into their considera- 
tion. The trials and misfortunes that 
checked immigration to the stjite of Indiana 
at various times, and the causes which made 
the incoming of settlers spasmodic, have 
already received some consideration in these 
pages. When that great tide of immi- 
grants poured in between the years 1835 and 
1840, the easy-going habits of earlier pio- 
neers were abandoned. There was a c'en- 
eral awakening, and ever\- new demand 
evoked an attempt to supply it. Some of 
the most ordinary farm implements were 
neither made in Evans\ille, nor were thev 
to be had at the stores in the place. But 
the importance of manufacturing, as the 
most reliable source of substantial growth, 
was recognized soon thereafter, and from 
the time when the work of utilizing the 
wealth of the forests and the fields by con- 
verting their wild products into implements 
and articles of use was begun, the mer- 
chants and capitalists of the city, with un- 
flagging zeal, have sought to encourage and 
foster this interest in its varied branches, 
until to-da\' there is probablv no city in the 
United States, of equal population, that has a 
greater diversity of established manufactur- 
ing industries. 

The growth of the city in this particular 
has been gratifying, but perhaps not so 



in 



THE CITY OF EVANSVILLE. 



great as might reasonably have been ex- 
pected when the vast possibihties and means 
of advancement are considered. There has 
been a constant increase in the variety of 
these interests and the aggregate volume 
of their output. At times the progress has 
been slow, and some enterprises have failed 
because of faultj^ management or financial 
depression of more than local proportions, 
but nevertheless the aggregate of the work 
done has grown from period to period. 
Manufacturing, in its relation to the general 
commerce of the present day, is the chief 
organ in the industrial anatomy. Through 
the vast channels of commerce, millions of 
values annually find their way to the arti- 
sans, mechanics and wage-workers of the 
world, and by them are worked up into new 
articles of usefulness, again to be sent out 
on missions of advancement and upbuild- 
ing. Manufacturing and commerce, then, 
are mutually dependent, and in the developed 
conditions of this age and place, "useless 
each without the other." 

It is estimated with acceptable accuracy 
that at this time fully $3,500,000.00 of cap- 
ital are invested here in manufacturing- 
plants engaged in producing various lines of 
merchandise. The following is a partial 
list of the number and variety of these estab- 
lishments now in successful operation : 

Agricultural implements, 4; architectural 
iron works, 5; awnings and tents, 2; bag 
manufacturer, i ; bakery, cracker, i ; bak- 
ing powder, 2; barrel hoops, i; barrel 
heading, i ; bedstead, i ; bent material, i ; 
blank books, 4; boiler makers, 5; boot, shoe 
and gaiter uppers, 3; box manufacturer, 
wood, I ; brass founders, 2 ; breweries, 3 ; 
brickyards, 12; broom manufacturers, 3; 
candy manufacturers, 4; carriage manufac- 
turers, 10; carriage springs, i; chair manu- 
facturers, 6; cigar box manufacturer, i; 
coal mines, 8; coffin manufactory, i ; corn 



meal mills, 4; cotton mill (largest west of 
New England), i; excelsior manufacturing 
machine, i ; feather reno\'ating machines, i ; 
files and rasps, r; flour mills, 8; furniture 
factories, 8; galvanized iron work, 6: hoe 
manufacturer, i ; homin\- mill, i ; horse 
collars, 8 ; ice factory, i ; iron foundries, 
10; jeans clothing manufacturers, 4; jewel- 
ers, manufacturing, 4: laboratory, i; lum- 
ber manufacturers, 8: machinery builders, 5; 
malt manufacturers, 2; metallic bottle caps, 
I ; paper box manufacturers, i ; piano maker, 
I ; picture frarhe makers, 3 ; planing-mills, 
7 ; plow handles, i ; plow manufacturers, 3 ; 
potteries, 3; saddles, harness, etc., 17; sash, 
doors, etc., 8; saw-mills, 11; shoe factory, 
ladies', i ; shirt factory, i ; soap manufac- 
turer, i; stave factories, 3; steam engine 
builders, 5 ; stone yards, 3 ; stove foundries, 
6; sugarcane mills, 2; table manufactory, 
I ; tanneries, 2 ; tin, copper and sheet iron, 
20; tobacco manufacturers, 3; tool manu- 
facturer, I ; trunk manufacturer, i ; uphol- 
stery manufacturers, 4; veneers and veneer 
goods, i; wagon makers, 13; washboard 
manufacturers, 2; whip maker, i; woolen 
mill, I ; miscellaneous, 50. 

The extent of the flour milling interest is 
already considerable, and the extraordinary 
advantages afforded by cheap fuel and loca- 
tion in the grain growing region, and near 
the consuming population of the great South, 
is already attracting the attention of millers 
elsewhere, with every prospect that this in- 
terest will be enormously increased. The 
following is a statement of the flour business 
under the present capacity: 

Total output of flour per day, 2,100 bar- 
rels; total output of flour per week, 12,600 
barrels; total output of flour per year, 630,- 
000 barrels; consumption of wheat per da}', 
9,500 bushels; consumption of wheat per 
week, 57,000 bushels; consumption of wheat 
per j'ear, 2,736,000 bushels; average cost of 



MANUFA C TURING. 



m 



wlieat per da}' at 8o cents, $7,600; average 
cost of wheat per week at 80 cents, $45,000; 
average cost of wheat per year at 80 cents, 
$2,188,800; average cost of packages per 
day, $546; average cost of packages per 
week, $3,276; average cost of packages per 
year, $157,248; average cost to manufacture 
per day, at 40 cents a barrel, $840; average 
cost to manufacture per week, at 40 cents a 
barrel, $5,040; average cost to manufacture 
per year, at 40 cents a barrel, $241,920. 

This represents the output of seven mills, 
and it is believed that notwithstanding the 
capacity of all of them is small, as compared 
with that of the mammoth mills at Minne- 
apolis, the cost of production is as small as 
the cost at Minneapolis, due in large part to 
the low price of coal and nearness to the 
grain, while the cost of marketing is very 
considerably less. Evansville, therefore, may 
justly claim an unequaled location for the 
profitable production of flour. 

That Evansville should be a large manu- 
facturer of furniture and woodenwares of 
all kinds can not occasion surprise, when it 
is known that the last United States census 
showed tills city to be the largest hardwood 
lumber market in the United States. 

Some conception of the magnitude of the 
saw-mill and lumber interests m;x\- be had 
from the following statistical data, gathered 
from the books of those engaged in these 
enterprises: number of saw-mills, 11; num- 
ber of men employed, 855; amount of wages 
paid yearly, $385,000; feet of lumber sawed, 
107,500,000; capital invested, $500,000; 
yearly business, $2,545,000; amount of 
ground occupied by mills, about 40 acres. 

Another evidence of the city's growth is 
the immense trade in building brick. There 
are fourteen brickyards within, or just 
outside, the city limits, with an aggregate 
daily output of 90,000, and an annual output 
of more than 15,000,000. There are 200 



hands employed. The increase in the growth 
of the cit}^ is partially represented by the 
increase in the output of these brick- 
yards, which is about thirty per cent over 
the product of last year. The entire output 
of 1887 was sold before the beginning of 
the spring trade of 18S8, and 8,000,000 of 
the present year's make have already been 
sold for future delivery. The brickyards 
not only make the common building brick, 
but two of them are manufacturing stock or 
repressed and ornamental brick the equal of 
any to be found west of the Alleghany 
mountains. The makers of brick here now 
ship from 600,000 to 1,000,000 a month to 
southern states. 

One of the most faithful handmaids of 
manufacturing is mining, the growth of 
which industry has been commensurate with 
that concerning which some statistics have 
just been given. In earl}- days the only fuel 
used was wood. Manv pioneer farmers 
along the river bank laid the foundations of 
their fortunes by establishing woodyards 
and furnishing fuel to the steamboats. The 
towing of coal from the mines far up the 
river was commenced in 1850, and a few 
years later collieries were established in this 
vicinity and operated with great success. 
The amount of coal within easy access of 
the furnaces of Evansville is beyond com- 
putation. The great abundance of this 
product of nature and the comparative ease 
with which it is brought to market, the 
chief item of cost bein<j the labor-cost in its 
mining, makes its price to the consumer 
very low. Under the city there are two 
veins of soft coal which are reached by ten 
different shafts within or near the city 
limits. Vast quantities are transported here 
by rail and water, there being within a radius 
of thirty miles no less than sixty shafts in 
operation. A coal famine has never been 
known in Evansville, and it is now recog- 



lU 



THE CITY OF EVANSVILLE. 



nized as an impossibility, so varied are the 
sources of supply. The cost of coal is from 
fifty to seventv-five cents per ton. With 
such cheap fuel there has not been 
here, as in many other places, that intense 
anxiety for the discovery of natural gas, a 
substance recently thought to promise a 
revolution in manufacturing industries; how- 
ever, wells are being sunk in close proximity 
to the city limits, and gas has been secured 
within a few miles of the cit}-. 

In this connection attention mav be di- 
rected to the vast areas of rich iron ore in 
the states immediately south of Evansville, 
and to the fact that for the purposes of com- 
bining the two substances, iron and fuel, in 
manufacturing enterprises, the advantages 
of this cit}- are unecjualed. Statisticians 
show that the values of farm lands in any 
prescribed area increase in direct proportion 
with the per cent of the population engaged 
in other than agricultural pursuits. The 
farmer earh' learned that surplus produce 
without a market was not wealth. The dis- 
tance between him and the consumers of 
his products measures the extent of his pros- 
perity. The same rule governs the pros- 
perit}' of the producers of other commodities. 
A diversity of interests and a diversity of 
employment, call into action the highest de- 
gree of mental force and make a community 
great. Evansville is in the center of a great 
corn producing country, in the midst of 
what is known and recognized as the corn 
belt. _ Three-fifths of all the tobacco grown 
in the United States is produced within a 
circle described about Evansville as a center 
with a radius loo miles in length. Ten 
thousand hogsheads were sold on the 
"breaks" here last year, and from the ear- 
liest times the business of handling this pro- 
duct has been engaged in extensively by 
men of high business standing and of great 
financial strength. The grain producing 



country directly tributar}- to Evansville, ex- 
tends over a large portion of three great 
states. All forms of produce find here a 
read}' market. Very recently the canning 
industrj- has been entered upon, and the cul- 
tivation of vegetables and small fruits is re- 
ceiving proper encouragement. 

If diversity of interests is the touchstone 
of municipal greatness, the magnificent 
growth of this city need not occasion won- 
der; indeed, the only cause for wonderment 
is that with its great natural advantages the 
city has not moved forward with more rapid 
and more gigantic strides. At this time the 
population of the city, based upon the most 
reliable data, is 53,000: and the assessed 
value of real and personal property within 
the city limits is $20,825,708.00, to which, 
to obtain the actual amount of the city's 
wealth, must be added the value of many 
factories, among them the cotton mill and 
the potteries, and many residences located 
beyond the city limits, as well as from 35 to 
50 per cent upon the figures quoted, that 
being the difference between assessed and 
actual values. That extensive improvement 
is being made is apparent to the most casual 
observer. On every hand can be seen evi- 
dences of continuous and health}' growth 
and sound prosperity. Many handsome 
buildings are being erected, and the hum of 
industry is everywhere heard. In 18S7 
the estimated cost of improvements was 
$276,500.00, while up to the middle of Octo- 
ber of the present \'ear it was $294,260.00. 
The city directory now being made shows 
an estimated increase of 4,000 or 5,000 in 
the city's population during the present year. 

Much of the recent growth has been 
due to an organized effort on the part of 
progressive citizens to utilize the gifts of 
Providence, showered in such abundance at 
the feet of this city. A Business Men's 
Association has been formed, its objects 



PRESENT AND FUTURE. 



145 



being to effect the betterment of the city and 
its people in every possible way, and by 
developing its natural resources to earn for 
Evansville that rank and reco<rnition aniontj 
the cities of the world which it ought to 
receive. The association has already done 
much good by inducing the establishment 
here of labor-employing enterprises, and by 
planning for a magnificent opera-house and 
public building, now in course of construc- 
tion, to cost $100,000.00. Its officers are 
M. J. Bray, Jr., president; W. J. Wood, first 
vice president; Samuel Vickery, second vice 
president; S. S. Scantlin, treasurer, and W. 
S. French, secretar\-, and among its mem- 
bers are about 500 of the most progressive 
and advanced citizens of the place. 

The development thus far made and past 
achievements in the various divisions of 
human effort, suggest the possibilities of the 
future. Nature with lavish hand has be- 
stowed her favors; the rapidity and extent 
of Evansville's growth hereafter must de- 
pend wholly upon the amount of wisdom 
and enterprise exercised by its citizens. But 
it is attempted here to record onl}' the 
works of the past and the present status of 
the city. To recite achieved facts, not to 
utter hopes, speculate upon possibilities, 
suggest public needs, or means of quick 
development, is the sole privilege of the 
writer. The " lamps of prophecy " can not 
be lighted; the realms of the future can not 
be invaded. 

With its population of 53,000, Evansville 
is already the second city in a state having 
over 2,000,000 intelligent and progressive 
inhabitants. Located on the Ohio river, 
above the reach of the highest waters 
known to history, commanding the trade 
of the great south, with eight steamboat 
lines, five of them daily packets with this 
as a terminal point, sixty registered steam- 



boats, and seven well constructed and 
admirably equipped railroad lines, the com- 
mercial advantages of the city are patent 
to all. Fron; the earliest times, with every 
change in the commercial facilities and 
methods of the west, Evansville has had a 
most enviable position. When the water- 
ways were in the ascendency she com- 
manded a great trade; as they are par- 
alleled and perhaps worsted in the sharp 
contest for supremacy in the commercial 
world by their great competitor, the iron 
horse, Evansville becomes a railroad center 
and maintains a high position among the chief 
cities of the middle states. The fittest sur- 
vives always, in means of transportation as 
well as all things else. Great streams like 
the Mississippi, the Missouri and the Ohio 
have already lost much of their commercial 
value. They may continue to lose through- 
out the coming half centurj'. That this 
city may maintain its commercial standing, 
its large minded citizens will doubtless see 
to it that its advantages are not curtailed 
by any neglect in the construction of rail- 
roads, the only means of securing its proper 
relation to the surrounding countr}-, now 
rapidly developing. 

With cheap fuel and cheap transportation 
from the cotton fields and iron mines of the 
south, as the center of an almost limitless 
supply of hard wood, and with every facility 
for manufacturing, it is not surprising that 
no place of equal population throughout the 
length and breadth of the land has a greater 
diversit}- of manufacturing interests. The 
largest cotton mills west of New England, 
and over 300 manufacturing establish- 
ments in operation, give the citv a 
prominent place among producers of manu- 
factured goods. With a banking capital of 
$3,000,000, and surrounded on all sides by 
the richest agricultural region, her mercan- 
tile exploits are of necessity very extensive. 



H.6 



THE CITY OF EVAXSVILLE. 



With artificial gas and electric light plants, 
waterworks, street railways, well improved ! 
streets, manv miles of free gravel-roads, 
elegant and commodious pubhc buildings, 
and every public convenience; with schools, 
churches and libraries worth}' her industrial 
importance, unsurpassed social advantages, 
many elegant private residences, and numer- 
ous cottages owned by their occupants; and 
with several extensive and important enter- 
prises projected and in process of establish- 
ment, Evansville, as it now is, may be truly 
called a great city. And, further, its varied 
and extensive natural advantages, inexhaust- 
ible sources of wealth, already' referred to 
in detail, lead to the conclusion and warrant 
the assertion that this city has nothing for 
which it may be more thankful than its 
future. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 
Hon. William Heilman was born in 
Albig, Rhenish Hesse, Germany, October 
II, 1S24. His father, Valentine Heilman, 
was a reputable farmer who died in 1826. 
For her second husband Mrs. Heilman 
married Peter Weintz, and in 1843 the fam- 
ily came to America, landing in New 
Orleans. Thence they moved to St. Louis 
and shortly afterward to Pose}' countv, Ind., 
where Mr. Weintz engaged in farm- 
ing. William was at this time a sturdy lad 
of nineteen years and had evidenced the 
possession of those traits of character which 
have since contributed so largely to his suc- 
cess. Life on a farm was not congenial and 
he resolved to seek a more profitable voca- 
tion. In 1847 he came to Evansville, and 
in company with his brother-in-law. Chris- 
tian Kratz, established a small machine shop 
and foundry on Pine street, using two blind 
horses to supply the motive power. In a 
comparatively short time the tact and sa- 
gacity of Mr. Heilman as a man of affairs 
began to attract attention. Three years 



later the business had increased to such an 
extent that increased facilities became abso- 
lutely necessary, and the firm built a com- 
modious brick shop and commenced using 
steam power. In 1854 thev manufactured 
their first portable engine, and in 1859 their 
first thresher. Upon the breaking out of 
the war of the rebellion many of Mr. 
Heilman's business associates were in doubt 
as to the ultimate success of the Union 
armies. Mr. Heilman and his partner took 
a decided stand for the preservation of the 
union of the states, and it was here that that 
business forecast so essential to the success- 
ful business man was exhibited in its strong- 
est light. In 1864 Mr. Kratz, receiving for 
his interest $100,000, thus showing with what 
success they had worked up to that time, 
retired from the firm, since which time Mr. 
Heilman has conducted the business alone. 
Through his energy the establishment has 
grown to massive proportions, occupying 
nearly an entire block. While so deeply 
engrossed in business, matters of public im- 
port have always received Mr. Heilman's 
careful attention. In 1852 he was elected 
councilman, and for many years discharged 
the duties of that office with credit to him- 
self and to the entire satisfaction of his con- 
stituents. Mr. Heilman has always been a 
staunch republican. In 1870 he was elected 
to the state legislature, and in 1872 was 
nominated for congress, and although the dis- 
trict was democratic by 2500 votes, he reduced 
his opponent's majority to 112. In 1876 he 
was elected to the state senate, and while in 
Europe in 1878 the republicans of the First 
congressional district of Indiana again se- 
lected him as their standard bearer. He ac- 
cepted the proffered honor, and after a short 
stay in his nadve land, returned, and at the 
close of a spirited canvass of sixteen days, was 
elected by a flattering majority. In congress 
as everywhere else, Mr. Heilman evidenced 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



U7 



that keen perception and sterling good sense 
which ha\ebeen conspicuous in all his under- 
takings. In evidence of this fact, a portion 
of a speech delivered in the house in 
1879,' on the "Warner Coinage Bill,"' a 
measure intended to enrich the holders of 
silver bullion at the expense of the people, 
lo the extent of 15 cents on the dollar is 
quoted below. Mr. Heilman was thoroughh' 
convinced that the success of the important 
measure of resumption, then but a few 
months old, required nothing but letting 
alone. He insisted that "honesty is the 
best polic\-" in governmental matters as well 
as in everything else, and while denied a fin- 
ished education in books, he had always been 
an apt pupil in that other school in which the 
teachers are observation and experience. 
In his speech his business acumen asserted 
itself. He thus expressed his views on the 
bill : '• I am stronglv in favor of well con- 
sidered, practical legislation to benefit the 
agricultural and manufacturing interests, to 
increase our commerce and wealth, but by 
all means let us have some stabilitv in our 
financial legislation. The condition of the 
countr\- is at last sureh, although perhaps 
slowly, getting better, and what commerce 
and finance need just now more than an^•- 
thing else is to be let alone." 

In congress he was noted for his keen 
foresight and watchful study of |iublic affairs, 
and he was regarded by his fellow members 
as one of the best of business leirislators. 
His views were always practical and his 
advice sound. While Mr. Heilman's polit- 
ical record is enviable, his pre-eminence lies 
in his career as a man of affairs, and it is 
safe to assert that what his enterprise and 
genius have done to advance"and foster the 
commercial prosperity of the citv of Evans- 
ville has not been excelled by the efforts of 
any other individual. The cotton mill owes 
its existence to his energy and capacity in 



financial investments, and the same remarks 
will apply to many other important enter- 
prises. Every project having for its object 
the adxancement of the interests of the citv 
of Evansville has always found in him a 
warm friend and supporter. To him the 
Latin phrase '■'■ fabcr suae fortuiiac^' is em- 
inently applicable. Beginning \vith little 
more than his natural endowments as his 
caj-iital. he has achieved success in all de- 
partments of life, and his course is worthy 
of emulation by all classes of vountr men. 
Commencing at the bottom round of the 
ladder with a borrowed capital of $500, he 
is now regarded as one of the wealthiest 
manufacturers of the state. His capacity 
for work has been great and his dispatch of 
business rapid. He is now sixty-four years 
of age, but is still an indefatigable worker 
and always punctual. These characteristics 
ha\e contributed largely to the successful 
achievements of his life. 

In 1848 Mr. Heilman was married to Miss 
Mary Jenner. She was born in German\', 
and came to this country when nine years of 
age. The result of this union is a family of 
nine children. His sons, George P. and 
William A., are prominent business men, the 
former manager of the Heilman Hominy Mills 
and the latter associated with his father in 
the Heilman Machine Works. Mr. Heil- 
man has been a consistent member of St. 
Jolin's Evangelical church since its organ- 
ization in 1851. 

John Sha.nklix, one of those whose 
honored names are imperishablv written 
in the history of southern Indiana, had a 
career that is a notable illustration of 
the possibilities of life in a land of freedom 
to an energetic and indomitable spirit. 
When he was a babe of two j-ears, the 
father, who bore the same name, fell in 
the Irish rebellion of 1798, fighting for the 
liberties of his native land. For this 



US 



THE CITY OF EVAXSVILLE. 



orphaned child, born at Carrick Magra, 
county Donegal, on the 17th of February, 
1 796, there surely could have been, in those 
troublous times, no augur\- of a prosperous 
future. At the tender age of thirteen years, 
after receiving such education as could then 
and there be obtained, he began the battle 
of life as an apprentice in a general store at 
Donegal, and remained there five years. 
Then the story of the new world drew him, 
and on the 5th of August, 1815, after a six- 
weeks' voyage in a sailing vessel, he set foot 
on American soil at New York. I lis 
apprentice lessons then stood him in good 
stead, and he immediatelv began an 
engagement, which lasted three vears, with 
Samuel & James Lambert, wholesale hard- 
ware merchants on Pearl street, New York. 
The end of this engagement was caused, 
again, by tidings of the promise for young 
men further west. He talked with a hard- 
ware dealer from Frankfort, Ky., a Mr. 
Miles, who invited \'Oung Shanklin to 
become a salesman for him, and the offer 
was accepted. At this new pioneer home, a 
great misfortune befell him, onl\' a few days 
after his arrival, an accident which caused the 
amputation of his right foot! This at fii'st 
seemed to force him to abandon business, 
and he essayed teaching, in which he had 
fair success, at Shelbyville and vicinitv, for 
about three years. Then he went back to 
trade, entering the extensive auction store 
of Robert J. Ormsby, at Louisville. 
Ormsby pro\ed to be a good friend, and 
established Mr. Shanklin in the dry-goods 
business at Newcastle, Ky. But the 
hopes of the voung merchant were [ 
speedily crushed. Ormsby failed, and a 
nice sense of honor impelled the voung man 
to send back to Louisville all the goods he 
had received. He had nothing of com- 
mercial \alue left but a horse and saddle 
and a good credit. The latter enabled him 



to obtain a stock of goods at Shelbyville, 
Ky., and he estabHshed himself again in 
business, this time at Hardenburgh, Kj-., 
with one Moffatt as partner. In a few 
months they moved to Evansville, beginning 
business life in this city, December 3d, 1823. 
Their stock was too large for the town, and 
the partner, Moffatt, took half the goods to 
Cynthiana. Under the firm name of Shank- 
lin & Moffatt, Mr. Shanklin conducted the 
business at the corner of Locust and Water 
streets until 1827, when the firm was dis- 
solved. Then for five vears the firm name 
was Shanklin & Co., changing to Shanklin 
& Johnson in 1837, and afterward to Shank- 
lin & Reilh". Until 1853, the original busi- 
ness stand was occupied. On the first of 
January, 1872, Mr. Shanklin retired from 
trade, and devoted himself to the care of 
his pri\-ate affairs, and five years later, on 
the nth day of January, 1877, he was called 
to rest, peacefully closing a long life well 
spent, in business he was active and saga- 
cious. His enterprises were grand in scope 
and remarkably successful. For many years 
he engaged in shipping the agricultural pro- 
ducts of the region, first by flat-boat, and then 
bv steamers, to New Orleans, and through- 
out the great region in which his trade ex- 
tended, his name was always untarnished 
and his honor and his credit unquestioned. 
Not onl\- in business was he active, but in 
those enterprises which make men beloved 
of their fellow citizens, in those things which 
work for the general good, and in his atti- 
tude toward the religious and benevolent 
movements of societv, he was readv, sym- 
pathetic and open-handed. His estimable 
wife was trul}- a helpmeet in these functions, 
and to her as the founder of the Sunday- 
school movement in Evansville, the com- 
munity of to-da}' owes a deep debt of grati- 
tude. Her zealous, self-sacrificing spirit 
will be immortal here, in the good that she 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



lAO 



has done. As time lolls on, the memories 
of these two noble lixes will grow fresher 
and sweeter, an inspiration to all earnest 
souls who would achieve honest success for 
themselves, and lend an ever-ready hand of 
aid and encouragement to others. 

Foster Family. — ^Judge Matthew Wat- 
son Foster, and his descendants, have occu- 
pied a conspicuous place in the annals of 
V^anderburgh countv from very earlv times 
to the present. Judge Foster was born in 
Gilestield, count\- of Durham, England, June 
22, iSoo. When a bo}- he was apprenticed 
to a bookseller, and through the opportun- 
ities thus afforded, became remarkably well 
informed both upon literarv and legal topics. 
Leaving his native country he came to New 
York in 1S12, five years later removed to 
Edwards county, 111., and in 1819 settled 
in Pike county, Ind. He occupied a prom- 
inent place in the early annals of Pike 
county, and for several years served as as- 
sociate judge of the circuit court. lie was 
engaged as a farmer, miller and merchant 
in that county until 1846, when he came to 
Evansville, then attaining sufficient promi- 
nence to claim recognition as a citv. Here 
he resided until his death, which occurred 
April 13, 1S63. Upon his arrival in Evans- 
ville he engaged activeh* in business, and 
immediatelv took a prominent position as a 
most enterprising, upright, enlightened and 
philanthropic citizen. Concerning everj- 
public enterprise his advice had great weight. 
The city's railroads, churches, free schools 
and public libraries were all aided b\' his 
generous heart and enlightened mind. 
When the ci\il war broke out his patriotism 
early proved itself. Too far advanced in 
life for personal service in the field, he was 
among the first to raise his voice and open 
his purse to secure recruits. Three of his 
sons enlisted in the federal army and ren- 
dered effective and distinguished service. 



Judge Foster was one of the most prominent 
men of the city during his day, and contrib- 
uted largeh- to the general advancement of 
E\'ans\ille. In e\er\' relation of life his con- 
duct was characteristic of a true, pure and 
upright man. He was married June 18, 
1829, to Miss Eleanor Johnson, who died 
September 22, 1S49, aged thirty-seven vears. 
To this union eight children were born. 
In 1 85 1 he was married to Mrs. Sarah 
Kazar, widow of Nelson Kazar, who died in 
California in 1849. Two children were 
born of the second marriage: William M. 
Foster and Elizabeth Clifford. George 
Foster, eldest son of Judge Foster, now re- 
sides at San Diego, Cal. He was born in 
Pike countv, Ind.., about 1831, and from 1855 
to 1863 was wholesale merchant and pork 
packer, doing a large business. Eliza, 
the second daughter of Judge Foster, is the 
wife of Guild Copeland, Es(]., a prominent 
banker and broker of Passaic, N. J. 

Col. John W. Foster, the third child, a 
distinguished citizen, soldier and diplomat, 
was born in Pike countv, Ind., March 2, 
1836. His early education was obtained in 
the schools of this cit\-. He studied law and 
activelv engaged in the practice, but when 
the civil war broke out he left his private 
affairs and went to the front. His service 
commenced with the Twent_\'-tifth Indiana 
Infantry — the first regiment that went out 
as a distinctively Vanderburgh count)- or- 
ganization. He was commissioned major, 
and April 30, 1862, was promoted to lieu- 
tenant-colonel. On the following August 
4, he left the regiment to take command of 
the Sixty-fifth Indiana Infantrv, as colonel 
of which organization he served until No- 
vember 10, 1864, when he was induced to 
resign because of ph3-sical disability. Re- 
cuperating his health somewhat, on May 21, 
1864, he was commissioned colonel of the 
One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Indiana 



!■')') 



THE CITY OF EVAXSVILLE. 



Infantry, and served through the campaign 
of that year, being mustered out with his 
regiment on November lo, 1864. Returning 
home he occupied a prominent place as a 
citizen, and in 1S66, became interested in 
the Evansvillc Journal, as one of its editors 
and proprietors. In 1868, he was appointed 
postmaster of Evansville by Gen. Grant, 
which otfice he resigned later to enter the 
diplomatic service of the government. As 
minister of the United States to Mexico, 
Russia and Spain, he has rendered distin- 
guished service. Throughout his career he 
has been a staunch republican, a wise and 
judicious politician. His abilities are such 
that he was sent abroad by President Cleve- 
land to attend to particular matters of 
state, requiring the highest degree of skilled 
diplomac}- for their proper settlement. He 
now resides in Washington, D. C, practic- 
ing international law, but is deeply inter- 
ested in the welfare of Evansville. He is a 
member of Farragut Post, G. A. R. He 
w as married to Miss Mary Park McPherson, 
to whom four children have been born. 

Eleanor, the second daughter and fourth 
child of Judge Foster, was born in Peters- 
burgh, and died in Little Rock, Ark. 

Alexander H. Foster, a leading citizen of 
Evansville, was born in Petersburgh, Ind., 
March i, 1S38. He was educated in the 
State Universit}' of Indiana. In July, 1861, 
he entered the federal army as regimental 
quartermaster of the Twenty-fifth In- 
diana Infantry, and served two years. Later, 
he was engaged in the wholesale grocery 
business in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Memphis, 
Tenn. He returned to Evansville in 1866, 
and engaged in the pork packing business. 
He served three years as a member of the 
Evansville city council, and on January 11, 
1888, was appointed metropolitan police com- 
missioner of Evans\ille. In 1S82, he began 
business as a grain broker, and has continued 



the same up to present. Mr. Foster was 
married April 11, 1861, to Martha Hopkins, 
daughter of the late Hon. John S. Hopkins, 
one of the leading men of the citv and state, 
and to this union four children have been 
born. John H., an attorney at law in this 
city; Frank, bank clerk in First National 
Bank; George, assistant city assessor, and 
Marv. 

James H. Foster, youngest son of Judge 
M. W. and Eleanor Foster, was born in 
Pike county, Ind., March 12, 1844. He 
was graduated from the State University at 
Bloomington, Ind., in 1864, receiving the 
degree of A. M. and delivering the master's 
oration. A few months before his gradua- 
tion he enlisted in the One Hundred and 
Thirty-sixth Indiana Infantry, and served 
with that regiment until mustered out 
in September, 1864. For a time after 
the war he was engaged as a wholesale 
grocer in Cincinnati, Ohio; Memphis, Tenn.; 
and New Orleans, La. He remained in the 
south until 1884, engaged until 1872 in 
mercantile pursuits, and later as a planter in 
Mississippi. Coming to Evansville, he was 
elected city auditor in 1S86, and was re- 
elected in 188S. He is an efficient and pop- 
ular officer. He was married in 1868 to 
Miss Retta Riggs, daughter of Judge 
Riggs, of Sulli\an count}', Ind. Of this 
union three children have been born : Riggs, 
who died when twelve years of age; Guild 
C. and Matthew W. Mr. Foster_ is a re- 
publican in politics, and a member of the 
following fraternities: F. & A. M., K. of P., 
K. of H. and G. A. R. 

Samuel Orr, an early merchant of E\ans- 
ville, and prominent]}- identified with the 
best interests of the city throughout a long 
and honorable career, was one of the enter- 
prising, benevolent and Christian citizens, to 
whom the cit\- is indebted for much of its 
wealth, prosperity, and high commercial and 




li^f/. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



ins 



social standing. lie was born in the village 
of Nevvtownards, count\- Down, Ireland, 
in 1810. He married, in his native country, 
Miss Martha Lowry, and in 1833 the young 
couple came to America. Landing in Balti- 
more, they proceeded thence to Pittsburgh, 
where Mr. Orr obtained emplo^-ment in the 
store of a Mr. Fairman. His ability, integrity, 
and industrv soon made for him a reputation. 
Attracting the attention of the Messrs. 
Laughlin, of that city, they induced him, in 
1835, to come to Evansville in their interest, 
where they began a pork and general mer- 
chandise business. In the following year 
he became a partner in the concern, and for 
many years, with the Laughlins, carried on 
a wholesale grocery and iron trade. In 
1855 the business was separated into two 
departments. In the grocery department, 
his son, James L. Orr, and Matthew Dalzell, 
were admitted as partners, and under the tirm 
name of Orr, Dalzell & Co., business was 
transacted until the beginning of the war. 
The iron department was carried on in the 
name of Samuel Orr until 1866, when James 
Davidson and James L. Orr were admitted 
to an interest, and the firm st3le was changed 
to Samuel Orr & Co., by which it con- 
tinued until the change occasioned by the 
death of Mr. Orr. It is one of the oldest 
and largest iron houses in the west. Mr. 
Orr's integrity and high character permitted 
only the use of the most honorable methods 
in the conduct of all his business affairs, and 
because of this the reputation of the house 
for fair dealing has never been questioned. 
Its trade is large, extending in all directions 
throughout the surrounding countrv, and 
at all times it has been considered one 
of the soundest concerns in the city. 
The career of Samuel Orr as a business 
man was not confined to the house he 
founded. The imprint of his individuality 
is found on nearly all the great enterprises 
9 



of* the city, for he was enterprising, pro- 
gressix'e and public spirited. He was one 
of the incorporators of what is now the 
Evansville cS: Terre Haute Railroad Com- 
pany; for many 3'ears was a director in the 
Evansville branch of the Bank of the State 
of Indiana, and one of the original directors 
of the E\-ansville National Bank (the suc- 
cessor of the old State Bank], which, as 
reorganized, is known as the Old National 
Bank. When the German National Bank 
secured its charter he was made its presi- 
dent and held the important position as its 
chief executive until his death. This brief 
outline of his business life shows his capacity 
and ability, but it was not in business alone 
that the best traits of his character displayed 
themselves. His kindness of heart, liber- 
ality and pure ever^'-day conduct drew to 
him a vast number of friends, and probably 
no on eever lived in Evansville who was 
known and beloved by a greater number of 
people in all classes. His charity was pro- 
verbial. He used to sav: "I love to help 
worthy objects. I love to give for the good 
it does me, as well as the good it does those 
receiving." His hand was ever ready to 
help the needy who were worthy objects of 
charity. He was a prominent member of 
the Walnut Street Presbyterian church 
and carried his religion into all the affairs of 
everv-day life. The handsome parsonage 
of that church is a memorial to him and his 
wife, erected by a loving son and daughter. 
His was a long life of noble effort, and his 
death, which occurred February 8, 1882, 
was by all regarded as an irreparable loss. 
Mrs. Martha Lowry Orr was born in 
Ireland, and died in this city October 9, 
1882, after a long life of usefulness, full of 
good and charitable acts. She was a true 
Christian, exemplifying in her life the ideals 
of perfect womanliness. Mr. and Mrs. Orr 
were the parents of three children, two of 



hU 



THE CITY OF EVANHVILLE. 



whom survive, Mrs. Martha J. Bavard and 
James L. Orr. 

An illustrious name in the history of 
Evansville is that of Joiix Ingle. For three 
generations the name has been borne by 
men of celebrity in their time. The first 
John Ingle that Evansville knew arrived here 
from England on the first Monday in August, 
1818. He was born in Somersham, Hunt- 
ingdon, in 178S, where he had been raised 
to the career of a farmer and was in good 
circumstances until the close of the war with 
Napoleon of the allied powers. Having a 
strong belief in America, he had come to 
the new land. After his arrival at Evans- 
ville he chartered a wagon and proceeded 
to Princeton, where he purchased a house. 
Soon after, he returned to Vanderburgh 
county and bought a farm in Scott township, 
at the place now known as Inglefield. He 
was appointed postmaster by President 
Monroe and retained that office for over 
forty-five years. He was a hospitable gen- 
tleman, and "John Ingle's cabin"' became 
known as a place where the latch-string vvas 
out for the itinerant preacher and the way- 
faring emigrant. Plain and simple in his 
habits, he lived to his eighty-sixth year. The 
eldest son, John Ingle, Jr., was born in Som- 
ersham, England, Januar}- 29, 1812. He 
attended for some time a "dame school," 
taught b}' an elderlv lad\' who tried to keep 
the children out of mischief. After coming 
to this country, he was a student for a }-ear 
and a half in the common schools of Prince- 
ton, and at home read over and over the 
small but select librar}* of his father, while 
the wolves howled about the clearing. He 
applied himself to cabinet-making, and after 
learning his trade, started south in 1833 and 
first worked as a journeyman cabinet-maker 
at Vicksburg at the time of the great cholera 
excitement. He went on to New Orleans, 
worked there eight weeks, and then by a 



steerage passage reached Philadelphia. For 
two weeks he walked the streets of the 
Quaker City seeking work, and no doubt 
attracting much attention with his hog-skin 
cap and clothing of Kentucky jeans. Finally 
he found employment, and then not satisfied 
with ten hours of labor daily, he managed 
to read law of evenings in an oftice where 
George R. Graham, afterward editor of 
GrahanCs Magazine, and Charles J. Peter- 
son, since publisher of Peterson's Magazine, 
were also students. Their preceptor, Thomas 
Armstrong, Jr., since celebrated in his pro- 
fession, was president of a debating society, 
in which John Ingle became noted for his 
skill in defending the unpopular side of many 
a knott}' (]uestion. After three \ears of 
reading, he was admitted to the bar, in 
March, 1838. He came to Evansville and 
opened an office with Hon. James Lockhart, 
which partnership was dissolved a year later 
and he became associated with Charles I. 
Battell. His career as a lawyer was highly 
creditable to him, and he obtained a leading 
position. In 1846 he and E. Q. Wheeler 
became law partners, and in 1849 Asa 
Iglehart was adnfitted as a junior member. 
In 1850 Mr. Ingle turned awa\- from the 
practice of law and de\oted himself to the 
Evansville & Crawfordsville railroad en- 
terprise, \vhich had been started by Judge 
Lockhart, Judge Jones, himself, and others. 
Judge Hall was afterward associated with 
the movement. That was a gloomy period 
for Evansville; the town was poor and un- 
promising in appearance, the canal had 
proven an utter failure, and something must 
be done for the town. Mr. Ingle was one 
of those who inspired the railroad movement 
with life and energ)', and made it a success, 
by his indomitable courage and perseverance, 
in spite of unpromising surroundings. He 
was an invaluable superintendent, and as 
president of the company he displayed finan- 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



loo 



cial and executive talent of a rare degree of 
development. He was married in 1842 at 
Madison, Ind., to Miss Isabella C. Davidson, 
daughter of William Davidson, formerly of 
Scotland. Seven children were the fruit of 
this union. On account of failing health 
he resigned the railroad presidency in 
1873, and his death occurred October 
7, 1875. One of the far-reaching deeds 
of John Ingle, Jr., was the establishment, in 
I "i^SS, of the firm of John Ingle & Co., miners 
and dealers in coal. The products of this 
famous firm are indeed the -'black diamonds" 
in the crown of Evansville. Their business 
has assumed enormous proportions, and un- 
der the sagacious management of the third 
generation of the Ingle family, the head of 
the firm being John Ingle, son of John 
Ingle, Jr., there seems to be no limit to the 
future of the business. The firm possesses 
5.^.2 acres of coal near the citv limits, known 
as the "Ingleside" mine. From this are 
extracted annually 900,000 bushels of coal 
and $55,000 paid out annually in wages. 

Major Albert C. Rosencranz, member 
of the citv council and manajrer of the Heil- 
man Plow Works, was born in Baerwalde near 
the city of Berlin, Prussia, October 26, 
1842. His father, C. F. Rosencranz, a 
watchmaker by trade, was a man of promi- 
nence in his native village, and took an ac- 
tive part in the German revolution of 184S. 
Ha\ing taken up arms against the king, he 
was obliged to leave his native countr\-, and 
in 1850, emigrating to America, settled near 
Evansville. About a year later he located 
in the citv and resumed his business as a 
watchmaker. He returned to Europe in 
1867 and died twenty years later. His wife, 
whose maiden name was Dorothea Nohse, 
died in 1S84. .\lbert was educated in pri- 
vate schools, and at the age of twelve years 
learned the trade of a watchmaker under his 
father's directions, at the same time pursuing 



his studies. When the civil war broke out 
he was engaged in his father's shop. In 
1 86 1 he aided in the organization of Com- 
pany A, First Regiment Indi.ma Legion, 
and upon the muster in of the companv be- 
came orderly sergeant. In Julv, 1862, he 
recruited Company F, Fourth Indiana Cav- 
alry, and was commissioned first lieutenant, 
and in 1863 was promoted to the captaincy. 
His first service in the field was as bod\- 
guard to General Ebenezer Dumont, a Mex- 
ican officer of prominence. He followed the 
fortunes of his regiment, and was engaged 
in several important battles, notably among 
the number, Chickamauga. In March, 

1864, the regiment was ordered to join 
Sherman on his famous march to the sea. 
Near Buzzard's Roost the brigade to which 
he was attached, while making a recon- 
noissance in front of the left flank of Sher- 
man's army, was attacked by the enemy and 
lost heavilv. Eight officers were lost. 
Capt. Rosencranz was slightlv wounded and 
captured; he was confined in rebel prisons 
at Macon and Savannah, Ga., Charleston 
and Columbia, S. C, and Charlotte, N. C. 
March i, 1865, he was paroled, and on May 
3 following, was exchanged. He rejoined 
his command and was mustered out June 29, 

1865. During the winter of 1863-4, 
he had at limes been in command of the 
regiment, and soon after his release from 
prison was commissioned major, his com- 
mission being dated Mav i, 1S65. 
Returning to Evansville he succeeded his 
father in business, in which he remained 
until 1868. In that year he was married to 
Miss Mary, daughter of Hon. Wm. Heil- 
man, and shortly afterward took charge of 
the office business of the Heilman Machine 
Works. In 1873, his health became im- 
paired by overwork. On this account he 
went to Missouri and engaged in stock- 
raising, in which he was highly successful, 



156 



THE CITY OF EVAXSVILLE. 



Losing both his children by sudden death, 
he disposed of his interests there in 1876 
and returned to Evansville. On the ist of 
the following January he took charge of the 
works of the Heilman-Urie Plow Company. 
In 187S Mr. Urie retired, since which time 
Maj. Rosencranz has been in exxlusive con- 
trol of the business. His executive ability 
and his clo->e attention to business have made 
his management eminently successful. The 
company is now manufacturing chilled plows, 
in addition to their steel goods, for which 
patents were obtained in 1888, and to meet 
the extensive demand the capacity of the 
works has been doubled. Maj. Rosencranz 
has not confined his abilities and energies 
to the prosecution of his own business enter- 
prises, but has taken a proper interest in all 
matters pertaining to the public good. In 
March, 18S7, when the question of settling 
the city debt in some way was seriously 
disturbing the public mind, the city council 
appointed an advisory committee of promi- 
nent citizens to consider the subject. Maj. 
Rosencranz was placed on this committee 
and took a leading part in the discussions 
engaged in. His capacity for handling im- 
portant public questions was at once recog- 
nized, and in April following he was elected 
to the council from the Fifth ward. Upon 
the oriranization of the council he was made 
chairman of the finance committee. Here 
his skill as a financier soon showed itself, 
and he did much valuable service in shaping 
financial interests, and especially in making 
satisfactory arrangements for the payment 
of the cit}- debt. He has also served as 
chairman of the water-works committee 
and in other important relations. His career 
as a public officer is beyond reproach: he 
performs every duty fearlessly in the man- 
ner suggested by his conscience and judg- 
ment; he places himself under obligations 
to no man or party of men, and acts always 



for the public good. In politics he is a 
staunch republican, but by no means a ward 
politician in the common acceptance of that 
term. He is a prominent member of Farra- 
gut Post, No. 27, G. A. R. 

E,-\iERSON B. Morgan, a member of the 
firm of Mackey, Nisbet & Co., the largest 
wholesale dry goods merchants in Evans- 
ville, was born in Springfield, Mass., Feb- 
ruary 19, 1844. His early life was spent in 
Meriden, Conn. In the public schools of 
that place and at Norwalk, in the same state, 
he received his education. When about 
sixteen years of age he went to New York 
city, and for five years was engaged as a 
book-keeper. In Januar\-, 1865, he came to 
Evansville with Isaac Keen, a prominent and 
well-known citizen of this place, and took a 
posi^'on in the dry goods house of that gen- 
tleman. He entered the house of Mackey, 
Nisbet & Co. as a book-keeper in 1868, and 
seven years later was admitted to the firm 
as a partner. His excellent business ijuali- 
fications have made him an influential fac- 
tor in working out the great degree of suc- 
cess achieved by this enterprising house. In 
social as well as business circles he enjoys 
an enviable prominence. As a member of 
the order of F. & A. M. he has attained the 
degrees of templarism. July i, 1869, he 
was married to Miss Kate M. Laughlin, a 
native of Evansville, and the daughter of 
James Laughlin, a prominent man here in 
his day. 

L. M. Baird, produce and commission 
merchant -at No. 220 Upper Water street, 
was born in Spencer county, K\-., Septem- 
ber 22, 1 83 1. His father, Stephen Baird, a 
Virginian, early moved to Kentucky, there 
married Mrs. Sarah Pierson, iicc McDonald, 
a native of that state, owned a plantation 
worked bv slave labor, and was prosperous. 
Selling his farm, he distributed some of his 
slaves among his children, took some to 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



157 



Vigo count\-, Ind., whitlier he moved, and 
gave them their freedom. Purchasing a 
tract of land near Terre Haute, he settled 
there in 1833, and remained until his death, 
which occurred six years later. Seven years 
after his father's death, at the age of fifteen, 
the subject of this mention accepted employ- 
ment as a clerk, and remained so engaged 
in various positions until October, 185^^; 
when, yielding to the excitement caused by 
the rich discoveries of gold on the Pacific 
coast, in company with Robert N. Gilmore, he 
he went to California by New York and the 
Isthmus. Returning to Terre Haute in the 
spring of 1853, he entered the clothing 
store of Samuel Mack, where he remained 
until the beginning of the' next year, when 
he embarked in the clothing business for 
himself at Worthington, Green count}-, Ind. 
At this place, on Christmas day, 1856, he 
was united in marriage to Miss D. H. 
Blount, who, two years later, passed away, 
leaving a little daughter six months old. In 
May, 1859, '^^ ^^'^^ married a second time, 
to Miss Ann E. Blount, a sister of his first 
wife. It was in April, 1861, that he moved 
to Evansville. After traveling about a year 
in the interest of Roelker, Bloant & Co., he 
accepted a situation as book-keeper with 
W. M. Aikman & Co., at 220 Upper Water 
street, remaining in that capacity until the 
summer of 1865, when the firm failed in 
business, Mr. Baird buying the stock, etc. 
In September, 1S65, he formed a copartner- 
ship with George H. Start, under the firm 
name of Baird & Start, which was dissolved 
after nine vears of successful operation. 
For fourteen 3'ears past the business has 
been continued by Mr. Baird alone, thus 
making more than twentv-six vears of occu- 
pancy of the same building, first as book- 
keeper and then as proprietor. Industry, 
integrity and wise management have been 
the chief factors in building his prosperit\-. 



The fruits of his efforts embrace, not only 
the commodities purchasable with mone}-, • 
but also the more valued comforts which a 
good reputation and a high standing in the 
community afford. In politics he is an ar- 
dent republican, alwavs ably championing 
the principles of that party. During the 
campaign of 1888, as a clear and forcible 
card-writer, he contributed largel}' to the 
success of the triumphant party. He is a 
prominent member of the Masonic order, 
having attained the degree of Knight Tem- 
plar. Mr. Baird's second wife died in Jan- 
uar}-, 1873. She was the mother of nine 
children, five of whom died in infancy. On 
December 25, 1873, his marriage to Mrs. 
Mary Peterson occurred. She was the 
mother of two children at the time of his 
marriage, since which six more have been 
born. 

Capt. Charles H. Myerhoff was born 
at Cincinnati, Ohio, March 10, 1842. His 
mother dj'ing when he was but six j-ears 
old he was sent to live with an uncle 
residing on a farm in Jackson count}-, Ind., 
with whom, and with John J. Cummins, a 
lawyer of the same county, he remained 
until 1856, when he returned to live with 
his father who had again married. His 
father's death occurring two years later, he 
hired to a gardener near Newport, Ky., but 
soon thereafter moved to Grandview-, Ind., 
where he was occupied as a laborer. He 
made a trip to Vicksburg, Miss., ^n a flat- 
boat, and in 1859 started out in a sail-boat 
with three others to seek ad\-enture and 
employment. A storm drove them to 
shore near Hickman, Ky., where the}- took 
possession of a cabin, and for so doing were 
] set upon by a planter and his hounds. 
j They were thought to be hard characters 
I and were roundly abused by the irate 
1 planter, but when he learned the truth he 
was profuse in his apologies and offered 



IBs 



THE CITY OF EVANSVILLE. 



the men employment. The next morning 
all went to work in the woods, and while 
absent the cabin burned to the ground, by 
which mishap all their clothes were lost. 
Young Myerhoff was sent to interview the 
planter, who furnished what mone}' the}' 
needed, declining to take a note for the 
amount, considering the young man's ver- 
bal promise to pay sufficient. After some 
hard work in the woods and in the employ 
of a store boatman, the young man retracing 
his steps reached Evansville, at the time 
carrying all his possessions in a bandanna. 
His brother, John H. Myerhoff, was 
foreman in the Armstrong Furniture Factory, 
and here he obtained employment, remaining 
until the tocsin of war was sounded in 1861. 
He attended the meeting in the old Cres- 
cent Cit}' hall, when the two tirst home 
guard companies were organized. His 
name was entered on Gen. BlAthe's com- 
pany roll, but when Biythe Hynes moved 
down the aisle rapidly, vaulted upon the 
platform and announced that Dr. Noah S. 
Thompson had received a commission as 
captain and orders to organize a volunter 
company to start for Washington, D. C, at 
once, to defend the capital, young Myerhoff 
arose from his seat and asked that his name 
be taken from the roll of the home iruard. 
In a few minutes he presented himself to 
Capt. Thompson, offering to enHst, but was 
refused because he was too young and too 
frail. He persisted, however, and after an 
examination, in which he showed a familiar- 
ity with military tactics, was accepted, being 
the first accepted man in the first company 
that left Evansville for the war. While 
company drill was being conducted in 
Klausman's hall he was armed with a 
broomstick and detailed as guard at the 
front door of the building. His general 
bearing and sternness made such an 
mpression on the boys that when he 



returned to the city as a first lieutenant in 
1863, on recruiting service, they remem- 
bered him as the man who kept them from 
seeing the first soldiers in compan}' drill. 
He was in all the battles participated in b}' 
the Fourteenth Indiana Infantry, except 
those fought while he was on recruiting 
service or in prison. He was appointed 
corporal; was promoted on Cheat 
Mountain to sergeant; to orderly ser- 
geant October i, 1862; to first lieu- 
tenant Ma}' 7, 1863; was in command of 
the company in the famous charge of Car- 
roll's brigade on east Cemetery hill at 
Gettvsburtj; had command of Co. H in the 
battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, 
North Anna and Cold Harbor. Of the 
twenty-three that he started with on the 
4th of May, 1S64, only two were left to 
leave the works when the regiment's term 
of service expired on the 7th of June, 1864. 
Capt. Mj'erhoff was seriously wounded 
while in front of his men at Cold Harbor — 
the ball being still in his bod}' — and was 
sent to hospital, where he effected some 
heroic reforms, for which he received the 
thanks of every patient. His regiment wai 
mustered out long before he was able to 
leave the hospital. When at length he was 
discharged, he came to Evansville, and soon 
became interested in a saw-mill at Grand- 
view. But this work was too heavy for him 
because of his wounds, and he entered the 
employ of Philip Decker, who was then 
sutler of the Tenth Tennessee Infantry, sta- 
tioned at Nashville. While attempting to 
go to Nashville he was arrested four times 
on grave charges, but he was not long de- 
layed. He remained with Mr. Decker as a 
clerk until the war was over. . Returning 
to Evansville, he entered the Commercial 
College of Jeremiah Behme and studied 
book keeping. In 1866 he entered the em- 
ployment of Keller & White as book-keeper, 



BIOORAPHICAL. 



1.59 



and in the next year went with Boetticher, 
Kellogg & Co. in the same capacity. Here 
he remained for nearly twenty-one years, 
and is now a member of the tirm of Harri- 
son, Goodwin & Co., proprietors of the 
Evansville Stove Works. He is also sec- 
retary and treasurer of the Evansville Union 
Stock. Yards Companv. His ci\'ic promi- 
nence consists principallv in his connection 
with drill organizations. He was elected 
three times successively as captain of the 
Evansville Light Guard, a prosperous organ- 
ization during his captainc\'; was elected 
captain of Orion Drill Corps, K. of P., and 
was so thorough as an officer that the corps 
took three prizes, and he himself was 
awarded a magnificent gold medal as first 
prize for excellenc}- as a commander at St. 
Louis, Mo., August 25, 1880. His drill 
companies. Red Shirts and Zouaves, in 
political processions, have attracted much 
favorable notice. As chief marshal of sev- 
eral large processions he has acquitted him- 
self with credit. He was on the staffs of 
National Commanders Kountz and Fair- 
child, of the G. A. R. ; district delegate to 
the National Encampment of the G. A. R. 
at St. Louis, in 1887; was strongly urged 
for department commander of the G. A. R., 
in 1888; was the second commander of Far- 
ragut Post, and is now serving as oflicer of 
the day. Capt. Mverhoff was married De- 
cember I, 1867, to Miss Jennie, daughter of 
Alexander Sharn, of Evansville. Two chil- 
dren havevbeen born of this union, as fol- 
low's: Carl S., born September 22, 1868, 
and Zulma Lois, born October 17, 1888. 
Misses Emma Wollner and Fannie Sharro 
have made their home with them for years. 
Hiram E. Rr:.\i) was born at Princeton, 
Caldwell county, Ky., February 9, 1823. 
When he was three years of age his parents 
removed to Logan countv, Ky., where they 
purchased a farm of several hundred acres, 



on which Hiram was reared, working with 
fifty or sixt)- negroes belonging to the f amil}-. 
In the fall and winter months he attended a 
country school. In a few years thereafter 
his father, DeGrafton Read, who was born 
in Butler county, Ky., in 1802, and his 
mother, whose maiden name was Eliza May 
Hunter, of Logan county, Ky., born in 1805, 
built what was very familiarly known as the 
Rockspring male and female academy, and 
in 1834 purchased White Hall in Russellville, 
establishing a female academy, which had a 
large patronage from many of the southern 
states. DeGrafton Read was known in his 
day as a great educator, being thoroughl}' 
versed in general literature and the classics. 
His death occurred in 1838, after which Mrs. 
Read conducted the academy until her death 
in 1841. They were the parents of eight 
children — three boys and five girls — Hiram 
being the eldest. At the academy conducted 
by his parents, facilities were afforded Hiram 
for obtaining a good English education. 
Later he was sent to the seminary taught 
by Prof. John P. French, in Russellville, 
where he completed his education, becoming 
thoroughly versed in the Greek and Latin 
classics. In 1839 he came to Evansville, and 
obtained a situation as salesman, with Robert 
Barnes, Esq., one of the principal dry 
goods merchants of the then flourishing 
town of Evansville, and remained with him 
until the death of his mother in 1841. He 
then went to Owensboro, Ky., to take charge 
of his younger brothers and sisters and bought 
a farm near that place. The farm was 
worked by negroes, and Hiram and a sister, 
Emma, taught school until the girls wer(! 
nearly all married. He returned to Evans- 
ville in 1850, and taught an English school 
in the old Methodist church on Locust street. 
While so engaged, one day he whipped a 
bov for disobedience and idleness. At re- 
cess the bov went home and informed his 



IGO 



THE CITY OF EVANSVILLE. 



uncle of the fact. The uncle came at once 
to demand an apology, instead of receiving 
which he was hustled into the street and 
badly beaten b}' the indignant school-master. 
Two law-suits were immediately brought 
against Mr. Read, one for whipping the man, 
and one for assault and battery on the boy. 
He paid the fines and costs in both cases, 
returned to the school-room, rang the bell 
"for books," gave each pupil an affec- 
tionate good-bye and dismissed school for 
the last time. Thus ended his career as a 
teacher. He then accepted a situation with 
J. H. Morgan, Esq., a retail dry goods mer- 
chant. The firm soon thereafter became 
Morgan & Keen, and later Morgan, Keen 
& Preston, wholesale dr\- goods and notions, 
and Mr. Read remained with them as prin- 
cipal salesman. The manner of his leaving 
the house was characteristic of the man, who 
never allows his rights to be trampled on. 
One day Mr. Read had shown a customer 
through the stock, when one of the propri- 
etors undertook to sell him what he wanted. 
Mr. Read claimed the customer and insisted 
on waiting on him ; words passed, Mr. Read 
demanded his rights, was denied, then 
walked to the desk and asked for settlement. 
He left the house, and in thirtv minutes had 
engaged his services to Merritt, Field & Co., 
then the largest wholesale dr\- goods and 
notion house in the city, at double his former 
salary, and afterward sold the customer whom 
he had shown through the stock of Mor- 
gan, Keen & Preston. Two years later Mr. 
Read accepted a situation in the large dry 
goods jobbing house of Conkling, Barnes 
& Shephard, of New York, where he had 
a large and profitable trade. In a short 
time Merritt, Field & Co. offered him the 
same salary he was recei\ing in New York, 
with an assurance of an interest in the 
house at the expiration of two years. He 
accepted the offer and returned to Evans- 



ville. At the end of two years with J. S. 
Jaquess and H. C. Gwathney, he bought out 
the house in which he was employed and 
later sold his interest to his partners. The 
firm of Read & Burrow was then formed 
for transacting a whol esale boot and shoe 
business. This house was succeeded by 
Read & Lawrence, and this by Morgan, 
Read & Co. During the war the firm sold 
annually between $500,000 and $600,000 
worth of boots, shoes and hats. At 
the close of the war a large stock of goods 
was on hand and the styles had changed. It 
became imperative to dispose of the stock 
as speedily as possible. For this purpose 
the house of Read, Morgan & Co. was 
established in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1866. 
After disposing of his interests in Cincinnati, 
Mr. Read returned to Evansville and re- 
entered the old firm of Morgan, Read & 
Co. He began then to enlarge his opera- 
tions, and for a time was engaged in buying 
leaf tobacco in Evansville, Louisville, and 
Paducah, his purchases in the three mar- 
kets often amounting to $10,000 per 
day. It was often said then that "it would 
take the largest bank in Evansville to run 
Hi Read." The closing of the Prussian 
and French ports to export tobacco during 
the Franco-Prussian war of 1870, caused 
a verv heavy decline in tobacco that 
entailed a heavy loss on him, which was 
added to by heavy losses through the 
bankruptcies of his customers. He 
tried hard to extricate himself from embar- 
rassment by selling between $75,000 and 
$100,000 worth of valuable real estate. 
Finally he sold out his interest to his partners, 
they obligating themselves to assume the 
indebtedness of the firm. He then accepted 
a situation as salesman in the wholesale dry 
goods house of Jaquess, Hudspeth &Co. for 
one year. At the expiration of that time 
he opened a real estate office in Evansville 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



161 



and has so continued since except for about 
three years, when he was disabled by a 
stroke of paralysis. The character of the 
man, his progressive spirit, his activity and 
boldness, his honesty and philosophical 
acceptance of reverses, are shown in this 
narrative of the chief events of his 
career. His efforts for the public good 
illustrate another important phase of his 
character. In iS8o a tax league was 
formed by the business men of Evansville 
to check the lavish expenditure of the 
public funds by the board of county 
commissioners. Mr. Read was appointed 
by the league to watch the actions of the 
board and stop questionable allowances. It 
was not an uncommon occurrence for two 
or three injunctions to be taken out daily. 
As a result of his watchfulness many 
improper allowances were prevented and 
much money saved to the public. Mr. 
Read is now sixty-five years of age and 
seems as buoyant and as ambitious as a 
young man, to sell propert}' and in ever}'^ 
way to keep pace with this progressive 
age. He has used all his influence to make 
Evansville a railroad center, and every effort 
to advance the general good has found in 
him a ready, willing and influential sup- 
porter. Mr. Read was once passing around 
a petition with the view of getting lOO free- 
holders to sign it, asking the city council to 
order an election to take stock in the Peoria, 
Decatur & Evansville Railroad to the 
amount of $125,000. He accosted a prom- 
inent citizen and asked for his signature. 
"No!" said the man. "I would like to 
shoot about half a dozen men who have run 
us in debt so for railroads." " I hope," said 
Read, " 30U would let me pass." "No, 
sir, I would shoot you the first man," was 
the (juick reply. He is perfectly alive to 
the interests of Evansville, and fondly hopes 
to see 100,000 inhabitants of the city before 



he gives up business. Mr. Read has been 
married three times. In 1846 Miss Torisa 
A. Jones became his wife. She died in 
1853, leaving three sons. In 1856 he was 
married to Miss Angle A. Combs, of Evans- 
ville, Ind. Of this union thirteen children 
were born. The death of his second wife 
occurred in 1876. His marriage to Miss 
Virffinia Conn, of Evansville, was solem- 
nized in 1878. 

Laban M. Rice, one of the leading cot- 
! ton and tobacco commission merchants of 
' Evansville, doing business at No. 414 Water 
: street, is a native of Webster county, Ky., 
born March 6, 1838, and is the son of James 
R. and Elizabeth (Nichols) Rice. His father 
j was born m North Carolina in 1790, and 
when a young man emigrated to Kentuck}-, 
settling in what is now Webster county, 
where he was engaged in agricultural pur- 
suits until his death, which occurred in 1852. 
His mother was born in Caldwell county, 
Ky., in 1807, and was the daughter of Noah 
Nichols, a Virginian who moved to Ken- 
tucky in the pioneer era. She died in 1S73, 
after a long and useful life. Their family 
consisted of eight children, four of whom 
survive. Laban M. Rice was reared on his 
father's farm and was forced to depend on 
the imperfect neighborhood schools of early 
days for his mental training. Howevc-, 
possessing studious habits, he obtained a 
fair education. When the civil war was 
commenced his sympathies were with the 
south, and acting upon the honest convic- 
tions of his conscience he enlisted as a private 
in the First Kentucky Cavalry and for about 
fifteen months served faithfully with that 
organization. Returning home after the 
war, he engaged in merchandise at Dixon, 
Ky., for about ten years. During that 
period he was also engaged as a banker and 
dealer in leaf tobacco. In October, 1878, 
he located in Evansville and began the 



162 



THE CITY OF EVANSVILLE. 



cotton and tobacco commission business with 
the firm of Rice, Givens & Headley, of 
which he was the senior member. In 1885 
Messrs. Givens & Headley retired, since 
which time Mr. Rice has conducted the 
business alone, being ably assisted by his sons. 
His sagacit}' and the honorable methods 
pursued in the conduct of his business have 
won for him a hiijh rank amon«- the able 
merchants of the city. Mr. Rice has been 
married three times. First, in November, 
i860, to Ann E. Wilson, of Webster count}^ 
Ky., who died in August, 1861, leaving one 
child, John T. In March, 1866, he was 
united in marriage to Mattie M. Lacv, of 
Providence, Ky., who died February 15, 

1882, leaving five children as follows: Her- 
schel T., Lacy L., C. G., Goldie N., and 
Cottie M., all of whom are li\-ing. In April, 

1883, he was married to Goldie N. Lacv 
of this city, to whom one child, now deceased, 
has been born. 

W. B. HiXKLE, senior member of the 
firm of Hinkle, Nisbet & Co.. the largest 
wholesale boot and shoe house in Evans- 
ville, if not in the state, was born in Robert- 
son countv, middle Tennessee, September 4, 
1838, and is the son of Peter and Doxey 
(Tate) Hinkle, both Tennesseans. He was 
reared and educated in his native state. 
Coming to Evansville in 1863, he entered the 
old dry goods store of Archer, Mackev & 
Co., and for eleven _years remained in that 
house, during all the changes in the hrm. 
In 1874 he engaged in the wholesale boot 
and shoe business, being a member of the 
firm of Minor, Dicke\- & Hinklp, which 
continued for three years, when Mr. Minor 
withdrew. The business was then con- 
ducted for two years by the firm of Dickey 
& Hinkle, when Mr. Dickey withdrew, and 
the firm became that of Hinkle, Nisbet 
& Co., continuing so to the present. Mr. 
Hinkle is a member of the Business Men's 



Association, in which he is at present a 
director. Coming to Evansville a poor 
man, he began with no capital, save his 
abilit\' as a thorough business man, 
and has passed through the ordeal success- 
fully, being now one of the substantial and 
influential men of Evansville. In 1866 he 
was united in marriage to Miss Willie 
Eveas, of Greenville, Ky. To this union 
three children have been born, as follows: 
Clarence L., born in 1867, now traveling 
salesman for his father: Mary L., born in 
1877, and David M.,born in 1879. Mr. and 
Mrs. Hinkle are members of Trinity Meth- 
odist Episcopal church. 

Lewis Seitz, of the firm of Bement & 
Seitz, wholesale grocers, was born in Mt. 
Carmel, 111., November 23, 184S, and is the 
son of William and Mary (Schafer) Seitz. 
He received a common school education in 
the schools of his native place, and at the 
age of eighteen came to Evansville, where 
he has since resided. His first engagement 
here was with the house of Venemann & 
Behme, well-known wholesale grocers, 
where he was employed as book-keeper. 
He continued so engaged until 1S80, when 
the firm of Behme & Seitz was formed by 
his admission to partnership with Anthony 
Behme, who had previously purchased the 
interest of Mr. Venemann. This firm con- 
tinued with an annually increasinfj business 
until 1887, when the interest of jNfr. Behme 
was d'sposed of to C. R. Bement, the style 
of the firm becoming Bement & Seitz. For 
more than twenty years Mr. Seitz has been 
identified with this house, first as book- 
keeper and later as proprietor, in every ca- 
pacity giving faithful and valuable service. 
The house is one of the oldest in the cit\', 
and through all the vicissitudes of trade has 
maintained a steady advancement, its trans- 
actions increasing year by year, and its po- 
sition in the commercial world growing 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



IfJS 



more prominent. Actual merit and con- 
tinued fair dealing have been the main fac- 
tors in the achie\-ement of its success, and 
the reputation of the house is established on 
a firm basis. It now ranks as one of the 
solid institutions of Evansville, and probable- 
does the largest wholesale grocery business 
in the city. Its trade extends through In- 
diana, Kentucky, Illinois, and other west- 
ern and southern states. Public-spirited, 
energetic and liberal, Mr. Seitz is a highly- 
respected and honored citizen in all the 
various walks of life, and his able and ju- 
dicious management has contributed largelj- 
to the success of the house, which has be- 
come justly celebrated as one of the most 
enterprising and complete establishments in 
the southwest. In 187 1 Mr. Seitz was 
married to Miss Allie T. Fuller, whose 
death occurred December 8, 1888, at the 
age of 37 vears. Of this union three chil- 
dren were born, all of whom survive, as fol- 
lows: Addie, aged 16; Percy, aged 14, and 
Charles, aged 11 years. 

John A. Reitz & Sons. — The impor- 
tance of Evansville as the largest hardwood 
lumber market in the world, and the extent 
of the saw-mill interests, have been adverted 
to elsewhere in these pages. The firm of 
John A. Reitz & Sons conducts one of the 
largest lumber mills in the countr3\ with the 
prestige of nearly forty -five 3'ears" success- 
ful business. John A. Reitz, Sr., started 
this business in 1845, not amply provided 
with capital, but backed by his own good 
business qualities and determination to 
succeed. As the business prospered, he 
found it necessary to have help in its manage- 
ment, and his sons, Francis J. Reitz, John 
A. Reitz, Jr., and Edward Reitz, have be- 
come associated with the firm, and their mill, 
located at the mouth of Pigeon creek, is one 
of the most extensive of the region, em- 
ploying a large number of men, and is of 



great capacity and supplied with the most 
recent and perfect machinery obtainable. 
The members of the firm are remarkably 
skillful in business, and have not only reaped 
ample personal reward, but have done much 
toward making Evansville famous. On ac- 
count of the advanced age of the father, the 
management of the business de\olves upon 
Francis J. Reitz. For twenty-four years 
the latter was connected with the foundry 
business of Reitz & Hanev, in charge of 
office and financial matters, and now has 
control of this extensive lumbering business. 
He is also a director in the First National 
Bank, and a stockholder in the German 
National Bank, and president of the Evans- 
ville Electric Light Company. 

Little & Croft Lumber Company. — 
Another extensive mill operated until re- 
cently, was that of the Little & Croft Lum- 
ber Co., incorporated. Samuel W. Little, 
president and general manager of the com- 
pany, was born in South Carolina, June 17, 
I 1832, being the youngest son in a family of 
seven children. His father, Samuel Croft, 

i a native of South Carolina, came to Indiana 

! . 

i m 1835, settling on a farm in Monroe county. 

! His mother. Mar}- (Erwin) Little, of Scotch- 

j Irish descent, was born in Ireland. In 1853 

Samuel W. Little, who, up to that time, had 

been engaged at farming, on and near his 

father's homestead, moved to Iowa, and 

three years later came to Evansville. His 

first employment here was in the old Canal 

Flour Mills, where he remained for several 

vears. The civil war cominir on he entered 

j the service of his countrv as a sailor on the 

Mississippi flotilla, continuing therein one 

year. Returning to Evansville, he began 

the manufacture of shingles and staves, and 

conducted a cooper shop. In 1871 he began 

the lumber business, with which he has since 

been prominently connected. In 1886 the 

company was incorporated under the state 



161 



THE CITY OF EVANSVILLE. 



law and did an extensive business until 
its mill was destroyed by fii'e in the 
summer of 1888, at great loss. Samuel 
Little is an active, public-spirited citizen, 
and has aided in many ways to advance 
the general prosperit}- of the city, while at the 
same time he has attained for himself a com- 
petence, by dint of his industry and good 
management. He was married, in 1S70, to 
Miss Mary E. Macer, a native of Evansville, 
daughter of Thomas Macer. They have 
two children, Chas. S., and Harry W., aged 
respectively fifteen and thirteen years. Mr. 
Little and his famil\- are members of the 
Presbyterian church. 

Benjamin F. Croft, vice-president of the 
company, was born in Richland county, Ohio, 
May 30, 1848, being the youngest in a fam- 
ily of seven children, born to Benjamin and 
Mary (Buckingham) Croft. His father, a 
native of England, was a man of great force 
of character, and possessed of an iron will. 
Upon emigrating to America he settled in 
Maryland and moved thence to Richland 
county, Ohio, where he successfully con- 
ducted a woolen mill, and became one of the 
prominent men in that locality. B. F. Croft 
was educated in his native country, and when 
eighteen years of age, embarked in the saw- 
mill and lumber business. After two years 
he removed to Eaton Rapids, Mich., where 
he sustained a heavy loss by fire, but un- 
daunted b)' this he threw new energy into 
his business and achieved success. Later, 
at Saginaw, Mich., Albion, Ind., and Chicago, 
111., he engajred in the same business. 
Coming to Evansville, he joined Samuel W. 
Little as a partner, and when, in 1886, the 
Little & Croft Lumber Co. was formed 
he became its vice-president. A large de- 
gree of the company's success was due to 
' his skill in management, and his indus- 
trious and systematic habits. He was mar- 
ried in Albion, Ind., August, 1870, to 



Miss Lucy E. Thomas, a nati\-e of Morrow 
county, Ohio. 

Jacob Meyers & Bro. — The Southern 
Planing Mill, employing no less than fifty 
men, and doing an extensive business, occu- 
pies a prominent position among the indus- 
tries of the city. Its proprietors are recog- 
nized as enterprising and progressive 
business men, and, by fair and honorable 
conduct, have estabHshed themselves in the 
good-will of the people. Jacob and Michael 
Meyers are brothers. They were born in 
Bavaria, the former December 25, 1828, the 
latter July 12, 1837. Their parents were 
Michael and Catherine (Alexander) Meyers, 
natives of Germany, born respectively in 
1795 and 1797- The father served honor- 
ably in the armies of his native country, and 
came to his death by an unfortunate acci- 
dent occurring in 1845. Two years later 
the mother, with her children, emigrated to 
the United States, settling in Cincinnati, 
Ohio, and in 185 1 removing to Indiana. 
The Meyers brothers, the immediate subjects 
of mention in this connection, received the 
rudiments of a fair education in the schools 
of their native land. Both were apprenticed 
to carpenters, and learning the trade, worked 
for a time as journeymen carpenters. In 
1856 Jacob began the business of a con- 
tractor, and, ten years later, was joined by 
his brother Michael, who, from 1862, had 
been engaged in mercantile pursuits. Pru- 
dent and economical, they had accumulated 
a nice capital, and being practical workmen, 
determined to embark in a more extensive 
enterprise. They purchased what was then 
known as the Steel & Trible planing-mill, 
located on Second street, between Chestnut 
and Cherry streets, and operated it for one 
year, when they removed to their present 
place of business, at the corner of Water 
and Goodsell streets. Success followed in- 
dustry and wise management. In 1887 



BIOURAPHICAL. 



165 



their continued prosperity warranted the 
tearing down of the old building and the 
erection of one of the finest and best 
equipped planing-niills in the state. The 
new building is of brick, the main structure 
bt-'ing two stories high, 62x192 feet, with 
engine-room, boiler-house and extensive 
lumber sheds in addition. The manufacture 
of doors, sash, blinds, frames, mouldings 
and all manner of builders' supplies, is here 
extensively engaged in. The proprietors ot 
this mill are justly accredited with being 
among the most enterprising and prosperous 
business men of the city. Both have been 
twice married and have interesting families. 
Jacob Meyers, in November, 1851, took for 
his wife Henrietta Plensinger, a native of 
Germany, born in 1832. She was the 
mother of four children : George W., Mary 
E., Laura E., and Addie. Her death 
occurred in this city in August, 1862. In 
July, 1863, Mr. Meyers was united in mar- 
riage to Anna B. Keck, born in Posey 
county, Ind., in 1840, daughter of Andrew 
and Rosanna Keck, and a very worthy 
woman. Of this union four children have 
have been born: Edwin J.,Lillie, Estella and 
Clinton K. Michael Meyers was fii'st married 
in 185S to Mary Becker, a native of Indiana, 
born in 1838, who died August 15, 1864, 
leaving two children, Anna A. and Frank B. 
Mis second marriage occurred in 1865 to 
Isabella Metz, then twenty-five years of 
age, and to whom four children have been 
born : Alexander M., Nellie B., Emma C, 
and Alice U. Both of these families belong 
to the German Methodist Episcopal church. 
Bernhard Schuttler, the foreman of 
Meyers Bros.' planing-mill, was born in 
German township, this county, March 10, 
1843. His parents, David and Caroline 
(Sincich ) Schuttler, natives of Germany, 
came to this country in 1840, and lived in 
German township until their deaths, which 



occurred in 1858 and 1852, respectively. 
Bernhard Schuttler is third in a family of 
nine children, five of whom survive. His 
boyhood was spent on the farm. At six- 
teen vears of age he removed to Evansville, 
and began ser\-ing an apprenticeship at the 
carpenter's trade under Jacob Meyer. Two 
N'ears later, in 1S61, he enlisted in Co. A., 
Fortj'-second Indiana Volunteers, and, 
going to the front, was in the engagements 
at Champion Hills and Stone River, where 
he was wounded, and participated in the 
brilliant Atlanta campaign. He was honor- 

' abh' discharged October 17, 1864, at 
Villanow, Ga. Returning to civil life he 
entered the service of Jacob Meyers & Bro., 
and has since continued with this firm, being 
for the past sixteen j-ears foreman of their 

" extensive mills. September 8, 1868, he was 
married to Miss Mary Damm, born Septem- 
ber 28, 1845, in Posey county, daughter of 
Christopher and Christina (Bunde) Damm. 
His family consists of eight children : Emma 

\ K., Edward E., Ida R., Adolph W., Julius 
U., Benjamin J., Albert P., and Oscar C. 
Politically, Mr. Schuttler is a republican. 
He is a member of the G. A. R. He and 
his wife are members of St. John's Luth- 
eran church. 

RiET.MAX & ScHUi/n-:. — This well-known 
firm, manufacturers of hardwood lumber, 
railroad lumber and bridge timber, have 
attained a leading position among the wood- 
workers of the city. Their mills are ex- 
tensive and employ regularly about 100 
men. Henry Rietman, who, by dint of 
industry and close attention to business 
has risen from a wage-worker to a promi- 
nent place among the business men of this 
city, was born in Germany, July 31st, 1823. 
His father, J. II. Rietman, was a respectable 
farmer who lived and died in the land of his 
nativity. He was educated in the schools 
of his native place, spent his youth upon a 



}m 



THE CITY OF EVANSVILLE. 



farm, served three years in the German 
armv, and at the age of twenty-six years 
came to Evansville. He was then a single 
man and for a time worked as a day laborer 
in a saw-mill. He was energetic, eco- 
nomical and ambitious. By i860 he had 
saved enough to embark in business for him- 
self, and in company with B. Nurre com- 
menced the operation of a mill. This part- 
nership was soon dissolved, Charles Schulte 
joining Mr. Rietman in the business. In 
1865 the mill was destroyed by tire. It 
was rapidly rebuilt. In three months from 
the time of its destruction it was again run- 
ning. Since that time by good manage- 
ment the business of the lirm has been mul- 
tiplied manv fold. Mr. Rietman was mar- ' 
ried October 20, 1857, to Miss B. W. 
Ilanselelman, a native of Holland and \ 
daughter of John Ilanselelman. They have ^ 
three children: Ben H., Henry H., and i 
Elizabeth. The family are members of 
the Roman Catholic church. 

Charles Schulte, one of Evansville's 
leading business men, is a native of the king- | 
dom of Prussia, where he was born on the 
15th day of May, 1838. We find him 
twenty years afterward on his wa}- to Amer- 
ica seeking fortune and a new home. He 
came directly to Evansville, and although 
unaccjuainted with the ways and language 
of the new world, he proceeded to engage 
at once in business with his accustomed en- 
ergy and push. His first venture was flour 
milling, then dealing in grain and produce, 
until 1S63. when he became associated with 
his present partner, Henry Rietman, in the 
saw-mill business. This was then in its in- 
fancy, but with close application and energy, 
he was soon able to bring the business up 
to its present capacity and prosperity, 
makmg it one of the largest enterprises of 
the city, and e.xtending their trade in hard- 
wood lumber over this country and Europe. 



Mr. Schulte is part owner of the Fulton Av- 
enue Brewery, one of the largest establish- 
ments of the kind in this part of the state. 
He is a large stockholder and director in 
the German National Bank of Evansville, 
and the senior member of the firm of Schulte, 
Lohoff & Co., manufacturers of edge tools. 
There are employed in these different enter- 
prises seyeral hundred men. Mr. Schulte 
has done much to build up the city where 
he has spent the better part of his life. 
Although a gentleman of ample means and 
able to enjoy the ease and comforts of life, 
he is nevertheless constantly engaged in 
overseeing, managing and directing his di- 
verse interests., which are all flourishinjr. 
Highh' fortunate is the cit\' which can boast 
of many men of equal push and energy. 
In 1 86 1 he was united in marriage to Miss 
Sophia Summers, who was born in 1843, 
and with whom he is still living in happ}- 
wedlock, surrounded with seven children. 
He and his wife are consistent members of 
the Catholic church, and are connected 
with the church of St. Boniface, which has 
often been the recipient of their liberality. 
Mr. Schulte is a notable example of what a 
prudent and careful man, full of energy and 
ambition, may accomplish in this country 
under adverse circumstances. 

Joseph A. Nurre, traveling agent for 
Rietman & Schulte, lumbermen, was born 
in Evansville, Ind., April 13, 1852, being 
the son of Bernard and Elizabeth Nurre. 
Bernard Nurre was born in Germany in 
iSo7,and emigrated to America about 1835, 
locating first at Dayton, Ohio. From that 
city he and his wife traveled on foot to Cin- 
cinnati, where he went to work at his trade 
in a foundry. About 1839 ^^ came to 
Evansville and was employed in the one 
foundry then in existence in the town. At 
an early date he engaged in the hotel busi- 
ness and for many years was proprietor of 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



167 



the Washiiitrton House on the corner of 
Third and Main streets, at that time the 
leading hotel in the cit\-. After leaving the 
hotel he en<iaired in the saw-mill business 
in copartnership with II. Brommelhaus, and 
afterward purchased the old Simp5on mill- 
site, and taking Mr. II. Rietman in partner- 
ship, established the present mill of Rietman 
& Schulte. Later he sold his interest to Mr. 
Schulte and retired from active business. 
.Mr. Xurre was a strong democrat and was so 
well and favorablv known that he was 
elected by his party to the office of county 
commissioner, a thing seldom accomplished 
at that time, the republicans being largeh' 
in the majority. He served but one term, 
declining to stand for re-election. His death 
occurred x\pril ii, 1885. Elizabeth Nurre 
was born in Germany in 18 16, and died in 
1853 when her son Joseph was an infant. 
Her husband subsequently remarried, and 
his widow survives him. Joseph A. Nurre 
was reared in Evansville. He attended the 
public schools of the cit}- and completed his 
education at Teutopolis (111.) College. He 
be<ran life for himself when a small boy as 
bundle wrapper for Schapker & Bussing, dry 
goods merchants of this citv. From this 
humble position he worked up in the same 
house to book-keeper. In 1873 ^^^ entered 
the L. & X. railroad freiglit otiice as receiv- 
ing clerk, which position he held for one 
year. He then began as a laborer with 
Messrs. Rietman &. Schulte, and bv dint of 
persistent effort and close attention to busi- 
ness worked up to his present position, after 
twelve }ears of service. He is well known 
as a business man and enjoys a high stand- 
ing in the community. In politics he is a 
democrat; and is a member of the Iron Hall. 
In 18S0 he was married to Miss Ellen New- 
man, an estimable ladv, who was born in 
Evansville in 1852. She is the daughter 
of Mason Newman. 



The Helfukh Saw and Plamnc; Mill 
Co.MP.^NY holds a high rank among the work- 
ers in wood. It deals in hardwood lumber and 
building materials of all kinds. Its presi- 
dent, Adam Helfrich, oldest son of the pio- 
neers, John and Anna (Barbey) Helfrich, 
was born in Germany, January 17, 1832. 
His parents emigrating to this countr\- in 
earh' days, settled in German township and 
were there known for many \ears as indus- 
trious, frugal, and well-to-do people. They 
were among the organizers of St. Jos- 
eph's Catholic church, and remained its 
devoted members until their earthly careers 
were ended. Adam Helfrich worked on 
his father's farm until twent\--three years of 
age, when, having married on May 17, 1854, 
Theresa Hilderbrandt, a native of Virginia, 
daughter of Christian Hilderbrandt, he be- 
gan to work for himself on a farm, the gift 
of his father. Selling his farm after a time, 
he purchased a portable saw-mill. By wise 
management he accumulated enough to 
start, in company with John T. Rechtin, a 
saw-mill on Pigeon creek, in Independence. 
This mill was operated for some time, but 
was eventually destroyed by lire, Mr. Helf- 
rich having purchased the entire interest 
but a short time prior to its destruction. A 
new mill was bought, and in 1883, a stock 
compan\- was organized, with Adam Helf- 
rich as president, and William Hardy as 
vice-president, through whose ability and en- 
terprise the business of the concern has 
been trreath' extended and successfully con- 
ducted. This company owns and operates 
the extensive brick-yard known as the pro- 
perty of the Evansville Pressed Brick Com- 
pany. Mr. Helfrich's ability as a man of af- 
fairs has been publicly recognized by his 
election to the city council. Politically, he is 
a democrat. He is the father of eleven child- 
ren, eight living: William. Frank, Michael, 
Kate, John, Annie, Joseph and Edward, 



ms 



THE CITY OF EVANSVILLE. 



In the dawn of civilization in southwestern 
Indiana, the state of North CaroHna gave 
many valuable citizens to the new common- 
wealth. The}' came with no richer posses- 
sions than pure purposes and dauntless 
courage, ready and willing to meet any fate. 
James McCorkle and his wife Dorcas, who 
was a Mclntyre, left their native state, in 
1828, with a family of seven children which 
afterward grew to eleven, and came down 
the Tennessee river in a small boat or canoe 
to the shoals below Nashville. From there 
they made their way overland to Gibson 
county, Indiana, where they erected a cabin 
such as pioneer settlers hastily raised when 
a spot that suited their fancy was found, and 
there February 9th, 1829, was born John 
S. McCorkle, now proprietor of the Cit}' 
Planing and Flouring Mills, and long known 
in Evansville as a progressive, public-spirited 
and benevolent citizen. In the spring of 
1832, the family moved to Evansville, then a 
small village. Soon after coming here the 
death of Mrs. McCorkle occurred. The 
father of the family lived until Evansville 
assumed the dignity and designation of a 
city in 1847, and was identified with the 
early growth of the place. At the date of 
his death he was sixty-four years of age. 
With the exception of about two years, 
when he resided in Kansas, ever since 1832 
John S. McCorkle has been a resident of 
Evansville. His father's circumstances were 
such that opportunities for laying the founda- 
tion of a polite education were wanting to 
him in his vouth and young manhood. 
Naturally studious, however, in the course 
of a long and active life he has stored his 
mind with a fund of useful information. At 
the age of se^•enteen he undertook to learn 
the carpenter's trade, at which he worked as 
an apprentice and journe3'man until 1866. 
During the civil war period he was in the 
service of the United States government. 



building and repairing hospitals for the sick 
and wounded who were brought to Evans- 
ville for care and treatment. In 1866, Mr. 
McCorkle built his first planing-mill, which 
was successfulh' operated until April, 1870, 
when it was destroyed b}' fire. The mill 
was immediately rebuilt and the business 
continued. His twenty-two years' career in 
this business makes him the oldest planing- 
mill proprietor in the city. From his youth 
he has made his own way in life and has 
been eminenth' successful. His entire atten- 
tion has not, however, been absorbed by his 
business pursuits. An ardent republican, he 
is deeply concerned in the welfare of his 
j party. For many years he has been con- 
spicuousty identified with the work of the 
temperance cause, and he and his wife have 
been consistent members of the Methodist 
Episcopal church. As a member of the 
Business Men's Association he has taken a 
li\'ely interest in all matters affecting the 
welfare and progress of the cit\'. His life 
has been one of industry and constant effort. 
The success which has come to him has 
been well deserved. He was united in 
marriage December 31, 1850, to Miss Mary 
I. Thorne, a lady of worth, born in Vin- 
cennes, Ind., in 1836, the daughter of 
Charles E. and Nancy (Oliver) Thorne. Of 
this union four children have been born: 
John D., in 1S53; Charles R., in i860; Josie 
C, in 1862, and George A., in 1S65. 

ScHULTZE, Thuman & Co. — The Me- 
chanics' Foundry at the corner of First street 
and Third avenue is an evidence of what 
thrift and industry can accomplish. This in- 
stitution,' employing about fifty workmen 
and manufacturing steam-engines, boilers, 
saw- and grist-mills and all kinds of ma- 
chinery, is owned by five of Evansville's 
enterprising citizens, who in early hfe had 
no capital except the endowments of nature. 
Some facts concerning the lives of Henry 




^ 



/,T^^ ■ /^/ X^ 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



169 



A. Schultze, Charles H. Thuman, John II. 
Thuman, Alexander Jack, and Michael 
Becker can not fail to possess interest. Mr. 
Schultze was born in Prussia, April 19, 
I S3 1. When he was eleven years of age, 
his parents, George and Annie M. (Wayne') 
Scluiltze, came to Evansville, and were 
known here for many years as inilustrious 
and respectable people. They lived through 
the allotted three score vears and ten, 
each spending a useful and honorable 
life. Henrv A. was the voungest son in a ' 
familv of eleven children. When sixteen i 
\ears of age he entered a foundry' with a 
view of learning a trade and thus fitting 
himself for the higher grades of employ- 
ment. For eighteen vears he applied him- 
self industriously, saving and wisely 
investing his earnings until he had accumu- 
lated a considerable sum of money. In 1S65 
the Mechanics' Foundry was established, 
and since that time he has expended most of 
his energies in building up the concern and 
extending its business. In politics he is a 
republican. He and his familv are members 
of the Lutheran church. He has been mar- 
ried twice. His first wife was Martha 
Schulz, a native of Germany, who died in 
1873, leaving five children, George, Theo- 
dore, Gustavus, Julius and Louisa. Six 
years later he was united in marriage to 
Miss Sarah Clark, a native of Kentuckv. 

John H. and Charles H. Thuman, 
brothers, were born in the dukedom of 
Baden, Germany, 1819 and 1831, respect- 
ivel\-. They immigrated to the United 
States in 1837, and came to Evansville 
about 1 85 1 with their parents, who settled 
near Darmstadt, where the mother died in 
1851 and the father in 1853. Their father 
was a carpenter, and both boys learned the 
same trade, though John worked at farming 
in this county for sixteen years. For a 
time Charles was employed at pattern-mak- 
10 



ing, but both eventually became part owners 
in the Mechanics" Foundry, and for many 
3ears have been connected with its manage- 
ment. Mr. John Thuman was married in 
1845 to Miss Rosina Scheckel, who died 
five years later, leaving one child, Mina. 
Subse(juently he married a sister of his first 
wife, Philippina Scheckel, to whom eight 
children have been born, seven of whom are 
living: Mary, Louisa, Carrie, Lena, Dora, 
John, Frederick and Edward. Mr. Charles 
Thuman was married in August, 1853, to 
Miss Barbara Fuchs, a native of Germany, 
who came to this country in 1S50. Of this 
union eight children have been born, seven 
of whom are living: Annie, Lizzie Amelia, 
Lena, Charles Christian, Charles J., William 
and Jacob L. This \ounger generation is 
rapidly advancing, and taking an honorable 
position in social and business circles. 

Alexander Jack was born in Scotland, 
at the city of Glasgow, 1S33. He is the 
sixth son of Robert Jack, a weaver, who 
lived and died in Scotland. The family con- 
tained eleven children, all but three of whom 
are dead. i.\lexander was reared and edu- 
cated in his native country. At the age of 
seventeen he started out alone foi' America. 
He settled in Pennsylvania, and there learned 
1 the trade of a machinist and engineer. 
Coming west, he assisted in putting up a 
i pig-iron furnace on Green river, in Mulilen- 
burg countv, Kv., where he remained for 
some time. He came to Evansville about 
tliirty years ago, and first worked at his 
trade for Kratz & Ileilman, and later for 
Reitz & Ilanev. Since the establishment 
of the foundry with wliich he is now con- 
nected, his attention has been devoted prin- 
cipallv to its advancement. He is also a 
stockholder and director in the N.itural Gas 
and Oil Company of this place. His good 
judgment has earned him the confidence of 
business men generally, and his sturdy char- 



no 



THE CITY OF EVAXSVILLE. 



acter has made him popular. In the spring 
of i88She was nominated by the repubhcan 
party and elected to the office of water- 
works trustee. He is a Knight of Honor, 
and, with his family, belongs to the First 
Cumberland Presbyterian church. Janu- 
ary 2, 1S54, he was married to Miss Eliza- 
beth Snedden, a native of Scotland, who, in 
the midst of a useful life, passed away July 
21, 18S7, leaving five children, Nellie, Rich- 
ard, John, Robert, and Bethia. 

Michael Becker was born in Prussia, 
May 28, 1823, being the oldest son of John 
and Catherine (Kreppert) Becker, natives 
of Prussia, who came to Evansville in 1846, 
lived many years on a farm, and died in this 
count}-, aged seventy-eight and sixty-five, 
respectively. In his native country, Michael 
learned the trade of a blacksmith, and for 
about ten years followed it at McCutchan- 
ville. Coming to Evansville, he was invited 
to connect himself with the Mechanics' Foun- 
dry, and has since been identified with this 
establishment. In 1862 he was married to 
Miss Elizabeth Reis, who was born at Darm- 
stadt, in this county. Of this union eleven 
children have been born, four of whom are 
living. William H., Frank, Catherine A., 
and Elizabeth J. The members of this firm, 
known to the business community as 
Schultze, Thuman & Co., have pursued 
honorable methods in the conduct of their 
business, and by industr\% econom}- and wise 
management, have attained success. 

F. W. Cook Brewing Co. — F. W. Cook 
and L,ouis Reis, under the firm name of 
"Cook & Reis," estabhshed and built the 
City Brewery in 1853, the site then being 
a corn-field. They continued together 
until 1S57, when Louis Reis sold his inter- 
est in the brew'ery to his brother, Jacob Reis 
(the step-father of Mr. Cook), leaving the 
style of the firm unchanged. In 1873 ^^• 
Reis met with an accident which resulte^j 



in his death, whereupon Mr. Cook became 
sole proprietor. In 1885 the City Brew- 
ery was converted into a stock company 
under the corporate name of F. W. Cook 
Brewing Co. with the following stock- 
i holders: F. W. Cook, sr., F. W. Cook, 
I jr., H. E. Cook, Andrew Wollenberger, 
G. M. Daussman, Philip P. Puder and Gus 
B. Mann. F. W. Cook, sr., F. W. Cook, 
jr., H. E. Cook, Andrew Wollenberger and 
G. M. Daussman are the directors of the 
company, and its officers are as follows: 
F. W. Cook, sr., president and general 
manager; F. W. Cook, jr., vice president: 
Andrew Wollenberger, superintendent; G. 
M. Daussman, secretary and treasurer; 
Philip P. Puder, general agent. The sales 
of the establishment for the present year 
(1888-89) ^^"^^^ amount to 75.000 barrels; 
no men are employed in its \-arious de- 
partments and $75,000.00 is paid annually 
in wages. The consumption of malt and 
hops for the year will be 185,000 bushels 
of the former, and 115,000 pounds of the 
latter. While the product of the F. W. 
Cook Brewing Co. — the famous "Pilsener 
Beer " — has become a household word and 
is the most popular beverage in this part 
of the country, it has also won an enviable 
reputation abroad, especially in the south- 
ern states, and large quantities of it are 
daily being shipped to all the principal cities 
of the south. Purity, brilliancy and de- 
liciousness of the flavor, together wjth its 
sparkling, foaming qualities, is what has 
made the Pilsener of the F. W. Cook 
Brewing Co. so popular wherever it has 
been introduced. 

Fred W. Cook, sr., president of the F 
W. Cook Brewing Company, an enterpris- 
ing citizen closely identified with many 
causes of the city's growth and prosperity, 
began his business career as a poor lad, and. 
now as the fruits of his industry enjoys pos- 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



171 



sessions value d at not less than a ([uarter of 
a million dollars. He was born in Washing- 
ton, D. C, February i, 1S32. His father, 
Fred Cook, a baker, native of Germany) 
long li\ed at Washington Citv, and died in 
Virginia when on his way to Cincinnati, 
1S34. ^^'5 mother, Christiana Cook, whose 
maiden name was Kroener, subsequenth* 
married Jacob Reis, and after a brief resi- 
dence at Cincinnati, Ohio, came to E\ans- 
ville, reaching here in 1^36. The earlv 
education of Mr. Cook was meagre, his 
schooling being confined to about eighteen 
months' study, distributed through a period 
of six years. His first emplo\'ment was in 
the drv goods house of L. W. Ileberd. He 
then spent two years and a half in a small 
brewery owned b}' his step-father. By the 
end of this time he had accumulated $135. 
His uncle, Louis Reis, having a like amount 
in cash, the two formed a partnership, and 
in the spring of 1853 bought the ground, 
then a cornfield, on which their extensive 
brewery now stands. A small brewery was 
built on credit, and in four j-ears Mr. Reis, 
withdrawing from the firm, was paid for 
his interest $3,500. Later, Jacob Reis, 
the stepfather, putting in $6,000 capital, 
entered the firm, which again was known 
as Cook & Reis, until the incorporation of the 
company January i, 1885. As a director in 
the Citizens' National Bank, director in the 
Evansville & Terre Haute Railroad Com- 
pany, president of the I^istrict Telegraph 
Company, president of the F. W. Cook 
Bottling Works, director and secretary of 
the Bernardin Bottle Cap Company, 
and as a large stockholder in the Indiana 
Canning Compan}', Mr. Cook has done 
much to secure the success of these enter- 
prises and to advance the welfare of the city, 
always exhibiting in the highest degree the 
qualities essential to a successful financier 
and man of affairs. The public, recognizing 



his capacity for the management of great 
interests, has called him to its service in 
various relations. He has several times 
represented his ward in the city council and 
his county in the state legislature. His 
career, pri\ate and public, has been charac- 
terized by energy, integrity, ability and 
honor. He is a prominent member of the 
I. O. O. F. and A. O. U. W. fraternities and 
of St. John's church. In 1857 he was mar- 
ried to Miss Louisa Hilt, of Louisville, Ky., 
who died in 1877, leaving four children, 
Fred W., jr., Heniy E., Charles W., and 
Ada L. In November, 1878, his second 
marriage was solemnized with Miss Jennie 
Himmeline, of Kelh's Island, Ohio, whose 
death occurred in January, 1884. Of this 
union three children were born, Arthur B., 
Helen and Albert L. The older of Mr. 
Cook's children are well educated and pos- 
sess the accomplishments which adorn 
polite society. Fred. W. Cook, jr., vice- 
president of the brewing company, is an 
alumnus of Wabash College, Crawfords- 
ville, Ind., and after his graduation from 
that institution pursued his studies for two 
years at the famous University of Heidel- 
berg. Henry E. graduated at the State 
University at Bloamington, and for three 
years past has been perfecting his education 
at the ancient German institution pre\'iously 
attended bv his brother, where also Miss 
Ada L. has been pursuing a special course 
of instruction in music and the modern lan- 
guages. Charles W. is now an under- 
graduate at the Indiana State University. 

The secretary and treasurer of the brew- 
ing company, George M. Daussman, was 
born at Willzartswiesen, Rhein-Pfalz, Ba- 
varia, March 8, 1847. His parents, Jacob 
and Eva (Veibert) Daussman, came to 
America in 1855, and have since resided in 
this city. He was educated at the public 
schools of the city, and received his training 



172 



THE CITY OF EVANSVILLE. 



for a business career in tlie Evans\ille Com- 
mercial College. At a verv early age he 
was employed as a clerk and then as book- 
keeper, at various places in this city. In 
1866 he accepted a position as book-keeper 
for Cook & Reis, brewers, and has been 
with that company ever since. He is now 
a stockholder and director in the company, 
and since January i, 1885, has been its sec- 
retary and treasurer. His efficiency, integ- 
rity and close attention to business, render 
his services of great value to the company. 
He occupies a high social position, is promi- 
nent in the I. O. O. F. and K. of P. frater- 
nities, the Business Men's Association and 
Liederkranz singing society. He was mar- 
ried September 18, 1880, to Miss Anna 
Platz, daughter of Charles Platz, the well- 
known manufacturer, of this city. They 
have four children, George M., Ida, Louisa, 
and Elsa, the tirst-born. Bertha, having died 
in infancy. 

The superintendent of the brewery, An- 
drew WoUenberger, was born in Ba- 
varia, May 16, 1841, being the son of Louis 
and Mina WoUenberger. He was edu- 
cated in the schools of his native country 
and was emplo3'ed there as foreman in a 
brewery. He served in the German army, 
was a non-commissioned officer in the war 
of 1866, and two years later came to Amer- 
ica. For several years he was engaged in 
the breweries of Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1S81 
he came to Evansville and entered the em- 
ploy of Cook & Reis as foreman. When 
the stock company was organized he became 
a stockholder and superintendent, which 
position he has since satisfactorily held. In 
1869 he was married to Miss Tillie Uhl, a 
native of German^-, daughter of John L^hl. 
They have one child, Andrew Louis. 

The chief engineer of this extensive brewery 
is Henrv F. Froelich, a native of Gibson 
county, Ind., born April 14, 1851, the 



oldest son of Jacob and Catharine (Oswald) 
Froelich, natives of Germany. He received 
a common school and business education in 
this citv, kept books for a time, and then 
learned the trade of a machinist, at which 
he worked both here and in Germany. 
Later he was employed as engineer at the 
city water-works, and in 1S7S entered the 
service of the brewing companv. Since 
1887 he has been a member of the board of 
water-works trustees. He is a member of 
the K. of H. order, of the Zither club, and the 
Association of Engineers. August 12, 1S77, 
he was married to Johanna Laubmerheimer, 
a native of Germany. Of this union two 
children have been born: Clara, aged ten 
years, and one who died in infancv. 
Mr. Froelich and his wife are members of 
St. John's Evangelical churcli. 

The general agent of the Cook Brewing 
Co., Philip P. Puder, was born in Germany, 
December 17, 1845. His parents, Gottlieb 
and Katharina (Becker) Puder, borniniSip 
and 1822, respectively, lived and died in the 
fatherland. He is the oldest in a family of 
live children, four of whom are living. He 
was educated in Germany and came to 
Evansville in 1864. He was a machinist by 
trade, and for four years was employed in the 
foundry of Hon. Wm. Ileilman, after which 
he conducted a stove and tinware store, in 
partnership with his brother, Gottlieb Puder. 
In 1876 he accepted a position as traveling 
salesman, with Cook & Reis, and upon the 
organization of the stock compam', became 
a stockholder. His thorough business train- 
ing and qualifications have contributed 
largely to the extension of the business. He 
is a K. of H. and member of the A. O. U. W. 
In 1 868 he was married to Miss AI- 
wine Schnakenburg, a native of Germany, 
born in 1847. Of this union three children 
have been born: Otto, Dora and Philip. 
The father of Mrs. Puder, Col. William 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



173 



Schnakenburg, attained distinction as a sol- 
dier in the late war. He was born in Prus- 
sia, August 3, 1817, being the son of Rev. 
William and Emily Schnakenburg. In 1854 
he came to the United States, settling in 
southern Ohio, and coming to this city two 
years later. Since then he has continuously 
resided in this place, being engaged as a 
merchant and accountant. In i86r he 
began his military service with the Thirt}-- 
second Indiana Infantrv, rose to the rank of 
lieutenant-colonel, and after a faithful and 
honorable service of eighteen months, re- 
signed. He was married in 1S43, to Miss 
Minna Lohse, a native of Prussia, to whom 
four children were born. 

Fulton i\vExuE Brewery. — A well- 
known building in Evansville was the Old 
Brewery. This was occupied bv the fa- 
mous firm of Ullmer & Hoedt, from 1877, 
until 1 88 1, and here they achieved for their 
product a reputation unsurpassed by none. 
Among the consumers of malt liquors the 
reputation of Evansville beer has become 
wide-spread and most flattering to the manu- 
acturers of this city. The strong points 
of the product are purity, brilliancy of color, 
richness of flavor, and non-liability to deter- 
ioration bv cHmate, and in all these, the 
Evansville beer is unsurpassed. The form- 
ation of this creditable reputation is in large 
part due to the skill and business ability of 
Messrs. Ullmer & Hoedt. These gentle- 
men came to the city in 1877 ready to begin 
on November ist. They made their first 
brewingonthe 27th of that month, and turned 
out the first beer December 31st. They 
prospered from the first, their product 
sprang at once into popular favor, and in 
less than thirty months they were able to 
add one of the most handsome and com- 
plete breweries in the country to the indus- 
tries o'f Evansville. The members of the 
firm are Charles Wilhelm Ullmer. a native 



of Russia, and the business manager of the 
establishment, who came to this country in 
1868, and Ferdinand Hoedt, a native of 
Baden, who came to America in 1S65. 
The latter is naturally a brewer, his father 
and grandfather having been in the business, 
and he learned his trade so thoroughly that 
he now has no superior in the country, in 
his father's brewery at Heidelberg. The 
new brewery, which the firm has occupied 
for several years, is 74x116 feet, four 
stories high, and fitted at a cost of $45,000 
with all that science and art has devised for 
the best production of the beverage under 
the most healthful and attractive conditions. 
The brewery has a cellar capacity of 3,000 
barrels constantly on hand, and a selling 
capacity of 18,000 barrels per annum. Be- 
sides the beer kettle with a capacity of 125 
barrels, there is a mash tub with a capacity 
of 150 barrels, and two steam tubs of 
lOO and 300 barrels each. The ice 
as it melts is caught and conveyed to cis- 
terns underneath the beer cellar, which is 
40x18 feet, and a capacity of 29.000 gallons. 
This establishment maintains a large num- 
ber of employes, and the weekly pa}-roll 
is no inconsiderable item. 

August Brentano, of the firm of Kiechle, 
Brentano & Oberdorfer, was born at Hohen- 
Ems, Austria, December 18, 1845, and 
is the son of Nestor Brentano, a native of 
Austria, born August 15, it?20, whose death 
occurred in his native country, November 
10, 1859. He was educated at the famous 
schools of Heidelberg, graduating there in 
i860. In the same year he came to 
America, settling in New York city, and re- 
maining there for one year in the employ of 
Brentano's Literary Emporium. In 1861 
he went to Oregon, and, after a residence of 
three years there, remo\ed to Cincinnati, 
Ohio, and for some time was engaged as a 
book-keeper for E. Brentano & Co. Coming 



17^ 



THE CITY OF EVANSVILLE. 



to Evansville in iS66, he then entered the 
wholesale house of L. Loewenthal & Co. as 
a book-keeper, and retained that position 
durincr the following ten years, at the end 
of which time he became a partner in the 
business, and remained in that relation ten 
years longer. When the Business Men's 
Association was formed in 1887, for the 
purpose of advancing the general welfare of 
the city, b}- bringing about harmonious ac- 
tion on the part of all interested in Evans- 
ville's progress, Mr. Brentano was selected 
as secretary of the association. His duties 
were particularl)- arduous and tr3ing, but 
they were discharged with rare skill and 
good judgment, and to the satisfaction of 
all. Unswerving devotion to correct prin- 
ciples, enterprising activity, guided by un- 
usual public spiritedness and business 
sagacity, have combined to make his career 
successful. In 1888 the partnership with 
which he is now connected was formed. He 
is prominently connected with the lodges of 
the following orders: F. & A. M., K. of P., 
A. O. U. W., B'nai B'rith and Kesher Shel 
Barsel. In politics he is a democrat. In 

1883, and again in 1885, he was elected to 
the city council. As chairman of the demo- 
cratic central committee for this county in 

1884, by his wise management he contrib- 
uted largeh' to the success of the campaign. 
He was united in marriage in 1868 to Miss 
Mahla Kahn, of this city, daughter of Solo- 
mon Kahn. Seven children have been born 
of this union, five of whom survive. 

Capt. Otto F. Jacobi, a native of Saxe- 
Meiningen, Germany, was born Novem- 
ber 28, 1835. His parents, Gottlieb and i 
Frederika (Dietsch) Jacobi, were born in; 
Germany, in 1804 and 1814, respectively. I 
Their lives were spent in the fatherland, and 
there they died, the father in 1849, ^^^ 
mother eight years earlier. Capt. Jacobi 
was the eldest son in a family of four, three | 



of whom are now living. His education 
was obtained in his native country. Emi- 
grating to the United States in 1852, he set- 
tled at Philadelphia, Pa. There in 1855, 
being then a j^oung man, though of strong 
and well developed character, he en- 
listed in Compan\' D, First United States 
Infantr}-. He soon attained the rank of 
first sergeant, which he held for sev- 
eral years, being brave and ever read}' 
for duty, and thus gaining the esteem 
of his superior officers. When the civil 
war broke out, he was with his regiment, 
then stationed at Fort Cobb, Indian Terri- 
tory. He remained in the regular army 
until 1862, when he received a commission 
in the volunteer service, and was appointed 
commissary of musters by the secretarv of 
war, being attached to the first cavalry 
division in the Department of the Cumber- 
land. January i, 1863, he was commis- 
sioned first lieutenant of Company G, Tenth 
Tennessee Infantr}', and because of faithful 
and efficient service, was promoted to the 
captaincy of the same company on the 23d 
of June following. He acted a conspicuous 
part in the engagements at Duck Springs, 
Wilson's Creek, and New Madrid, Mo., 
Island No. 10, in the siege of Corinth and 
the battle at that place, at Big Black River, 
Miss., and in the siege of Vicksburg, where 
he received a disabling wound. His honor- 
able discharge from the service followed in 
July, 1865. He is now a prominent mem- 
ber of Farragut Post, G. A. R. His long 
military career was full of honorable service. 
It was in the year 1866 that he came to 
Evansville, since which time his prominence 
and usefulness as a citizen have increased 
from year to year. Soon after locating here 
he began the wholesale tobacco and cigar 
business. This he sold out in 1869, and in 
the next year entered the employ of H. F. 
Blount as book-keeper. His business affairs 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



115 



were prudently managed, and his earnings 
economically cared for. His services be- 
came so valuable to those interested in the 
works with which he was connected, that 
he was admitted to an interest in the profits 
in 1883. Honorable and upright in all of 
life's relations, he commands universal re- 
spect. His public spirit has not permitted 
his whole interest to be engrossed in the 
cares of his own business concerns. He 
early joined the Masonic order, and has at- 
tained the rank of Knight Templar. He 
and his wife are prominent members of the 
First Avenue Presbyterian church. By 
wise action as a trustee and devotion as a 
member, he has contributed largely to the 
prosperity of the church. His public trusts 
have been* numerous, and all failhfuU}' exe- 
cuted. As a trustee of Evans Hall, and as 
trustee and treasurer of Willard Library, he 
has rendered useful service to the public. 
His ability as a financier caused his selection 
as vice-president of the Fidelity Loan and 
Savings Association, the successful manage- 
ment of which has secured to many vvork- 
ingmen the ownership of homes. His mar- 
riage occurred in 1862 to Mary E. Sawyer, 
of Corinth, Miss. Of this union five chil- 
dren have been born, of whom two, Otto L. 
and Sidne}' F., are living, and three are de- 
ceased: Alvin G., L-vin, and Harry B. ; the 
latter died July 17, 188S. 

It is generally conceded that the extent of 
Evansville's future greatness will be meas- 
ured by the amount of attention paid to 
manufacturing industries. Of late years the 
city's advancement has been due largely to 
this agency. The Evansville Cotton Mills 
are the largest of their kind west of the Al- 
leghanies, and the city is justly proud of 
them. At the time of the publication of this 
work the company is building a new mill 
adjoining the old, two stories, 168x313, and 
an L addition 50x80, which will accommo- 



date a plant of 50,000 spindles. The success- 
ful management of these mills may be attrib- 
uted largely to the efficiency of the superin- 
tendent John H. Osborn, whose fitness for his 
present responsible position is the result of 
long practical training. He is a native of Boone 
county. 111., where he was born July 20, 1849. 
His father, William Osborn, was born in 
Ireland about the year 1822, and now resides 
in this cit}'. His mother, Ann (Burrell) 
Osborn, was a native of Glasgow, Scotland, 
and died at Cannelton, Ind., 1872. His par- 
ents came to the United States in earl}- 
childhood and settled in Rhode Island. In 
1849, the}' came west, seeking a betterment 
of their condition, and temporarily settled in 
Boone county. 111. Three years later they 
moved to Cannelton, Ind. In the schools of 
that place, John Osborn, who was the sec- 
ond of six children, received his education, 
and there learned the trade of a machinist. 
For about fifteen }'ears he was employed in 
the Indiana Cotton Mills at Cannelton, and 
for some time at Louisville and Owensboro, 
in Kentucky, in various foundries and ma- 
chine shops, working at his trade. Coming 
to Evansville in 1875, he was engaged as 
master mechanic at the cotton mills, and in 
1884, was promoted to the superintendency 
of the mills. He is intrusted with the super- 
vision of 400 workmen, and has the care of vast 
monetary interests. By natural acumen and 
thorough practical training, he is well quali- 
fied for the proper discharge of this important 
trust. His enterprising public spirit, and 
the general esteem in which he is held, are 
attested by his selection as a director in the 
Business Men's Association. He was mar- 
ried in June, 1878, to Mary A. White, who 
was born in Evansville in 1858. Two 
children, John W. and Charles A., have been 
born of this union. 

Louis Ichexhauser, a prominent citizen 
and the leading importer and wholesale dealer 



176 



THE CITY OF EVANSVILLE. 



in glass and queenswaie of Evansville, 
is a native of Bavaria, Germany, born in 
the town of Ichenhausen (which place was 
named in honor of his grandparents), on 
September 30, 1832. He came to America 
twelve years later, located in Hardinsburg, 
K}'., and engaged in merchandise. He re- 
moved to Louisville, Ky., in 1864, and con- 
tinued merchandising for one year. Coming 
to Evansville in 1866, he formed a copart- 
nership with Charles Lichten, and engaged 
in the glass and queensware business under 
the tirm name of Lichten & Ichenhauser. 
This tirm was dissolved in 1880 by the re- 
tirement of Mr. Lichten. Mr. Ichenhauser 
continued the business, adding thereto the 
importation of china and queensware in 1883. 
The business has grown from year to year, 
until it is the leading house of the kind in 
the citv, and is second to none in the state. 
He occupies a large brick business house at 
No. 114 Upper First street, which is four 
stories and a basement in height and 150 
feet deep; and also the four-story brick 
building at No. 23 Upper First, which is 
used as a warehouse. Mr. Ichenhauser is a 
member of the Evansville Business Men's 
Association, and of the following -secret so- 
cieties: Blue Lodge, Chapter and Council 
of the Masonic fraternity: Thisbe Lodge 
No. 24, Independent Order B'nai B'rith, of 
which he was secretary for fourteen consec- 
utive years, and is a member of the Grand 
Lodge; Centennial Lodge, No. 157, Kesher 
Shel Barsel, of which he was the founder in 
1876, and in 1877 was elected recording and 
financial secretary, which position he holds 
at present, and is also member of the Grand 
Lodge ; Red Cloud Lodge No. 640, K. of 
H. and Leni Leoti Lodge, No. 43, A. O. 
U. W. He was for five years treasurer of the 
Germania Building and Loan Association, 
and is a member of the Sixth Street Jewish 
temple, in which he has held various official 



positions. Mr. Ichenhauser was married in 
Louisville, Ky., in 1859, ^^ Therese Ober- 
dorfer, who was born in Germany in 1S42, 
and to this union eleven children have been 
born, nine of whom survive. Three sons, 
Silas, Nathan and Sidney L., are engaged 
with their father as clerks. 

William Rahm, jr., whose commercial 
success has won for him the title of the 
" Corn King of the Lower Ohio," was born 
in the city of Heukeswagen, Prussia, 
October 27, 1837. In the public schools of 
that state, well-known for their excellence, 
voung Rahm made considerable progress be- 
fore cominir with his father's familv to New 
Orleans, in 1849. The parents and the 
eight children who came over at that time 
are still living and prospering. They came 
to Evansville, and the young man was 
placed in the public schools, where he 
remained until his German-English edu- 
cation was completed. Afterward his 
business education was begun in a mer- 
cantile establishment, from which he was 
called, later, to assist his father in a dry 
goods and grocery store. In this he speed- 
ily advanced to a partnership, and finally 
purchased his father's interest. He has 
ever since continued in business, though he 
has disposed of the dry goods and grocery 
departments, and devoted himself to the corn 
tradt. His business has prospered beyond 
expectation, apparently more than keeping 
pace with the rapid progress of the countr\'. 
His transactions in the cereal which is pro- 
duced in such profusion in the rich bottom 
farms of the Ohio valley, are unrivalled in 
magnitude, and the regal title he has won 
in trade he well merits. Such is the scope 
of his business that he has become the 
acquaintance and friend of the army of pro- 
ducers, as well as all the river men, and not 
a small element in the causes of his success 
is his power of making and holding friends. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



J77 



In addition to his commercial occupations, 
he has acquired and successfully managed 
extensive farms, and since 1S79 '^'^^ been 
one of the directors of the German National 
Bank. For six vears he has served as a 
member of the city council, elected as a 
democrat from a ward with a republican 
preponderance, his majorities varying from 
93 at first to 363 at last. In 1880, without 
premeditation on his part, he was nominated 
for state senator. It was urged that he 
alone could carry the election against an 
adverse republican majority. His friends 
were right in their prediction, and again in 
1S84 he was honored by re-election to the 
senate, and was elected in 1889 a trustee for 
the Southern Indiana Hospital for the Insane, 
near Evansville, by the state legislature. In 
1862 Mr. Rahm was married to Miss Rose 
Hart, who was reared and educated in New 
York. To this union four children were 
born, of whom but two are living. The 
elder, a son, graduated from Mt. 
St. Mary's College, Maryland, and is now 
deputy township trustee. One of Mr. 
Rahm's brothers, Emil, has held the office 
of treasurer of Vanderburgh county. A 
sister, Miss Hulda Rahm, has attained dis- 
tinction in the Evansville schools, and hold- 
ing the highest certiticate, is no longer sub- 
ject to examination. The venerable parents 
are still hale and hearty, and devote their 
attention to the manaijement of a fine fruit 
and veiretable farm close to the cit\'. 

Jacob Miller, one of the leading mer- 
chants of Evansville, and a member of 
the Gilbert- Miller Dry Goods Company, the 
largest retail drv goods house in the state of 
Indiana, was born in E\ai)sville, April 3, 
1845. His parents were Jacob and Mary 
(Klein) Miller, both natives of Germany, 
The parents were married in their native 
country, and emigrated to the United States 
in 1836, coming direct to the west, locating 



in Evansville, and being among the early 
settlers of Vanderburgh count}-. The father 
died in 1885, at the age of sevent3'-three 
years, and the mother in 1879, at the age of 
sixtj'-three years. To these parents live 
children were born, three of whom survive. 
Jacob Miller was educated in the public 
schools of this city, and began life for him- 
self at the age of seventeen years, in the 
employ of the E. & T. H. Railroad Compan}-. 
A year later he began clerking in a diy 
goods store, and continued at that until 1866, 
when he embarked in business for himself 
in the partnership of Miller & Brink- 
meyer. In 1871 the firm of Miller Bros. 
was organized, being composed of Jacob 
and Conrad, brothers, which later be- 
came one of the best-known dry 
Sfoods firms in the state. This firm was 
continued until March, 1886, when Conrad 
withdrew, going to New York city, and 
there engaging as a merchant in the same 
branch of trade. In 1885, the present busi- 
ness house on Main street was erected, which 
is the largest and most complete dry goods 
house in the state. The building is brick, 
six stories above the basement in height, 
57x140 feet. The first and second floors are 
used for dry goods, cloaks, and notions, the 
third and fourth floors for carpets and mat- 
tings, the fifth floor for manufacturing 
purposes, and the sixth floor for stor- 
atre. The first and second stories are 
of solid iron, the rest of the building be- 
ing terra cotta and pressed brick. The cost 
of the building approached $75,000.00. One 
of the largest retail stocks in the state, and 
the largest in the city, is carried by the firm, 
and its annual business amounts to between 
$375,000 and $400,000. In May, 1S86, the 
Gilbert-Miller Dry Goods Co. was formed 
by the entrance into the business of W. S. 
Gilbert, son of Capt. John Gilbert. In 1864 
Mr. Miller entered the service of the United 



178 



THE CITY OF EVANSVILLE. 



States, joining Company F of the One 
Hundred and Thirty-sixth Regiment In- 
diana Volunteer Infantry, under Col. 
John W. Foster, and seryed until the 
close of the war. He is a member of Far- 
ragut Post, G. A. R., St. George Lodge, 
K. of P., and of Excelsior Lodge, A. O. 
U. W. He is also a member of the Business 
Men's Association and of the Merchants' 
Exchange. He has taken an active interest 
in everj- effort to give the city of Evansville 
that prominence among the cities of the' 
country to which it is entitled by reason of 
its merit. Energetic, public-spirited, and 
sagacious, he has done much to advance the 
public good, and deservedl}' takes a high' 
rank among the prominent men of the day.i 
A. P. Lahr, a prominent merchant, and' 
proprietor of one of the leading dry goods, 
carpet and window shade houses of the city," 
was born at Wendelheim, Rheinhessen, Ger- 
many, June 17, 1849, and is the son of Peter 
and Mary (Schlossstein)Lahr. His parents, 
natives of Germany, emigrated to the United 
States in 1868, came direct to Evansville, 
and for a number of years the father 
was engaged in manufacturing and milling, 
and also carried on farming. His death 
occurred February 29, 1888; that of the 
mother seven days previously. To these 
parents five children were born, two of 
whom survive. A. P. Lahr was reared in 
his native land, and attended the schools 
there. In 1S67, he came to Amer- 
ica, coming one year before his parents. 
Soon after arriving in this country he came 
to Evansville. Having learned the dry 
goods business in German}? with an uncle, 
through the assistance of Hon. William Heil- 
man, he secured a position in the dry goods 
house of Frank Hopkins &. Co., with which 
house he remained six years. He then 
located in Rockford, Iowa, opened a grocery 
store, and remained about two years. At the 



end of this time he returned to Evansville, 
and engaged with the firm of Hopkins & 
Co. again. Remaining with that house 
for two years more he then took 
a course in the commercial college 
and next entered the store of Miller Bros., 
where he clerked for a short time. That 
firm then opened a branch store, known as 
the " Centennial Store," and Mr. Lahr was 
placed in charge of the same as manager, 
and continued in that capacity for about two 
years. He next entered the store of A. G. 
Evans & Co., clerked for a year, and was 
then relieved of his position in that store by 
the entrance into the firm as a partner, of 
John Hubbs. Through the assistance of 
Jacob Haas, he was enabled to purchase a 
stock of goods, and, going to Carmi, 111., 
opened a store, where he remained three 
and a half years. Returning to Evansville, 
he erected a handsome store building on 
Fulton avenue, and embarked in the dry 
goods business for himself, where he met 
with great success. On January 5, 18S8, he 
purchased the large stock of John S. Hop- 
kins at public sale, and began business at 
the old stand of that firm on Main street, 
still continuing his Fulton avenue store. He 
carries a stock in the Main street establish- 
ment of between $40,000 and $50,000, and 
does an annual business of between $115,- 
000 and $125,000. In the Fulton avenue 
store a stock of between $15,000 and $18,- 
000 is carried, and an average business of 
about $45,000 is done. Mr. Lahr was mar- 
ried on September 10, 1876, to Miss Amelia 
J. Hodson, a native of this city, daughter of 
John and Jane Hodson. To this union two 
children have been born: Mabel B. and Her- 
bert H. Mr. Lahr is a progressive citizen, 
and one whose success has been rapidly 
achieved. 

William E. French was born near Pa- 
toka, Gibson county, Ind., January 26, 1825. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



179 



His parents, William and Mary (Breading) 
French, natives of La Fayette county, Pa., 
shortly after their marriage in 1S22, moved 
by flat-boat down the Monongahela and 
Ohio rivers to Evansville, then a small vil- 
lage, and thence to a farm near Patoka, 
where they settled. Here their lives were 
spent as useful citizens. God-fearing and up- 
right. The father was accidentally killed in 
1844 by the falling of a tree, in the fiftieth 
year of his age; the mother died in 1S76 at 
the age ot eighty-three vears. Their family 
consisted of four sons: David, William E., 
Nathaniel B., and Lucius S. The oldest of 
these, David, was accidentally killed when 
sixteen years of age. Nathaniel B. was for 
many years a merchant in Princeton, where 
he now resides, and during the war served 
as major of the Forty-second Indiana Infantry. 
Lucius S. resided until his death in 1 886, on the 
old family farm. At his father's death, the 
cares of the family devolved on William. 
He had attended the common schools of the 
countr}', had spent one year in an academy 
at Princeton and another in Hanover Col- 
lege, at Hanover, Ind. He was anxious to 
continue his studies, and a 3'ear later entered 
the State University at Bloomington, where 
he graduated in 1846. He returned home 
and for several years was engaged in farm- 
ing and trading in produce, which he trans- 
ported to New Orleans in flat-boats. In 
August, 1850, he moved to Evansville and 
with Fielding Johnson entered the wholesale 
and retail dry goods business under the 
style of Johnson & French. Six vears later 
Mr. Johnson retired, disposing of his 
interest to Mr. French, who admitted 
Sylvester T. Jerauld to a partnership, 
the firm style being changed to French 
& Jerauld. Soon thereafter, the busi- 
ness was changed to that of wholesale 
clothing, and the style to William E. French 
&, Co. An extensive business was trans- 



acted, but heavy losses were incurred, and 
Mr. French was forced to retire for a year, 
in order to settle up the affairs of the house. 
Upon the passage of the new internal rev- 
enue bill, he was appointed deputy collector 
for this division of the first district of In- 
diana, and served three years in that capac- 
ity. By this time many of the maimed sol- 
diers of the war had returned home, and be- 
lieving that the civil offices under the pat- 
ronage of the government should be held 
by the returned veterans who had risked 
their lives for its support on the field of bat- 
tle, he resigned his office in favor of William 
Warren, Jr., an honorably discharged pri- 
vate of the Twenty-fifth Indiana Infantry, 
who had returned home to Evansville, with 
the loss of his right arm. He recpmmended 
the appointmentment of Mr. Warren, was 
on his bond, and assisted him in gaining a 
knowledge of the various duties of the office. 
In 1863, Mr. French again entered the 
wholesale dry goods business with J. S. 
Jaquess, under the style of Jaquess, French 
& Co. The business was profitably con- 
ducted for five years, during which time car- 
pets were added to the stock. By mutual 
agreement the business was then divided: the 
dry goods portion being sold to Hudspeth, 
Smith & Co., and Mr. French, with Charles 
Klinglehoeffer, going into the general car- 
pet and house-furnishing business e.xclusively. 
The spacious and elegant store of William 
E. French & Co., at No. 205 Main street, 
contains one of the largest and most varied 
stocks of carpets to be found anywhere in 
the west. By a strict adherence to honorable 
methods throughout his entire business 
career, and b}- keeping pace with the ad- 
vancement of public tastes, Mr. French has 
succeeded in firmly fixing his house in public 
favor. On Ma}- 10, 1849, Mr. French was 
married to Miss Mary H. Stockwell, daugh- 
ter of Dr. W. H. Stockwell, of Patoka, Ind. 



180 



THE CITY OF EVANS VILLE. 



The following children have been the issue 
of this marriage : Harry B., who was as- 
sociated in business with his father until his 
death in 1876; William S., who entered 
business with his father in 1881, is now a 
prominent Aoung business man and secretary 
of the Business Men's Association; Carrie L., 
now wife of Charles E. Chase, of Louis- 
ville, Ky. ; Nannie S., now wife of W. D. 
Crothers, of Brownwood, Tex.; and Minnie 
B., unmarried and residing with her parents. 
William B. Sherwood was born in 
Evansville, March 24, 1S36. llis grand- 
father, David Sherwood, born June 13, 1777, 
was a stone mason by trade, and at one 
time was a member of the Connecticut 
legislature. His father, Marcus Sherwood, 
a native qf Fairfield county. Conn., born 
May 28, 1803, was a prominent pioneer citi- 
zen of this place. In his early bovhood 
Marcus determined to leave his native place 
in New England and seek his fortune in the 
west. Setting out with an uncle, he drove 
an ox team for hftv-eight davs, and at the 
end of this time reached Pittsburgh, Pa. 
Here his uncle and friends bought a flat- 
boat, loaded it with their effects, and after a 
tedious voyage arrived in Evansvillejune 6, 
1819. He was now thrown upon his own 
resources, and went bravely to work as a 
day laborer at f\ity cents a day. He saved 
his earnings and commenced flat-boating 
when that mode of transportation came into 
use, spending twelve years so occupied and 
making twenty-eight trips to New Orleans. 
The business was profitable and the capital 
thus earned was invested in real estate 
which, through the later growth of Evans- 
ville, increased rapidly in value. He, 
speculated extensively in pork and produce, 
and was during his life a very prominent 
man in business circles. He aided, as a con- 
tractor, in the construction of the Wabash & 
Erie canal, and was prominentl)- connected 



with other public works of early days. He 
was progressive and public-spirited. When 
others doubted the success of the undertak- 
ing he built the Sherwood House — a well- 
known hotel now nearly fifty vears old. Il 
was built in 1839 and the original building 
was 40x100 feet. Throughout his entire 
career he was verv active and ener- 
getic, and always liad the confidence 
and respect of the entire communitv. He 
amassed a large fortune and became one of 
the wealthiest citizens of his day. Gener- 
ous and benevolent, he gave liberallv to 
charitable purposes. He was a member of 
the First Cumberland Presbyterian church, 
and to this organization he made many inu- 
I nificent gifts. His life was well spent, and 
he was considered in his day one of Evans- 
ville's most prominent and useful citizens. 
He was married in 1834 to Miss Prudence 
Johnson, a native of Kentuck}', born in 1808, 
and daughter of Alexander and Mary John- 
son, pioneers of this city. To this union 
but one son, William B., was born. The 
death of Marcus Sherwood occurred in 18S0 ; 
that of his wife ten ^ears earlier, in 1870. 
William B. Sherwood grew to manhood in 
this cit}- and attended its public schools. He 
is the owner of the Sherwood House, and 
has concerned himself principally with the 
management of the estate inherited from his 
father. Not taking an active part in 
pubHc affairs his life has been uneventful. 
He is a good citizen and is respected by 
all. November 24, 1879, ^"^ ^^''** married 
to Miss Johanna A. Marlett, who was born 
in this city July 23d, 1838. Of this union 
two children have been born : Burton W. 
and Marcus M. 

Tho.mas Scantlin, one of the most active 
business men this city has ever known, was 
born in Lexington, Ky., August 9th, 
1814, being the son of the pioneers, James 
and Elizabeth (Young) Scantlin, natives of 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



isi 



Kentucky, who came to Indiana in the }'ear 
1S14, settlinjj first in Pike county, and re- 
moving to Evansville in 1833. Upon his 
an-i\-al here Mr. ScantHn opened a tin shop, 
the first of its kind in the village. He had 
previously combined to some extent, the 
occupation of farmer and tinner. In this 
citv his career was long and successful. His 
family consisted of seventeen children, six of 
whom are now living. These have main- 
tained the high degree of respectability bj^ 
which their parents were distinguished. 
During his boyhood whene\'er opportunity 
afforded, Thomas Scantlin attended school, 
by w hich means he succeeded in obtaining a 
good practical education. By working in 
his father's shop he learned the tinner's 
trade. When twenty-one years of age he 
was ready to embark in business for him- 
self. He had been faithful in his father's 
service, and when his intention of establish- 
ing himself in business was announced his 
father gave him credit for $50.00 worth 
of stock. With this amount of capital he 
opened a little shop at Princeton, and during 
his first seven months there earned $150. 
His father, now anxious for his return, 
offered him an interest in his business here. 
This was accepted, and the partnership thus 
formed continued until 1838, when his father 
withdrew. At first the business grew 
slowly. Money was hard to obtain, and 
settlers purchased only what was necessary 
to prevent suffering. Stoves were then 
considered a great luxury. Cooking . on 
the hearth by the fire place was the order of 
the day, using " Dutch ovens," skillets, frying 
pans, etc. His tirst stock of stoves, costing 
$1,600, introduced about 1838 and bought on 
credit, met with a slow sale. Over three years 
were necessary for their disposal. Then profits 
amounting to $500 per annum were thought 
by merchants to be a fair compensation. In 
1841 his father returned and the\- were as- 



sociated in business till 1844, when Thomas 
again assumed sole control. The growth 
of the business was commensurate with 
that of the town, and about this time 
it will be remembered that Evansville, 
because of her important commercial 
I relations, was making rapid strides 
' forw ard. In 1846, Mr. Scantlin put on the 
second tin roof in the town, and two years 
later put up the first iron front seen in 
Evansville. Just prior to this his entire 
stock was destroyed by fire. The insur- 
ance did not co\er one-half the loss, but 
with characteristic zeal he rented a room 
temporarily and erecting a new^ store house, 
continued the business on an enlarged scale. 
About 1850, he established a foundr\-, and 
in 1873 opened the now well-known exten- 
si\e works on Upper Water street and the 
store-rooms on Upper First street, his son, 
Thomas E., an efiicient manager, being at 
this time admitted to the firm and placed in 
charge of the sales department. By honest 
and industrious effort, b}- wise and skillful 
management, these gentlemen have achie\ed 
I a large measure of success. They enjoy 
the confidence of the business community 
and a high social position. Thomas Scant- 
lin was married in 1840, to Miss Eleanor 
Jane Parvin, a nati\e of Gibson county, 
born in 1820. His family consists of seven 
children, Lavinia E., James M., Julia, 
Thomas E., Ethel, Cary and Ira C. P'oliti- 
sally, Mr. Scantlin was formerly a whig, and is 
now an earnest republican. He has served 
as a member of the city council for two 
terms. He and his wife are members of 
the Presbyterian church. As a resident 
of the city for more than half a centur\- he 
has taken an active interest in all public en- 
terprises and lends his influence to all pro- 
per efforts to uplift and educate mankind. 

Jamks Sc.\ntli.\, one of the seventeen 
children of the pioneers, James and Elizabeth 



182 



THE CITY OF EVANSVILLE. 



Scantlin, was born near the village of Union 
in this state, July 29, 1823. Hither his 
parents had come, in 181 4, from Louisville, 
where the father was born and raised. His 
vouth was spent upon his father's farm, and 
in this cit)'. The schools of that period 
were very imperfect, and the mental train- 
ing obtainable was necessarily meagre. In 
his father's shop he learned the trade of a 
tjnner, and for many years he has been en- 
iXaged here as a dealer in stoves and tin- 
ware. Adopting honorable methods at the 
outset and pursuing them steadfasth", he has 
won the respect of the people, and a com- 
fortable degree of financial success. In 
1846, he was married to Miss Jane E. 
Stephens, a native of this county, born in 
1830, daughter of the eminent pioneer. 
Judge Silas Stephens, one of Vanderburgh 
county's most illustrious old-time citizens. 
The mother of Mrs. Scantlin was Julienne 
Evans, daughter of Gen. Evans, and a most 
estimable ladv. Eight children have been 
born to James and Jane Scantlin : Julian, 
Silas, James, Marj^Mattie, Alberta, Eliza S., 
and Robert E. In politics Mr. Scantlin 
affiliates with the democratic party, and has 
represented his ward in the city council for 
three and one-half years. He takes a livel}' 
interest in the advancement of the city, but 
not unmindful of the past, he delights to recall 
the frood old davs and to honor the heroic 
pioneers of an age that is gone forever. 

Nicholas Ellis. — Much of the pros- 
perity of this county may be attributed to the 
high class of German immigrants in early 
times. They brought with them the frugal 
and industrious habits of their native land, and 
exercising these upon the great natural 
advantages of this rich terrilor\', a large 
measure of individual and general prosperity 
was the inevitable result. August Ellis 
was among these pioneers. Born in Wach- 
tjnheim, Germany, in 1814, he emigrated to 



the United States in 1840, and settled in 
Armstrong township, this count}'. In his 
native country he had learned the trade of a 
butcher, but coming toEvansvillein 1B45, two 
years later he embarked in the retail grocery 
business, at which he continued until 1S62. 
In that year he began to operate a milh 
which he continued successfullv until his 
death, in 187 1. The Ellis Mills, ordinarily 
called the Canal Pvlills, soon became a well- 
known industry, and their proprietor, be- 
cause of his probity and uprightnt5ss, is 
remembered as a useful citizen. His wife, 
Margaret (Schmitt) Ellis, was born in Ger- 
many in 1S20, and now resides in this 
city. Her character is made up of 
the commendable traits characteristic 
of the old-time German matron. The third 
child born to these pioneers was the well- 
known miller Nicholis Ellis, who was born 
on his father's farm in Armstrong township, 
March 28, 1844. His parents moved to 
Evansville during his infancy, and here he 
has resided ever since. As soon as he had 
passed through the schools of the city he 
entered the grocery store of his father, and 
from that time on the work of the father 
and the son lay in the same direction, each 
profiting by the other's assistance, the old 
man drawing upon the youth for energetic 
and enterprising activity, the \'oung man 
drawing upon the elder for stability, conser- 
vatism, and experience in business affairs. 
In the years that have elapsed since 1862 
Nicholis Ellis has become one of the leading 
millers in the state of Indiana. The fairness 
of his dealings and his high sense of honor 
in business transactions have made him 
strong in the hearts of the people. His pro- 
gressive ideas have kept him abreast of the 
times in a business where improvement has 
made rapid strides in late years. He has 
been for some time a prominent and useful 
member of the Indiana Millers' Association, 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



1H3 



having been elected, in iS8i, to the presi- 
dency of the organization. His abilit}- be- 
intr recoirnized, the state association named 
liini as a delegate to the National Millers' 
Association held at Buffalo, N. Y., during 
the past jear. Being progressive in his 
own business, he has acted a prominent part 
in all measures adopted for the enhancement 
of the general welfare of the city- Iti the 
work of the Business Men's Association he 
has taken a deep interest. In 1S67 he was 
married to Miss Elizabeth Krau, who was 
born in Evansville in 1848. The family 
consists of three children : Louis F., 
Adelia V., and William M. Mr. Ellis became 
a Mason in 1865, and a Knight Templar in 
1886. He and his wife are members of 
the Presbyterian church and in their lives 



practice without ostentation the Christian 
virtues. 

George B. Viele, junior member of the 
firm of Viele, Stockwell & Co., wholesale 
grocers of Evansville, was born in Evans- 
ville, Ind., and is the son of Charles Viele, 
president of the First National Bank, and 
one of the prominent citizens of the cit}'. 
Mr. Viele was reared in Evansville, and 
attended the pubhc schools, finishing his 
education at Burlington, N. J. On his 
twenty-first birthday he entered the whole- 
sale house of Charles Viele & Co., as a 
member of the firm, which was styled 
subsequently Viele, Stockwell &. Co. Mr. 
Viele married Miss Annie, daughter of J. H. 
Mortran, and to this union one son has been 
born. 



CHAPTER V. 

United States Officers — Citv Government — Officers — Police Department 
— Fire Department — Water Works — Public Buildings — Public Improve- 
ments — Streets — Sewers — Street Railways — River Improvement — 
Gas and Electric Light — Public Halls, Opera Houses and Places of 
Amusement — Public Parks — Salt Wells Park. 



O sooner had the forniation of \'ander- 
j/«» buri^h countv been authorized b}' law 
than Hugh McGary took, steps to se- 
cure the estabhshment of a post-office at the 
infant village of Evansville. In the cabin of 
the dauntless colonel, (juarters for the new in- 
stitution were provided, and the founder of 
the town was chosen as postmaster, his com- 
mission bearing date February 20th, 1818. 
He conducted the postal affairs here until 
June loth, 1819, when he was succeeded in 
office by Ansel Wood, who in turn gave way 
on the 9th day of September, 1820, to 
Jacob Zimmerman. Subsequently William 
Warner, a well-known pioneer, was ap- 
pointed to discharge the duties of the ottice, 
then demanding but little time and attention, 
the date of his appointment being February 
loth, 1822. His successor, November 2d, 
1823, was Harley B. Chandler. For ten or 
a dozen vears, during which the growth of 
Evansville was hardh' appreciable, the post- 
office was an institution of but little import- 
ance. In later vears its growtli and the 
measure of its facilities for giving efficient 
services to the people have been commen- 
surate with the expansion of the town and 
city in other directions. 

About 1835, Charles Bowen became post- 
master, and upon the election of \"an Buren 
to the presidency, F. E. Goodsell was ap- 
pointed and served from 1S37 to 1841, when 
he was succeeded by Daniel Chute, who 



held the office under Harrison and T\ler 
from that time until 1845. For four years 
thereafter, during the administration of 
President Polk, the postmaster was 
Benjamin F. Dupuy. In 1849, William II. 
Chandler, a prominent citizen and for some 
time prior to the date named, editor of the 
yoiinnil, succeeded Mr. Dupuy. Prior to 
this time, appointments were made h\ the 
first assistant postmaster general, • but 
Evansville had now become a citv, and the 
business of the office had increased to such 
proportions that the manner of the appoint- 
tnent was changed, the president naming 
the officers with the advice and consent of 
the senate. Mr. Chandler, the first to serve 
by direct nomination of the president, re- 
mained in office until 1853, when he gave 
way to Benjamin Stinson, who, after four 
years, was succeeded b}- Christopher R. 
Rudd. Through appointment b\' President 
Lincoln, James II. McNeelv assumed con- 
trol of the office May ist, 1861, and at the 
expiration of his term being reappointed, 
served until 1867, when he was removed for 
political reasons by President Johnson, 
Azariah T. Whittlesey being named as his 
successor. Mr. Whittlesey was superseded 
in 1869 by Col. John W. Foster, who served 
until 1873, when he resigned to enter the 
diplomatic ser\ice of his countiw. President 
Grant filled the vacancy occasioned b}' this 
resignation by the appointment of Theo- 




c^ 





'^im 



yj 



\ 



UNITED STATES OFFICES. 



187 



dore R. McFerson April ist, 1873, whose 
successor was F. M. Thayer, who at length 
resigned, H. S. Bennett being appointed to 
fill the \acancy. Upon the election of Gro- 
ver Cleveland to the presidency J. W. Lauer 
succeeded to the otlice and is the present in- 
cumbent. 

In earlv times tlie post-otlice was located 
at the residence or place of business of the 
incumbent, and was changed with each new 
appointment. It was first at the house of 
Hutih McGarv, then at the tavern of Ansel 
Wood, and later at the office of Jacob Zim- 
merman, who was a justice of the peace. 
When Mr. Goodsell was postmaster the of- 
fice was kept in a two-story frame building 
at the corner of First and Sycamore 
streets, and later was removed to the corner 
of First and Main streets on the present site 
of the First National Bank. Under Mr. 
Dupuy it was moved to Locust street near 
the Washington market, and under Mr. 
Chandler went back to First street. In 1S61, 
when Mr. McNeely took the otHce, it was lo- 
cated in a room on the south side of First 
street, between Main and Locust streets. In 
1862, it was removed to the corner room in 
Chandler's block, at the corner of First and 
Locust streets, and in 1865, was established 
in the building now occupied bv the criminal 
court, formerly the Locust Street Methodist 
Episcopal church. Again, in 1869, it was 
removed to the opera-house building on Lo- 
cust street, below First, where it remained 
until the government building was erected at 
the co'-ner of Second and Svcamore streets. 
This is one of the most imposing edifices in 
Evansville, and furnishes commodious apart- 
ments for tlie postmaster, the surveyor of 
customs, collector of internal revenue, 
United States court. United States inspectors 
of steamboats, and all other government offi- 
cers. The need of this building was long 
felt at Evansville before its erection was 
11 



commenced. In'iS72, the increasing busi- 
ness of the government at this point led con- 
gress to provide for the erection of a suitable 
building. Messrs. W. M. Aikin, D. J. 
Macke\', Jolm W. Foster, M. Henning and 
Philip Ilornbrook, were appointed to select 
a site, and upon their recommendation the 
east side of the block now used, 150x144 
feet, was purchased. In 1S74, **" equal 
amount of adjoining territory was purchased, 
extending the site to Vine street. The total 
value of the ground was about $120,000.00, 
of which the government paid $99,000.00, 
the remainder being donated h\ owners of 
neighboring propert\'. The law, as at first 
passed, appropriated $100,000, and limited 
the cost of the building to $200,000.00. In 
1873, the limit was fixed at $300,000.00, and 
an additional $50,000.00 was appropriated. 

The building was erected with James H. 
McNeely as superintendent of construction, 
Charles Pierce as contractor, and Joseph K. 
Frick as resident architect, at a cost within 
the amount appropriated. Subsequently 
$25,000.00 were expended in the improve- 
ment of the grounds, etc. 

Evansville was made a port of entry in 
1S56, through the instrumentality of Judge 
Charles I. Battell, William Brown Butler and 
other leading citizens. William Brown was 
the first surveyor, receiving his appointment 
from President Fillmore. For some time 
very little business was done, the chief im- 
porters being Babcock Bros. Staples in 
hardware and (jueensware were the principal 
imports. All trace chains and like articles 
were brought from beyond the seas. The 
officer here was vested with limited powers 
until June 10, iSSo, when by law, powers 
equal to tliose enjoyed by any other port of 
entry in the United States were granted. 
June 21, 1880, the secretary of the treasurj- 
decided that Evansville did not transact suffi- 
cient business to have right of " immediatj. 



188 



FEDERAL AND MUNICIPAL. 



transportation," but in April, i8S8, this 
suspended right was fulH' restored. Those 
who succeeded Mr. Brown as surveyor have 
been : Col. Charles Denby, Dr. Isaac Cas- 
selberry, Maj. A. L'. Robinson, Philip Horn- 
brook, Joseph C. Jewell, and Maj. J. B. Cox, 
w^ho has held the office since September, 
1886. 

In addition to the postmaster and the sur- 
veyor of customs, the following officials are 
accommodated with ample quarters in the 
the custom house building: James K. 
Minor, Deputy Collector U. S. Internal 
Revenue, Seventh District of Indiana; C.J, 
Murphv, U. S. Inspector of Steamboat 
Hulls; John H. Moore, U. S. Inspector of 
Steamboat Boilers; James W. Wartraan. 
Deputy Clerk U. S. Court and U. S. Com- 
missioner; Thos. J. Groves, Deputy U. S. 
Marshal. 

Cily Goveniincnt. — Prior to the receipt 
of its charter as a cit\' the village of E\ans- 
vilie was governed as an incorporated 
town. Its trustees from time to time have 
been named in other connections. Since 
1847 it has been controlled b^' a mayor and 
common council. The mayors have been: 
James G. Jones, 1847 to 1852; John S. Hop- 
kins, 1853 to 1S55; John Hewson, 1856 to 
1858; William Baker, 1859 to 1867; Will- 
iam H. Walker, 1S68 to 1870; E. G. Van 
Riper, appointed to fill a vacancy occasioned 
bv the death of Mayor Walker, who died 
September 9, 1870; William Baker, 1871 to 
May 23, 1872, when he died, the vacancy 
thus occasioned being filled h\ the election 
of Charles H. Butterfield, at a special elec- 
tion held June 8, 1872, who, being re-elected, 
served until 1874; John J. Kleiner, ^^74 to 
1879; Thomas C. Bridwell, 1880 to 1S85; 
John H. Dannettell, 1886, term expires 1889. 

The following named gentlemen compose 
the present city council : First ward, John B. 
Uphaus and H, S. Bennett; Second ward, 



Thomas J. Groves and John Ingle; Third 
ward, Henr.y Stockfleth and William Koel- 
ling; Fourth ward, William He\'ns and 
George Koch; Fifth ward, F. J. Scholz 
and A. C. Rosencranz; Sixth ward, Albert 
Johann and William W. Ross. The present 
officers are: James H. Foster, auditor; 
George N. Wells, treasurer; James R. 
Ferguson, clerk; H. A. Mattison, attorney; 
John J. Marlett, assessor: M. C. McCutch- 
an, surveyor. 

Police Depart iii:nt. — Lfnti! the cit\- char- 
ter was granted, and, indeed for nearly 
twent}' years thereafter, constables and a 
city marshal were depended on to preserve 
order and protect the property of citizens. 
From 1857 to 1863 Edward S. Martin was 
city marshal. In 1863 two policemen were 
appointed. These were Philip Klein, at 
present the \eteran chief of the fire depart- 
ment, and George Gates. Some time later 
four others were added to this force, but there 
was no chief, save the mayor, and each ran 
his beat as directed \)\ the mayor in person. 
In 1865 Mr. Klein was elected wharf- 
master, and, while serving in this capacity, 
was called by the mayor and council to act 
at the head of the police department, which 
suddenly-, in an emergency, was increased 
to thirt\--six men. The occasion for this 
was the haniriny of two colored men to a 
lamp post, near the court-house, b\- a mob, 
for an allcired offense of which one of them 
at least was, after his death, admitted to 
have been innocent by his accuser. When 
peace was permanently restored, the force 
was reduced to six men, and, in addition to 
their duties as policemen, these were charged 
with operating the fire department, such as 
it was at that time. In 1867 Philip Klein 
was elected marshal, and retained his posi- 
tion at the head of the police force. His 
successors were, in 1868, Edward S. Mar- 
tin and, in 1869, Christian Wunderlich. The 



CITl ' G O VERXMEXT. 



189 



growth of the citv now demanded a better 
system of police surveillance, and the con- 
struction and management of a proper police 
force were intrusted to the citv council. 
Philip Klein, who had alread\- rendered such 
efficient service, was made chief under the 
new plan, and the force was increased to 
tvvent\--two men. His successors were 
Henr\- Avres, Peter Roesner and Joseph 
App. This system prevailed until re- 
placed, in 18S4, by the metropolitan system, 
which provides for the appointment of three 
police commissioners bv the governor 
and state officers, who appoint the police- 
men in e.jual numbL'rs from tiie two political 
parties, thus securing as nearly as practic- 
able a non-partisan force. The first of these 
commissioners were: Dr. M. Muhlhausen, 
Edward E. Law and J. A. Lemcke; the 
present commissioners are Edward E. Law, 
Alexander H. Foster and Adolph Goeke, 
with F. D. Morton as secretary. The first 
chief under the metropolitan system was 
Frank Pritchett, his successor being George 
W. Newitt, the present incumbent. The 
police force at present is composed of forty 
men, well officered and finely disciplined 
The captains of the force are Charles 
Wunderlich and Fred II. Brennecke; the 
surgeon, Isaiah Wilton. This department 
has always maintained a high degree of 
efficiency. Its skill in the detection of 
crime, and its fearlessness in confronting and 
dealing with criminals, has been such as to 
secure to the citizens of Exansville im- 
munity, to a great extent, from the depreda- 
tions of law-breakers. While the city is not 
without many offenders against the majesty 
of the law, and while some citizens at times 
may have felt grieved at the existence of 
unremedied evils, yet, on the whole, the 
record achieved by the police of Evansville, 
in their individual official capacities and as 
a combined force, has been good. 



F'irc Department . — In earU' da\s there 
was no organized force to resist the ra\ages 
of fire. A conflagration called out all 
citizens, who hurried pell-mell with buckets, 
ladders, etc., to aid in fighting the flames, 
it makitig little difference whether the fire 
occurred during the day or night. At such 
times women and children congregated 
about the scene of destruction to render 
such aid as was in their power or to enjoy 
such majestic or ridiculous sights as might 
be produced bv the flames or some wit of 
the occasion. The most severe fire of early 
times was that which in 1S42 swept from 
existence all the houses on the east side of 
Main street betv/een Water and First. In 
1847 when the community had attained the 
rank and dignity of a cit}- a hand engine 
was introduced. This first fire engine ex- 
cited the intense admiration of the citizens 
and especially of the young men belonging 
to the force volunteered to work it. It was 
named "Union," but subsequently became 
known as the " Lamasco.'' After render- 
ing valuable service here it was sold to the 
town of Tell City, where it is believed to 
be in use to this day. Improvement in this 
department was rapid; b\' 1S52 the city 
possessed five engines, manned wholly by 
volunteers, who received no pay. At the 
head of the organization at first was the 
well-known citizen, Joseph Turnock. Al- 
though this department was as efficient as 
it was possible for it to be, and was com- 
posed of gentlemen, many of them the 
first young men of the place, the city 
grew so rapidly that means for better pro- 
tection from fire was soon recognized as a 
necessity. The first steam engine was in- 
troduced in 1S64, and in the following year 
another was' obtained, and by 1S67 the use 
of hand engines was done awav with. 
When the first steam engine was purchased 
bv the city the mayor was cx-offieio chief of 



190 



FEDERAL AXD MUNICIPAL. 



the fire department. The duties of this 
position, however. Mayor Baker intrusted 
to Philip Klein, then at the head of the 
city's small police force. The engmes 
were manned by the policemen and such 
men as the chief could employ on the 
streets. Cisterns were dug in the streets 
of the city, and these furnished the water 
supply. The inability of such an agenc}' to 
cope successfully with a fire, well under 
wa\', is apparent, but this mode of protect- 
ing the city continued until the water-works 
were constructed in 1S71. At that time the 
old engines were sold and replaced by a 
rotary engine, the water supply coming from 
the mains of the water-works system. This 
new engine was called "Lamasco," in re- 
membrance of old times and in honor of its 
predecessor, the first hand engine. Col. 
William E. Hollingsworth became chief of 
this department in its improx'ed condition. 
Others who have occupied the position ha\'e 
been: Thomas Hopkins, Benjamin Niehaus, 
William Bedford, jr., Thomas Bullen, and 
Philip Klein, who has been chief since April, 
1S87. For more than twenty-five years 
this yeteran has been connected with this 
department, and his efficiency is acknowl- 
edged b}' all. There are fifty-seven men 
on the force, all stationed in the several hose 
houses, and subject to call at all hours. The 
J>i!V sysfcii/ was adopted January i, 1888, 
by which sufficient compensation is given to 
claim the entire time of the employe. Prior 
to that date a portion of the force, under 
what was called the niinicr svsfe/i/, followed 
various pursuits, and were required to re- 
port for dut}- only when the fire alarm was 
sounded. There are ten hose houses, so 
distributed throughout the city as to afford 
adequate protection to all localities. The 
three engines owned are seldom used, ex- 
cept in case of a dangerous tire in the heart 
of the city, the water-works furnishing a suffi- 



cient supph'of water for all ordinary purposes. 
The department is provided with two chem- 
ical engines, one hook and ladder truck, six 

! hose reels, two hose wagons, and twenty-six 
well trained horses. The annual cost of sus- 

I taining this department is about $45,000.00. 
The entire force is well disciplined and 
efficient. Its training and \alor have been 
displayed on many occasions. The largest 

j fires with which it 'has had to contend in late 
years have been that in August, 1887, of the 
Armstrong furniture factory and Reitz lum- 
ber yards, and that in November, 1SS7, on 
First street, below Main, which consumed 
property valued at more than $200,000.00. 
This great conflagration, reaching to both 

I sides of the street, was under control in 
about two hours from the sounding of the 
alarm. The force is so well trained that a 
fire in any part of the city can be reached 
with one or two reels within three minutes, 
and by actual test it has been demonstrated 
that the hose carriages can be run se\en 
squares, and a heavy volume of water be put 
in full play, within one minute and fifty sec- 
onds from the soundin<r of the alarm. 

Wa/cr-zvorks. — Evansville built her own 
water-works in 187 1 at a first cost of $300,- 
000, to which has been added since some- 
thing over $180,000, making the total cost 
over $480,000. The first plan, owing to 
the rapid growth of the city, soon became 

I inadequate to supph' the ever-increasing de- 
mand, and additions have several times been 
made, the last in 1882, when the capacity 
of the pumps was nearly doubled. No 
more striking evidence of the growth of the 
industrial enterprises and the population of 
Evansville is afforded than the fact that the 
water capacity, thus increased only six 3'ears 
ago, is now taxed to its utmost to keep up 
the supph'. 

The system in use is the Holly system, 
the machinery having been furnished by the 



PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS. 



191 



I lolly Manufacturing Company of Lockport, 
N. Y. There are thirty-eight miles of mains, 
with a pumping capacity per day of 5,000,- 
000 gallons. There are 1,549 consumers. 
Under this system water is now used for tire 
purposes, delivered from the plugs under 
direct pressure from the main pumps at the 
water-works station. The water-works sup- 
pl\-, for all purposes, 1,460,000,000 gallons 
annually, or within twenty per cent of the 
full capacity of the pumps. The property 
is located on l^pper Water street between 
Oak and Mulberry, fronting 225 feet and 
running back to the Ohio river at low water 
mark, about 700 feet. 'I'he building is a 
brick and stone structure three stories high, 
built in the modern French st3-le of archi- 
tecture with a mansard roof and a tower 
observatory. Hie building was received 
from the contractors b\' the city council, 
June I, 1872. The trustees since 18S5, 
when the management of the works was 
entrusted to a board of trustees, have been: 
John Hane}', M. Moran, Fred leaker, James I 
Taylor, Henry F. Froelich, and Alexander 
Jack, the three last named constituting the 
present board of trustees, with Noah Riggs 
as clerk. 

l^nblic Bitildiiii(i. — For man}* years 
Evansville possessed no buildings devoted 
exclusively to the transaction of the public 
business. The mayor's office was at his 
house or at some place of private business 
suggested bv the convenience of that official. 
The town council first met at the house of 
Hugh McGary, and afterward, when the 
town had grown to some importance, in an 
old building on Second street, between 
Main and Locust, where the Courier build- 
ing now stands. At one time a small brick 
building, erected by the county on its public 
square for the use of the county officers, 
was gi\en up to the town officers for occu- 
pancy, but immediately thereafter the burn- 



ing of the court-house forced them to 
vacate, to give room for the county officials 
who were driven out by the fire. In later 
years the council was wont to assemble in an 
upper room at the Locust Street Methodist 
Episcopal church, now the Superior court 
building, and there held their sessions. 
About 1 868 the city purchased the lot on 
the mrthwest corner of Third and Walnut 
streets, on which there was standing at the 
time a brick building of small size, into 
which the city offices were moved. At 
length, howexer, the growth of the city 
demanded better facilities for the conduct of 
its constantly increasing business, and more 
secure receptacles for the safe-keeping of 
its valuable records and papers than those 
afforded by this small building, not at first 
designed for the purposes which it 
was being forced to serve and without any 
of the conveniences or necessities appertain- 
ing to a public building. Plans for a new 
structure, prepared bv Levi S. Clarke, archi- 
tect, were adopted, and the contract for 
building was let to Adam Weichell. The 
building was completed and received earlj' 
in 1887, and cost, including the engine house 
about $42,000. It is a handsome edifice of 
pressed brick with white stone trimmings, 
with its main entrance on Third street. A 
lofty tower adds beauty to the structure 
and affords to the public the convenience 
of a clock whose large dial can be seen for 
several squares. It is substantiall}' built 
and handsomely finished throughout. On 
the lower or main floor are commodious and 
convenient!}' arranged offices for the city 
officers; while above are the council cham- 
ber, the mayor's offices and apartments for 
some other officials. The edifice is an 
ornament to the city, and strikingly evi- 
dences the wisdom of the administration 
under which it was built. To the north of 
the city hall, facing Walnut street, is 



192 



FEDERAL AND MUNICIPAL. 



another handsome building — pohce head- 
quarters and city jail — and to the west, 
facing Third street, a well designed and 
neatl}- built engine house. These public 
buildings, costing in the aggregate about 
$50,000, in their completeness and beauty 
bespeak the wealth of the community as 
well as its progressive spirit. 

Public Improvements. — For man}- 3-ears 
Evansville, like other villages, paid no atten- 
tion to the improvement of its streets and 
pavements. In winter the streets were 
<renerallv in that mirv condition so common 
to the dirt roads of early days. The ri\-er 
front was unimproved, except by the pro- 
tection of the bank, and the construction of 
a cartway, until 184S. The public square 
was not graded by the county authorities 
until the town had attained a considerable 
size and some importance. The street cross- 
ings were generally made of stones, set on 
end, a good step apart, which one was sel- 
dom able to find after dark. But with the 
dignit}' that came of being called and known 
as a city, public improvements were com- 
menced, and from that time forward vigor- 
ously prosecuted. The principal streets 
were at first paved, and the work in this 
line has been kept up until at present 
there are over thirty miles of graveled and 
paved streets. Those in the business por- 
tion of the city are bouldered, while those 
leading through residence sections are 
formed of gravel so laid and pressed by 
steam-rollers, as to form a smooth, durable 
highwa\-. The first sewer constructed in 
the city was that under Di\-ision street, and 
from the river extended about eight squares 
when completed. The system of sewerage 
in the city now is very fine, no pains having 
been spared by those in authority to provide 
a perfect drainage. The citv is on an elevated 
site, thus having a natural declivity to- 
ward the river which renders the sewers 



very effective. By 1S74 the city had con- 
structed about nine miles of sewerage which 
has since been increased to nearly forty 
miles. 

The Street Railway Company was in- 
corporated in 1S67., and has furnished a ser- 
vice from that time to this such as the grow- 
ing demands of the citv would justitv. The 
company operates its cars by horse 
power, and has laid down about thirty-six 
miles of track, traversing the principal 
business streets, and extending into the 
suburbs in all directions. The development 
of the suburbs followin<j the extension of 
the street car lines has been phenomenal. 
Within the past five years, immense tracts 
of land have been laid off into lots, and 
built up with a good class of houses, most 
of them the residences of mechanics and 
laboring men, who, with a few exceptions, 
own them. Through the efforts of a pro- 
gressive and considerate management the 
public is favored with excellent street 
car service. 

All of the principal streets of the city 
lead out onto roads that are graveled for 
manv miles. While this work has been 
done by the count}-, the city is such a bene- 
ficiarv that in its history these splendid 
roads of perhaps 100 miles in length 
and all free to the pubhc, deserve a 
mention at least. It seems appropriate, also, 
in this connection, to speak briefly of the 
improvement of the Ohio river in front of 
the city. For some years a sand-bar, because 
of its annual accretions, threatened to extend 
itself alontr the entire front of the citv. In- 
deed, it attained such an extent that steam- 
ers were compelled to go far down the river 
and come up to the wharves on the inside of 
the bar. Under the direction of Major 
Merrill, chief engineer of the Ohio River 
Survey, and Mr. Charles B. Bateman, assist- 
ant engineer, a dike extending 1,500 feet 



CORPORA TE SER 1 'ICE. 



193 



from the IvLMitucky sliorc and so constructed 
as to throw the current of the river against 
the sand-bar, was completed in 1874 after 
two \ears" hihor at a cost of if35,ooo. The 
effectiveness of the work has been demon- 
strated by the entire removal of the obstruc- 
tion which it was designed to wash awav. 

T/ic City G.n- Works and Electric Liohts. 
— The Evansville City Gas-works were 
established in 1852 under a charter from 
the legislature of Indiana, the original capital 
stock being placed at $50,000. The first 
works were built b}' John Jeffrey & Com- 
pany, contractors, and the first officers were : 
Clarence J. Keats, president, and John J. 
Chandler, secretary. This was during the 
mayoraltv of Hon. James G. Jones, and only 
five years after the city's incorporation. 
Commencing with onh' 115 consumers 
the circumstances were very unfavor- 
able, and manv of the most in- 
telligent citizens doubted the proprietv of 
such an undertaking; and although its ac- 
complishment was secured without an\' lia- 
bility on the part of the citv, they shrunk 
from what was a novel and by some con- 
sidered an unsafe means of furnishing arti- 
ficial light. Therefore, the early history of 
the compaiu' was one of disaster to its 
stockholders, and for a number of j-ears it 
was difficult to meet expenses. But with 
the rapid progress of the citv the invest- 
ment soon became a paying one. The works 
have grown and increased with the city: im- 
provements and additions have been niade as 
the wants of the public required. To a 
large extent the use of gas has given way in 
recent years to that of electricit}-. When 
the practical use of electricity for furnishing 
artificial light had been successfully- demon- 
strated in other cities, a company was 
formed in Evansville for the purpose of in- 
troducin<r the new illuminatin"^ ajjent. Much 
opposition was encountered, but the prog- 



ress of the age could not be wholly 
checked. Ultra-conservatism at length 
gave way and Evansville took her place in 
this regard among the enterprising cities of 
the country. The first plant was established 
in 1882, since which time the use of elec- 
tricity has become more general every year. 
The gas company and the electric light 
company were after a short time consoli- 
dated under the corporate name of the 
Evansville Gas & Electric Light Company. 
The present officers of this company, are: 
F. J. Reitz, president; R. K. Dunkerson, 
vice-president; J. B. Hall, Jr., secre- 
tary; Samuel Bayard, treasurer; Thomas E. 
Garvin, R. K. Dunkerson, F. J. Reitz, 
Jacob Eichel, Samuel liayard and William 
Heilman, directors. There are now in the 
city about 1,600 gas consumers and about 
50 electric light consumers, besides which 
the city is furnished by the company under 
special contract. The use of gas for light- 
ing the streets is practically discontinued, 
though not entirely so, the use of electricity 
being extensively adopted. There are in 
the city for the proper distribution of the 
electric light, ten towers each 150 feet high, 
13 masts, each forty feet high, and forty-six 
arches spanning the principal streets at 
their intersections. 

Public Halh, Opcra-IIouscs and Places 
of Amusement. — In the earliest times public 
entertainments of various kinds were held in 
the iMcGarv warehouse, or at the Warner 
tavern. Dances were occasionally indulged 
in with trreat zest, and some of them were 
events long remembered by the participants. 
Theatrical performances were not provided 
for until after Evansville had become a city. 
Occasionally a traveling troupe passed 
through the village, and for a few evenings 
did a good business among a people who 
were ever ready to support any proper effort 
to relieve the monotony of pioneer life. A 



m 



FEDERAL AND MUXICIPAL. 



German theater was for a time conducted, 
but it was not recognized as a permanent in- 
stitution. The first regular theater was 
opened by Martin Golden, now of New 
Harmonv, hid., an actor of no mean ability, 
whose wife, Bella Golden, was a universal 
favorite in southwestern Indiana when critics 
were not so plentiful or so caustic as they 
now are. and when the people were ready 
and willing to be entertained by a bright, 
versatile actress, who had a fair knowledge 
of the histrionic art. The first house wholly 
devoted to theatrical purposes was the 
" Apollo,"' subsequently called " Mozart 
Hall."' It stood on First street, between 
Vine and Svcamore streets, in the rear of 
the old homestead of Edward Hopkins. 
Martin Golden began the management of 
the Apollo in the latter part of the fifties, and 
continued it through the civil war period. 
Entertainments were given every week-day 
evening and were well patronized. Indeed, 
these were the palmy days of the theatrical 
profession in this city. This Mozart Hall 
was the scene of a terrible tragedy, not 
represented on its stage, but actual, and 
costing three lives. Two brothers, John 
Paul Evans and Robert M. Evans, grand- 
sons of Gen. Evans, for whom the town was 
named, attacked one another with revolvers 
and both were shot to death. The fight was 
the result of an old feud. An innocent by- 
stander, Solomon Gumberts, a young man, 
was also killed by one of the shots. 

The Evansville Opera-house, located at 
the corner of First and Locust streets, was 
built in 1867 and 1868, and opened for busi- 
ness in September, of the latter year. The 
total cost of the building and site was $107,- 
000. It is built of brick, fronted with Green 
river marble, and was designed by Bo3-d & 
Mursinna, architects. It has a seating ca- 
pacity for about 1,000 persons. At the 
time of its construction it was ample for 



the needs of the cit}'. The degree of its 
success has varied from time to time. How- 
ever, the anticipations of its builders have 
ne\er been realized. The complex nature 
of the city's population renders it extremely 
difficult to secure attractions interesting to 
all classes of citizens. Perhaps because of 
this, as much as of anything else, in late 
years the opera-house has not been all 
that could be desired as a business invest- 
ment. It has been fairly managed and its 
entertainments have been of the highest 
class. Recently the manager, Thomas J. 
Groves, has had plans prepared for a com- 
plete remodeling of the house, which, when 
carried out, will make of it a first-class place 
of entertainment. 

At the present time the Business Men's 
Association is building a magnificent struc- 
ture at a cost of $100,000.00, the main fea- 
ture of which is an auditorium for theatrical 
and operatic purposes which will probabl)' 
supply all reasonable demands for several 
years to come. 

Evans Hall, corner of Fifth and Locust 
streets, is dex'oted principally to temperance 
work. The lot was donated by Mrs. 
Saleta Evans, and the building was erected 
in 1878 b\' the friends of temperance to the 
memory of Gen. Robert M. Evans. Mr. 
J. K. Frick was the architect, and the board 
of trustees was made up of the following 
gentlemen: J. M. Shackelford, D. J. 
Mackey, J. K. Brownelle, W. F. Nisbet, 
Wm. Heilman, W. J. Darby, O. F. Jacob!, 
John A. Reitz and Isaac Keen. There 
have been been many public halls in the 
city, some of which are mentioned in other 
connections, a sufficient number-, in fact, to 
furnish varied places of amusement at all 
times. Liederkranz Hall, on Fourth street 
near Vine, the Ice Palace, on Third street, 
between Locust and Walnut streets, are the 
principal of those now in use. Many halls 



HALLS AND FABKS. 



jna 



owned b}" private citizens are devoted to 
public uses. 

C/Vv Parks. — Evansville is noted for the 
number and beaut^^ of its shade trees. Most 
of the streets, excepting those which are 
devoted exclusive!}' to the purposes of busi- 
ness, are lined on either side b}' a luxuriant 
growth. There are also manv beautiful 
private lawns in the portions of the city 
occupied b}- those whose wealth gives them 
a larger share of comforts than is enjoyed 
by the average citizen. Even the homes of 
the poor are not crowded together and 
forced to front upon the verv edge of the 
pavement as is the case in many cities. For 
these reasons, perhaps, the public parks, 
those resting places so essential to the 
comfort of the people in most cities, have 
not received a great deal of attention in 
their care and arrangement. Some steps, 
however, have been taken in this direction 
and there are a few breathing places where 
one mav rest and enjov some of nature's 
beauties. Sunset Park is a triangular piece 
of property located on the river bank in the 
upper portion of the city. Some attempt at 
its ornamentation has been made. It com- 
mands a charming view of the river, and, as 
indicated bv its name, affords a good view 
of sunsets, which in their splendor here 
rival those peculiar to the " glorious 
climate" of California. Western Park, 
Lamasco Park and Central Park are set 
apart for the use of the public, and by 
proper effort may be made pleasant resorts. 
For many years there were quite a number 
of handsome groves and woodlands in con- 
venient proximitv to the city, forming 
popular resorts, among which were 
Parrett's grove and Blackford's grove, 
but they have been forced to yield 
before the city's march of progress, 
vmtil now verv few of their primeval trees 
are left. Their original sites are being fast 



occupied by the homes of the people. The 
most beautiful woodland near the city limits 
is Garvin's grove, comprising thirty-five 
acres and possessing great natural beaut}-. 
Here are held the public entertainments and 
assemblies of large size. The reunion of 
the Blue and the Gray in 18S7, the military 
encampment of 1888, and political meetings 
of vast proportions have found this grove a 
most convenient and suitable place for their 
use. 

For many years the vSalt Wells Park 
though not owned by the public, has been 
devoted to its use, and because of its pop- 
ularity as a place of resort as well as its 
connection with the city's early historv, de- 
serves notice. The first settlers of Vander- 
burgh county made their own salt. At the 
proper season they repaired, in squads, to 
the saline bank of Shawneetown, where thev 
made the salt by evaporation and carried it 
home in bags on horseback. In the course of 
a fewyears,when trading boats began to pass 
along the river, they were enabled to pro- 
cure salt which had been manufactured on 
the Kanawha river. This was exceedingly 
expensive, and efforts were early made to 
make practical use of the salt spring at 
Pigeon creek, which, as narrated by Mr. 
Ira Fairchild, were as follows : " It was in 
the fall of the year 1S22, I think, that three 
or four gentlemen came from the saline 
works back of Shawneetown for the purpose 
of making an examination of the salt spring 
on Pigeon creek, of which they had heard. 
The strangers came to see my father. They 
had examined the water of the little rivulet 
; that ran over the rocky formation composing 
the creek bank, and being men experienced 
in the manufacture of salt, were disposed to 
try the experiment of salt making at this 
point. Elisha Harrison, an enterprising cit- 
izen, and some other residents whom I do 
not clearly remember, became impressed 



196 



FEDERAL AND MUNICIPAL. 



with the views advanced by the visitors 
and joined in the enterprise. A company 
was formed bv them and the business 
of borinfif the salt well was undertaken. 
My father was engaged to make the augers 
and other necessary machinery for sinking 
the tube through the rock and earth. A 
shaft was sunk to the depth uf a few feet 
when the rock was found. Into this shaft a 
curbing was inserted, made, as I distinct!}^ 
remember, of the trunk of a hollow syca- 
more tree. This tree grew on the lands of 
the late Judge William Olmstead, not far 
from the place where Olmstead's saw-mill 
was afterward erected. I remember verv 
well the day it was cut down. Among 
those present were Judge Olmstead, David 
Negley, Elisha Harrison and Col. Seth Fair- 
child. Before chopping down the hollow 
svcamore the undergrowth was cleared 
away, and huge piles of brush laid along the 
track where the tree was to be felled, so 
that the fall would be in a measure broken, 
and the trunk thereby prevented from split- 
ting. Great anxiet\- was manifested, by the 
persons present to secure a perfect section 
for well-curbing purposes. In those davs a 
well-curb made to order could not be ob- 
tained for the asking. When the tree fell, 
\\ithout injury to the hollow trunk, there 
was a livelv expression of satisfaction. The 
section needed at the salt well was cut off 
and floated to its destination on a raft. After 
obtaining a sufficient curb the machinery 
was put in operation and the well was stead- 
ily bored into the earth. When a depth of 
322 feet had been reached, a volume of 
water was secured, which was deemed suf- 
ficient for the experiment of salt making. 
Some rude sheds had been erected and con- 
veniences arranged for boiling. Had the 
managers stopped at this point, it is possible 
that salt works, on a moderate scale, might 
be in operation on the grounds at the present 



da\-. The first salt made was of an excellent 
quality, and was in large demand. But the 
managers concluded they could do better by 
sinking the well to a greater depth. Ac- 
cordingly, the following 3"ear, they began 
boring deeper, and at the depth of 577 
feet thev struck a new vein which 
proved their destruction. A larger volume 
of water was procured, and it contained 
saline properties: but at the same time it 
contained something else. Apparently, first- 
rate salt was produced, but it gradually dis- 
solved when exposed to the open air and 
was utterlv worthless for the purpose of 
curing meat. Mr. Worsham, who resided 
on the Kentuckv side of the river, dressed 
several head of fat hogs and packed the 
meat with Evansville salt. In a few da}'s it 
was disco\ered that some chemical propert3' 
in the salt had eaten the rind or skin entirely 
off the dressed pork, while the flesh was not 
penetrated or in any way affected, except to 
be covered with a coat of dripping slime. 
Thus ended the experiment of manufactur- 
ing salt on the banks of Pigeon creek. The 
buildings fell into decay, and in two or three 
years the ground became overgrown with a 
dense patch of brush. For j^ears afterward 
the site of the salt works was an uninviting 
thicket of natural vegetation. After remain- 
ing a waste place for a period of nearly 
twenty years, the property passed into the pos- 
session of Nathan Rowley. He, in company 
with Thomas Gifford, who had then recentlj- 
arrived in this country from England, cleared 
up the grounds, erected buildings, and opened 
the salt wells as a private park or pleasure 
resort, about the year 1842." In 1848 Mr. 
Gifford retired from the management of the 
place, which soon afterward passed into the 
hands of William Bates. It sold at that time 
for $12,000.00, and subsequently, in 1867, 
was purchased b)- the street railway com- 
pany. The artesian spring at the park was 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



197 



highly recommended for its medical prop- 
erties and drew many patients who profited 
by its use. The park is located at the west 
end of Maryland street along the banks of 
Pigeon creek, contains several acres of land, 
and in natural appearance is very beautiful. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Maj. Joseph B. Co.x, a distinguished sol- 
dier, and long a prominent citizen of this 
countv, is at present surveyor of United 
States customs for the Evansville, Ind., dis- 
trict, which includes the south half of Indiana, 
the southeastern part of Illinois, and the 
northwestern part of Kentucky, with head- 
(]uarters at Evansville. The histor\- of his 
famil}- is an epitome of the history of the 
county. For scarcely had the Indian title to 
the lands in this locality been extinguished 
before his pioneer ancestors made their way 
into the territory. It was in 1809 that the}- 
came, crossing the river at the present site 
of Evansville, and temporarily lodging in a 
cabin which they found in the very heart of 
a dense forest, not far from the bank of the 
river near the present corner of Vine and 
Water streets. These were his maternal 
ancestors who came from Kentuck}', where 
his mother was born in 1805. Her name 
was Francis M. Miller; she was the daugh- 
ter of George and Elizabeth Miller, pioneers 
whose careers have been outlined in connec- 
tion with the earlv liistorv of Perrv town- 
ship. Mrs. Cox, afterward Mrs. David 
Ste]-)hens, died in October, 1886, after a res- 
dence in Perrv township of sevent3--seven 
years. James Cox, the father of Joseph B., 
was a native of Pennsylvania, born in iSoo, 
and died in this county in 1S34. He came 
to \'anderburgli county in 1S18, with a 
brother, Joseph, and engaged for a time as a 
pioneer farmer. He and his brother were 
potters by trade, and later were occupied in 
that branch of industry. When steamboats 



began to ply the river, using wood for fuel, 
they established a wood-yard near the pres- 
ent site of the Ingle coal mines, and accumu- 
lated some money in that business. Maj. 
Joseph B. Cox was born in what is now 
Perry township, this county, a few miles 
west of Evansville, on the 8th day of Sep- 
tember, 1S30. He was the fourth of five 
children — two sons and three daughters. 
His boyhood was spent on the farm and his 
early mental training was obtained in the 
public schools of the countv. At the age of 
fourteen years he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, 
to pursue his studies, and spent three years 
in the schools of that city. At the end of that 
period he spent one term at St. Xavier's 
college, and then entered Bacon's commercial 
college, both institutions being at Cincinnati. 
After his graduation from the commercial 
college he was occupied for eight years as 
clerk on various steamboats, plying between 
Cincinnati and New Orleans. In 1859, he 
entered the sheriff's office of Vanderburgh 
county, as deputy for John S. Gavitt, and 
upon the enlistment of the sheriff in the First 
Regiment Indiana Cavalrv, nine months be- 
fore the expiration of his term, he was ap- 
pointed to fill the vacancy thus occasioned. 
The war for the suppression of the rebellion 
and the preservation of the union, was now 
in progress. In the fall of 1S61, Maj. Cox 
raised a company which afterward became 
Company F, of the Sixtieth Indiana Infantry, 
and upon its organization he was selected as 
its captain. He served in that rank until the 
27th day of May, 1862, when he was elected 
major of the regiment, serving as such until 
November 30 following, when his resigna- 
tion was tendered because of ill health, and 
accepted. Returning to Evansville, he en- 
tered the county treasurer's office and served 
as deputy for two years. Thereafter he was 
occupied with his private affairs for many 
years and was not in public life. In 1880, 



198 



FEDERAL AND MUNICIPAL. 



he became deputy sheriff under Thomas 
Kerth, and remained with him for four years. 
On August 7, 1886, he was appointed by 
President Cleveland, surveyor of customs 
for the term of four vears, which position he 
now holds, discharging its duties in an able 
and satisfactory manner. From earlj' man- 
hood to the present time he has been inter- 
ested chiefly in agricultural pursuits. He 
owns lands extensively in Vanderburgh, 
Gibson and Pose}' counties, and in tlieir cul- 
tivation follows the best methods known to 
the practical farmer. Maj. Cox possesses in 
a marked degree the attributes of genuine 
manhood. Honest purposes and laudable 
conduct have marked his career. His sym- 
pathetic nature, the gentleness of his dispo- 
sition, and the worth of his character have 
won for him the admiration and respect of 
all his neighbors. In April, 1863, he was 
married to Amanda W. Syrkees, who 
was born in Vanderburgh count}- in 1S33, 
and died in 1868, leaving one son, David A., 
who is an alumnus of the State University, 
Bloomington, Ind. Maj. Cox was married 
a second time in 1870, when Martha J. 
Angel, a native of Vanderburgh county, be- 
came his wife. To this union two sons have 
been born; Robert M., and Joseph B. Mrs. 
Cox is a member of the General Baptist 
church. 

Captain James W. Wartman, since 1871 
deputy clerk of the United States court at 
Evansville, was born in Lewisburg, Green- 
brier county, Virginia, Februar\- 7) 1^32. 
His youth was spent in Cincinnati, where 
he attended and was a graduate of the 
famous "Woodward High School." He 
was engaged in business at Cincinnati for 
several years after his graduation, and then 
removed to Spencer county, Indiana, and 
began the study of law with Hon. L. Q. 
DeBruler. He practiced first at Rockport. 
In 1864 he was appointed provost marshal 



of the First district of Indiana, with head- 
quarters at Evansville. After some service 
in that capacity he resigned and was ap- 
pointed a commissioner of the board of en- 
rollment for the First district. During his 
service the drafts of 1864 and 1S65 occur- 
red, and important and delicate duties de- 
volved upon Capt. Wartman, which he 
performed to the general satisfaction. At 
the close of the war he returned to Rock- 
port, and resumed the practice of law in 
partnership with Hon. Thomas F. DeBruler. 
In Julv, 1871, he was appointed deputy clerk 
of the United States court at Evansville, 
and at once entered upon the discharge of 
his duties. In September, 1S71, he was 
appointed United States commissioner, and 
acceptablv discharges the duties of that 
position. Mr. Wartman has taken much 
interest in the common school system and 
served several vears as president of the 
school board at Rockport. He is also 
deeplv interested in Sundav- school work, 
and has en<rafred with much zeal in this 
direction. 

James W. Lauer, postmaster at Evans- 
ville, was born in that portion of this city 
known as Lamasco, November 24, 184 1. 
His father. Rev. H. W. Lauer, several 
vears later, located on a farm near the west 
end of the city, where he died in 1850. 
Here the subject of this sketch grew to 
manhood, doing all kinds of general farm 
work, and receiving a common school edu- 
cation, supplemented by a valuable training 
in the practical school of experience. During 
the four vears immediately following the at- 
tainment of his majority, he was employed 
as clerk in the Washington House, a popu- 
lar hostelrv at that time. In partnershiii 
with Mr. Christian Hedderich, he then em- 
barked in the grocery business, and after 
a time disposed of his interest. From 1S66 
to 1870, he served as deputy treasurer of 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



100 



the county. He then accepted a position in 
the People's Savini;s Bank, an institution, 
which, as a cliarter member, he had been 
instrumeiUal in establishing. Later he was 
variously engaged in mercantile pursuits. 
July 30, 1S85, he was appointed postmaster 
at Evansyille by President Cleyeland, and 
the appointment was conlirmed by the 
United States senate June 7, 1886. As a 
democrat he has been a zealous worker for 
for the interest of his party, but has in no 
way prostituted his otticial position to sub- 
serve party ends. lousiness principles were 
adopted at the outset for the conduct of the 
office and have been carefully followed 
throughout, with sci'upulous regard for the 
iiood of the service, and the same is univer- 
sally acknowledged. In 1868, September 
15, he united in marriage with INIiss Letitia 
Staser, daughter of the late John C. Staser. 
They have one child, a son, Henry Clinton, 
born March i, 1871. Mr. Lauer and family 
adopt the Presb3'terian faitli. The former 
joined Crescent Lodge No. 122, 1. O. O. F., 
in 1863, and in 1883, the Masonic fraternity, 
and has attained the degree of Knight 
Templar in Iva\-alette Commandery No. 15- 
John H. Dannettijll, one of Evansville's 
most distinguished citizens, was born De- 
cember 14, 1843, at Covington, Ky. He 
received his education in the public schools 
of Evansyille, and, at the age of twelve 
years, was conlirmed in St. John's church. 
As a boy he earl\- looked out for himself, 
and served as an advertiser one year with 
Dr. John T. White, a traveling physician. 
Afterward he was employed by the whole- 
sale clothing tirm of Anspacher & Plant as 
porter, remaining with theiu for eighteen 
months. His next engagement was with 
Christian Hedderich, the proprietor of the 
Washington Hotel. The war of the re- 
bellion broke out about this time in his 
career, and he went on the steamer Faniiic 



Bi/llos, in government service, and remained 
upon the river during the war. He then 
was engaged as book-keeper for the Indiana 
Steam Flouring Mills, and remained with 
that establishment until it closed in 1865. 
He then became interested in the hat busi- 
ness, which he followed for a considerable 
number of years. His first experience was 
in the emplo\' of V'autier & Marconnier, and 
in 1869 he opened a hat store, the establish- 
ment being first known as Dannettell & 
Duehme, but his partner died a \'ear later 
and Mr. Dannettell took entire control of 
the business, and successfully conducted it. 
In 1879 John C. Fares became a partner in 
the business, and, four years later, Mr. 
Dannettell sold out his interest to his partner, 
and became agent of the New York Life 
Insurance Company, and in this has been 
remarkably successful. In 18S3 Mr. Dan- 
nettell was nominated by the republicans 
for mayor, but suffered defeat by Mayor T. 
C. Bridwell by 409 votes. The following 
year he was elected as councilman from the 
Fifth ward, and two years afterward was 
elected mayor of the city by a majority of 
698 votes over his opponent, William Rahm, 
jr., at the time state senator. In that 
honored capacity Mr. Dannettell was still 
serving at the time of the compilation of 
this work. He was married in 1872 to Miss 
Mary C. Burrer, who was born at New- 
port, Ky., in 1S50. They are the parents 
of seven children, of whom live siu-\i\e. 
The family are members of the Trinity 
Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Dannet- 
tell has a membership with several frater- 
nities. For twenty-four years he has been 
athliated witli Crescent City lodge. No. 
122, I. O. O. F., and is also a member of 
Orion lodge, 35, K. P., Red Cloud lodge, 
Knights of Honor, Lone Star lodge, A. O. 
U.W., the Royal Arcanum, the Deutsche 
Unterstulzungsverein. 



200 



FEDERAL AND MVXICIPAL. 



George N. Wells, city treasurer of 
Evansville, was born in Indianapolis October 
19, 1844, being the oldest son of William F. 
and Mary J. (Kelly) Wells, of English 
descent, natives of Kentucky. His father 
was a lumber merchant of Indianapolis in 
1845, where he now lives at the advanced 
age of 79 years, having retired from busi- 
ness because of his age and a loss of sight. 
After receiving; a <jood common school edu- 
cation Mr. Wells pursued a course of stud}' 
at the Northwestern Christian University 
and graduated with the degree of B. S. 
from that institution when he was twentv- 
one years of age. He then took up the 
study of telegraphv. and for a time was 
engaged as a school teacher. Later he 
turned his attention to book-keeping and by 
careful study and practical experience fitted 
himself as a teacher of that branch. He 
was then connected with commercial schools 
in Indianapolis, Ind., Philadelphia, Pa., and 
Madison, Ind. Coming to Evansville in 
1867 he established a commercial college 
here, which soon attained a high rank 
among institutions of that kind throughout 
the countr\'. Disposing of his interests in 
the college he entered the service of the 
Evansville & Terre Haute Railroad Com- 
pany and for ten years acted as a local 
freight agent. In 1884 he was appointed 
assistant postmaster in this city, from which 
position he was removed for political reasons 
bv President Cleveland's administration. In 
1887 he was elected citv treasurer as the 
candidate of the republican party. Efficient, 
trustworthy and always courteous, he is an 
acceptable and popular officer. He is a 
member of the F. & A. M., G. A. R., and 
A. O. U. W. fraternities, and has attained a 
high standing in each of them, being past 
master, past high priest and past eminent 
commander of Lavalette Commandery, No. 
15, Knights Templar. This brief outhne of 



his civil career, though honorable in all its 
parts, does not adequateU' mirror the char- 
acter of the man. It is supplemented by a 
bright military record. He went to the 
front with the first troops offered to the 
nation b\' Indiana. Enlisting in Co. H, 
Ele\-enth Indiana \"olunteers, he served 
with that company until its muster-out 
Sometime later, he enlisted in Co. E, Seven- 
tieth Indiana Volunteers, and upon the 
organization of his compan}- he was elected 
to a lieutenancy. He was detached and 
placed on staff dut-s' with the Twentv-first 
Arni}- Corps. Later he was stationed at 
Nash\-ille, Tenn., as chief clerk in the quar- 
termaster's department, in which positton he 
remained until the close of his service. 
He was in the fights at Chicka- 
mauga. Mission Ridge, Lookout Mountain 
and Stone River, where he received a dis- 
abling wound. His service was honorable 
throughout. September 20, 1860, he was 
married to Miss Emma Steel, a native of 
this city, daughter of James and Marv 
Steel, a well-known citizen. But one child, 
Cora, has been born to this union, who 
graduated with high honors in the Evans- 
ville, Ind., high school, on June 15, 1888. 
Her commenceiiient essav attracted especial 
praise among a number of unusually 
creditable productions. A current publica- 
tion gave the essay in full, saying of it that 
it had a special charm because of its very 
graceful and broad treatment of an attract- 
ive and unique theme. 

John J. Marlett, representative of a 
distinguished pioneer family, was born in 
the village of Evansville, June 14, 1841. 
His paternal grand-parents Henry and 
Jerusha (Potter) Marlett were natives of 
England, who in early days emigrated to 
Brooks county, Va., where they were num- 
bered among the most valuable pioneer 
citizens of that locality. Their children, 



BlOdUArUR'AL. 



201 



four in number and bearing- the iiaines 
Gilbert, Mary, John J., and Caroline, are 
now dead. The third of these was well- 
known in this cit\- as an active business man 
of tine character and sterlinij worth. IJorn 
in New York state, January 28th, 1805, he 
early removed to Athens, Ohio, where in 
1829, he married Miss Martha Jane Starr, 
a native of Middletown, Conn., and ^a 
descendant of one of the best families of the 
state. Coming to Evansville in 1837, he at 
once embarked in business and for many 
years was identified with the growth of the 
city, occupying a prominent place among 
the active merchants of his day, doing much 
to build up and de\elop the city, and hold- 
ing several offices of trust and honor. He 
enjoyed in a high degree the respect and 
confidence of the community. His death 
occurred May 20th, 1876, in the seventy- 
second 3'ear of his age. His industry and 
business sagacity enabled him to accumulate 
a valuable property. Mrs. Marlett, much 
respected, remains a resident of tlie citv, 
and is now 78 years of age. Their children 
were nine in number, four of \vhom are 
living; Mar\' J., Joanna A. (now Mrs. 
Sherwood), John J., and Mortimer S., all 
residents of this city, save the last named, 
who is a successful traveling salesman. 
The immediate subject of this mention 
passed his boyhood in this citv attending 
school and rendering such assistance to his 
father as his age permitted. He twice 
enlisted in the unioii armw but at tiie earnest 
solicitations of his mother was not mustered. 
Since attaining his majority he has been 
connected with the busmess interests of the 
city, principally as a real estate agent and 
dealer. He has served two terms as cit\' 
treasurer and one term as cit}- assessor. 
His record as a public officer is clean and 
honorable. Possessing the qualities of true 
manliness he attracts many friends and is 



deservedly popular. January 8, 1873, he 
was married to Anna M. Bartlett of South 
Bend, Ind., a daughter of Josiah Bartlett 
and direct descendant of a signer of the 
Declaration of American Independence. Of 
this union six children have been born, 
three of whom are living; Bessie Starr, 
Fannie Bartlett, and Alice Louise. Mr. 
Marlett is a charter member of Eagle 
lodge, I. O. O. F. and for twenty-rive years 
has been prominent in the order, having 
passed through all the chairs. In politics he 
affiliates with the republican party. He and 
his wife are members of Grace Presbyterian 
Church. 

Marcus C. McCutcman, city sur\eyor, 
was born in McCutchanville, this county, 
June 5th, 1845. His father, Alexander 
McCutchan, was a native of New York 
state, and when a boy came to Indiana with 
his parents. He estal:)lished the first lum ■ 
ber yard in Evansx'ille and became wealthy. 
He was self educated, but fond of literature, 
especially of Roman history. He attained 
prominence in the cit\', held offices of trust 
and honor, and died in 1S45. His wife, whose 
maiden name was Annie Atchison, belonged 
to a prominent family of that period, was 
highly respected and survived her husband 
but six years. Being thus left an orphan in 
infancy, Marcus was taken into the family 
of his uncle Thomas McCutchan. Here he 
was dissatisfied, and at the early age of 
thirteen years went out into the world to 
battle for himself. He rirst went to Chi- 
cago, Ills., thence to New Orleans, La., 
j where he obtained employment as baggage- 
I master on the Mississippi Central railroad. 
While so employed, the war of the rebellion 
was begun and when the confederacy 
ordered the impressment of all able-bodied 
white men between the ages of thirteen and 
fifty, he enlisted in Company H, Twenty- 
se\enth Tennessee Infantry, the colonel of 



202 



FEDERAL AND MUNICIPAL. 



that regiment, C. H. Williams, being then 
president of the Memphis & Charleston 
railroad. In his heart this 3'oung soldier 
was loyal to his country, but he rendered 
asainst his wishes, a service of sixteen 
months in the army of the south. At Shiloh 
he was wounded in the head and thigh, but 
not seriousl}'. He marched with his com- 
pany to Corinth, was in the siege at that 
place, and in the tight at Farmington. His 
wounds had now become so irritable that he 
was sent to hospital. From here he was 
sent to Granada, by Major Anderson, who 
little suspected his intention of deserting the 
colors which he had been forced to support 
and from this place he made his escape to 
the union Hues, walking 140 miles to Mem- 
phis, that cit}' then being held by the northern 
forces. Here he took the oath of allegiance 
to the union and came back to the home of 
his childhood, reaching Evansville in the fall 
of 1862. In the following February he en- 
listed in Colonel Wilder's Seventeenth 
Indiana Mounted Infantry, and served faith- 
fully until the close of the war, being honor- 
ably discharged at Indianapolis in August, 
1865. He was in all the battles participated 
in by the gallant command to which he be- 
longed, and rendered heroic service. Re- 
turning to Evansville, he spent some time in 
school and for several years thereafter was 
engaged as a teacher. At length he went 
back to railroading, being in the emplo}' of 
the Straight Line, Pensacola & Atlantic, 
various branches of the L. & N., and serving 
as a contractor, surveyor and superintendent 
of construction on the new Ohio V^alley 
road. April 7, 1SS7, he was elected on the 
republican ticket, to his present office. He 
is a member of the I. O. O. F. In June, 
1869, he was married to Miss Amelia Voigt, 
a native of Germany, daughter of August 
and Julia (Cotton) Voigt, an estimable 
lady who died in j88i, leaving five children; 



Minnie (now Mrs. William Walters of 
Cheyenne, Wyoming Ter. ], Eleanor, Anna, 
Julia, and William. 

Adolpii Goeke, police commissioner, 
was born in Prussia, September 16, 1839, 
being the youngest of six children, born to 
Henry and Frederica (Brinkmeyer) Goeke, 
natives of Prussia, who emigrated to this 
countrv in 1848, and died in Evansville in 
1873 and 1863, respectively. The family 
was well known as industrious German 
pioneers. During his boyhood, Adolph 
attended the public schools of the city, and 
in iS6!5 began the grocery business and has 
continued the same ever since. Later he 
combined with this the commission and grain 
business, and by the exercise of econoni}- 
and good judgment, has succeeded in pos- 
sessing himself of a large quantity of real 
estate and a comfortable home. Politically 
he is a republican, having been faithful to 
that party ever since casting his first vote, 
which was for Abraham Lincoln for presi- 
dent. In 1886 he was appointed police com- 
missioner by Gavernor Gray, and has dis- 
charged the trs'ing duties of his office with 
entire satisfaction to the public. He and his 
wife are members of the German Protestant 
church. His marriage occurred April 7, 
1863, to Frederica Althida, who was bjrn in 
Prussia in 1846. To this union five children 
have bsen born: Edward F., Adolph W., 
Lida, Anna, and Harry. Adolph Goeke 
began life widi no possessions but a sound 
body, a good character, and a strong will. 
He has overcome many obstacles and won 
success. The lesson of his life ma}' be 
studied with profit by the young and am- 
bitious. 

Christopher J. Murphy, United States 
Inspector of Hulls, of the Evansville district, 
and a prominent citizen of the city, is a na- 
tive of Dublin, Ireland, born June 19, 1844, 
the third of four children — three daughters 




^£-'?7>^-7-^^C:t---i^-^5(j 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



203 



and one son — born to Michael ami Ann 
(McDonald) Murphy. His parcnl.s were 
natives of Ireland, where the father was 
born in iSi6 and the mother in 1820. 'I'hey 
eniii^rated to America about 184S, and 
landed at New York. A short time after- 
ward they removed to Rome, N. ^^, and 
thence in 1850, to Madison, Ind., near which 
place, in Jefferson count}', they settled on a 
farm. The mother died in 185 1, but the 
lather survived her until 1880. After the 
death of his mother, Mr. Murphy's early life 
was spent in various places. lie was edu- 
cated in the Catholic schools, and before the 
age of seventeen years, in May, 1861, enlisted 
in the service of the United States, at Mad- 
ison, Ind., joining Company D, of the Thir- 
teenth Indiana \'^olunteer Infantry. He was 
with his command until July, 1864, when he 
w as mustered out at Indianapolis, having 
been in active and continuous ser\ice from 
his enlistment, in Shield's di\'ision of the 
Army of Virginia, Gilmore's dixision in South 
Carolina, and Butler's corps up James river. 
He was in the battles of Green Brier, Win- 
chester, and the sieges of vSuffolk and of 
Ciiarleston. At the latter siege was the 
heaviest cannonading of the war — the old 
line-of-battle ship Ironsides, seven monitors, 
a large mortar fleet, over two hundred siege 
pieces, and the 100 to 300-pounders on Mor- 
ris Island, all at one time directing their rire 
against Forts Sumter, Gregg, Wagner, 
Moultrie, Johnson, and the city of Charles- 
ton; and the rebel fortifications vigorously 
returning the tire. He was at Harrison's 
Landing after the seven days fight; was in 
some of the hard fighting in front of Peters- 
burg, Va., in Foster's farm charge, and in 
various skirmishes and fatiguing marches 
through West Virginia, Maryland, Florida, 
and North and South Carolinas. He re- 
turned to Evansville in 1864, and was then 
the victim of fevers and ill-health for over 
13 



a year, although in camp he had enjoyed 
excellent health. On recovering health, he 
served as a licensed engineer on various 
steamers running out of Evansville. Leav- 
ing the river in 1S73, he entered the em- 
ploy of the Evansville Cotton Mills, where 
he became assistant foreman, and upon the 
establishment of Hermann's lumber manufac- 
tory in 1879, he was made superintending 
engineer of that concern. After three 
years, he took the position of superintend- 
ent of the Electric Light Co., starting the 
first plant of the company. The following 
vear he became interested in the Evans\-ille 
Pump Co., as a stockholder and director, 
and was elected secretary and treasurer. 
In 1884 he was nominated by the Vander- 
burgh county democrats for representative 
in the assembly, and was elected after a 
hotly contested campaign by the close ma- 
joritv of thirty-three votes, over John H. 
Roelker, one of the leading German repub- 
licans of the city. At the same time the 
candidates for county office on the same 
ticket were defeated by large majorities, 
thus demonstrating Mr. Murphy's popular- 
ity and strength. He served through the 
session of 1885, with credit to himself and 
party. On March 13, 18S6, he was ap- 
pointed by President Cleveland, inspector 
of hulls, a position he has since held, dis- 
charging the duties of his trust with fidelity 
and marked ability. Mr. Murphy is a mem- 
ber of Farragut Post, No. 27, G. A. R., 
and is now the post commander. In 1879, 
he organized a branch. No. 46, of the 
Catholic Knights of America, that being the 
first branch organization in the city. For 
this order he has served three times as pres- 
ident, and represented the order in state and 
national councils. He also organized Camp 
Farragut, No. 117, Sons of Veterans. In 
reliirion he and wife are members of the 
Catholic Church, and he is now treasurer of 



20J^ 



FEDERAL AND MUNICIPAL. 



the Church of the Assumption. Mr. 
Murph\- was married in 1S70 to Miss Maggie 
Mclnern}', who was born in Evansville, Jan- 
uary II, 1852, daughter of M. C. Mclnerny, 
one of the early settlers of Evansville. To 
this union two sons and two daughters have 
been born: Anna, born March i, 1872; 
Charles, born October 7, 1874; Mamie, 
born August 14, 1S77; Christopher, born 
August 9, 1 88 1. 

JohnH. Moork, United States Inspector 
of Boilers for the Evansville district, is a na- 
tive of Kentucky, born in Louisville, Feb- 
ruary 14, 1838. He is the third of live 
children born to Joseph and Mary 
(McHenry) Moore. His father was an 
early settler in Kentucky, and removed 
thence to New Orleans, where he was en- 
jratred in business, until burned out during 
the large and disastrous conflagration which 
visited that city during the thirties. From 
New Orleans he removed to Ohio, where 
he was in business for ten or twelve years, 
afterward going to Virginia, where he was 
in trade until his death, which occurred in 
1852. His mother was a native of Virginia, 
and was the daughter of John McHenry. 
Her death occurred at Wheehng, W. Va. 
At the latter city John H. Moore spent 
most of his youth, and there gained his ed- 
ucation in the public schools. At the age of 
nineteen he was apprenticed to a machinist 
at Wheeling, and after three years he came 
west on the steamer, " Charles C. Hillman," 
upon which he had placed the machinery. 
For several years he followed steamboating 
between St. Louis and Nashville. At the 
breaking out of the civil war he was in 
Nashville and there remained until the place 
was occupied by the union army. There- 
after he was engaged in carr\-ing supplies 
for the union forces between Louisville and 
Nashville. Afterward he went to Memphis 
and was next occupied in the expedition to 



the Yazoo river, whence he returned to 
Evansville. From that time he was in the 
service of the Evansville & Cairo Packet 
Co., until he was appointed by President 
Cleveland, March 14, 1885, inspector of 
boilers. Mr. Moore is a member of Morn- 
ing Star lodge. No. 7, I. O. O. F., has tilled 
all the chairs, and in 1888 was chosen rep- 
resentative to grand lodge. He was mar- 
ried, in October, 1865, to Columbia Daniels, 
who is a native of Kentucky, daughter of 
Captain Marine Daniels, an old steamboat 
man of the Ohio and Cumberland rivers. 
Mr. and Mrs. Moore have had four children 
born unto them, three sons and one daugh- 
ter, all of whom are still living excepting 
Walter, the youngest, who died July 10, 

1875- 

The name of James D.Saunders has been 
associated with the profession of civil engineer 
and surveyor for the past thirty-three years 
in the city of Evansville. Two men of that 
name, father and son, have occupied the 
position of city engineer and county surveyor 
many terms during that period. The elder 
was born in Manchester, Eng., November 
2, 1829. His father being a civil engineer, 
he was educated in that profession. He was 
married in 1850 to Mary Sweeney, a native 
of the count}^ of Donegal, Ireland, whose 
father was also an engineer emplo3^ed on the 
ordnance survey of Ireland. They emi- 
grated to the United States in the same year 
and located at Bloomington, Ind., where Mr. 
Saunders had accepted a situation as engineer 
on the construction of what was then known 
as the New Albany & Salem railroad. In 
1854 he came to Evansville and was em- 
ployed in a like capacity on the Evansville, 
Indianapolis & Cleveland railroad, more 
commonl}- known as the " Straight Line." 
In the following year he was elected sur- 
veyor of Vanderburgh county, and in 1857 
he was elected city engineer and surveyor, 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



205 



and from then he held llie position until 
1 86 1, when he resigned, having enhsted in 
Company D, Forty-second Regiment Indi- 
ana \^olunteers. He was appointed lirst 
lieutenant and afterward promoted to cap- 
tain. He resigned in 1862, returned to 
Evansville, was elected city engineer, and 
from that time until his death he was almost 
constantly employed as city engineer or 
county surveyor. At the time of his death, 
which occurred June 6, 1880, he occupied 
the position of city engineer, having been 
elected in April of that year. His wife, four 
sons, and two daughters are still residents of 
this city. Three of the sons. James D., 
George W., and Miles S., are civil engineers. 
James I). Saunders, the 3-ounger, was the 
second child in a famih' of nine children. 
He was born in Bloomington, Ind., Decem- 
ber 4, 1853, received a common school edu- 
cation, and under his father's instructions 
studied the science of civil engineering. In 
1876 and again two years later he was 
elected count}- surveyor, which oflice he re- 
signed in 18S0 to accept the position of citj' 
engineer, to which he had been appointed 
by the city council upon the death of his 
father. He was elected by the people in 
the following year and at each election for 
that office until 1887, at which election he 
was defeated b}' about 200 majority, as at 
that election the democratic party, of which 
Mr. Saunders is an active member, was de- 
feated on the vote for councilmen by nearly 
1,400 majority. At present he does the gen- 
eral business of a civil engineer. That he is 
thoroughl\- competent all agree, and in his 
ability the people have uncjuestioned con- 
fidence. He stands at the commencement 
of his career, and measuring the future by 
the past, flattering predictions may be safely 
made. He is a member of the K. of P. and 
I. O. O*. F. fraternities and the Business 
Men's Association. He was united in mar- 



riage, in 1886, to Lizzie McQuigg, of Iron- 
ton, Ohio, and of this union one child has been 
born : William M. 

Albert Joiianx, carpenter and under- 
taker, was born in Prussia, Jul\- 16, 1831, 
being the oldest son in a famil\- of nine 
children. His father, Charles William 
Johann, a harness-maker, came to the 
United States in 1848, and after living a 
few years in this city removed to Cannelton, 
Ind., where after a long and busy life he 
died in July, 1875, at the age of sevent}-- 
four years. His mother still resides 
at Cannelton at the advanced age of eighty- 
three years. Albert Johann received his 
schooling in his native country, and when a 
young man learned the trade of a moulder. 
His health did not permit him to work at 
this trade and he learned that of a house 
carpenter, at which he worked occasionally, 
in connection with other business, until 1S80. 
Since 1865 he has been engaged as an un- 
dertaker. Fie began life as a poor man. 
When he began business he bought a small 
house but was able to make a cash payment 
of only $25.00. By industry and economy 
he has accumulated a comfortable property. 
He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and K. 
and L. of H. fraternities. He is a republi- 
can in politics, and his popularity is evidenced 
b}' the fact that for two 3'ears past he has 
represented his ward in the city council. 
He was married in Jul}', 1854, to Miss 
Barbara Spies, a native of German}-, and 
daughter of Henry Spies. Of this union 
eight children ha\-e been born; Amelia K., 
Charles H., Lydia (who died at the age of 
twenty-one }-ears in 1S80), Emma L., 
Albert II., Edward W., Mary A., and 
Eva A. 

George W. Newitt, superintendent of 
police, was born in the town of Chatteris, 
Cambridgeshire, Englanfl, July 23, 1S47. His 
father, William G. Newitt, a native of En- 



£06 



FEDERAL AND MUNICIPAL. 



gland, came to Evansville, directl}^ from his 
native land, in 1859. While here he was 
engaged as a florist, and attained a high 
standing in social and business circles. 
From this cit}^ he removed to Chicago, 111., 
where he now figures as one of the most 
prominent florists of that citv. hi 1865 his 
wife, whose maiden name was Louisa 
Eaton, a native of England, died in this city. 
Later, his marriage to Miss Mattie Mat- 
thews was solemnized. George W. Newitt 
is the oldest son in a family- of eleven chil- 
dren, all living. He was educated princi- 
pally in the schools of this city, and under 



his father's instruction, learned the business 
of a florist, which he pursued until 1873. 
At that time he became identified with the 
police force of this city. He has passed 
through all the grades of the service, and is 
recognized as a most efficient officer. His 
political affiliations are with the democratic 
party. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. 
and K. of P. fraternities. May 22, 1873, he 
was married to Miss Leanna Earl, a nati\e 
of this city, daughter of Robert Earl, a well 
known citizen. They have been blessed 
with three children: Flora L., George W., 
and Celia. 



CHAPTER VI. 



Banks — The Pioneer House — National Bank System — Evansville National 
— First National — German National — Citizens' National — Merchants' 
National — People's Savings Bank — Private Houses — Building and Loan 
Associations. 



kRIOR to 1S34 Evansville was without 
^6 banking facilities, and, indeed, up to 
that time there had been no pressing- 
demand in the little village for the conveni- 
ences necessary to rapid and extensive mone- 
tarv transactions. When, that year, the State 
Bank of Indiana was established, and a branch 
was located at Evansville, it was considered 
a bold undertaking on the part of its pro- 
prietors. Subsequent events, however, 
showed that their wisdom was not less than 
their faith in the future of the town. The 
banking business was inaugurated in a 
small building on Main street, where the 
cashier, besides keeping all the books, acted 
as porter and janitor as well. From this 
modest beginning the business has grown to 
vast proportions, occupying some of the 
largest and handsomest business buildings 
in the citv and enlisting in its service manv 
of the most acute intellects of the day. 
Capital being the foundation of ever)- kind 
of business, there can be no better witness 
of the prosperitv and importance of the city 
at any time than the amount of capital pos- 
sessed by the banking institutions and used 
by the business concerns in the transaction of 
their affairs. The advance of business and 
trrowth of the communitv is nrobablv more 
accuratel)' demonstrated by the growth of 
the banking interest than by any other one 
standard that can be followed with equal 
precision. The branch of the old State 
Bank of Indiana, established here in 1834, 
had a capital, including state deposits and 



indi\-idual stock, of $80,000. In 1S43 this 
capital was increased to $150,000, of which 
$73,000 were state deposits. In 1850 the 
banking capital here was re-enforced by the 
establishment of the Canal Bank, which 
operated under the charter of the Evans- 
ville Insurance Company, the entire capital 
of the bank and insurance company being 
$250,000. Allowing one half of this sum 
to the bank would show the entire banking 
capital of the city to have been $202,000, 
not including state deposits in the State 
Bank; which sufficed until 1857, when a 
branch of the Bank of the State of Indiana 
was established, with a capital of $100,000, 
which increased the total banking capital to 
$225,000, at which sum it remained for six 
3'ears. The capital of the branch of the old 
State Bank, it will be observed, is omitted 
from the aggregate mentioned as in use in 
1857, that institution having been succeeded 
b}' the branch of the Bank of the State of 
Indiana. 

In 1863, the First National Bank was es- 
tablished, with a capital slock of $500,000, 
and in the ten jears that followed the bank- 
ing capital, through the establishment of 
new banks, private and national, grew to 
about $2,400,000. At that time, the begin- 
ning of the year 1873, in addition to the 
regular bank stock, there was a surplus of 
$610,000.00 divided among the several 
National banks of the city, making the total 
banking capital about $3,000,000.00. The 
panic of 1873 caused many convulsions in 

{J07) 



208 



BANKS. 



monetary circles, but no bank in Evansville 
was seriously affected. The city has never 
had a bank failure. Safetj- and stabilit}' 
have been preserved by careful and conserv- 
ative manao;ement. Depositors have never 
had occasion for alarm and the greatest 
confidence is placed in all of the city banks 
by the general public. At the present time 
Evansville has four national, one savings and 
several private banks, all of which are doing 
a large business, the combined capital being 
in excess of $3,000,000.00, a sum consider- 
abh' greater per capita of population than 
can be found in many of the principal cities 
of the country. At the close of business 
October 4, 1888, the loans and discounts of 
the four national banks amounted to 

$3,345,777-35- 

A brief account of the several institutions 
properly begins with the pioneer corpora- 
tion, the Evansville National Bank. Organ- 
ized in 1834, its capital including state and 
individual stock was $80,000.00. The rec- 
ords show that the first meeting of the board 
of directors was held November 11, 1834 — 
the members being Robert Stockwell, John 
Shanklin, Marcus Sherwood, William Le^'is, 
William Owens, Robert Barnes, Chester 
Elliott, James Cawson, Darius North, and 
John Mitchell. The board organized b}' 
electing John Mitchell president, and John 
Douglas cashier. These officers were con- 
tinned until Mr. Mitchell's death, when Sam- 
uel Orr became president. In 1843, the 
capital of the bank was increased to 
$150,000.00, of which $73,000.00 was owned 
by the state. In 1S47, George W. Rath- 
bone was made cashier, and continued in 
that position until March 4, 1857, when the 
bank was succeeded by the "Branch of the 
Bank of the State of Indiana." The first 
director}' board of the new bank was com- 
posed of Messrs. G. W. Rathbone, Robert 
Parrett, H. Q. Wheeler, R. R. Roberts, and 



George Foster. Mr. Rathbone was chosen 
president, and Samuel Bavard cashier. Jan- 
uar}', 1865, the bank was reorganized under 
the national banking act as the Evansville 
National Bank, with a capital of $300,000.00, 
which was subsequently increased to 
$800,000.00. W. J. Lowry was made pres- 
ident, and R. R. Roberts cashier, but after- 
ward Samuel Bayard became cashier, and 
still later all the officers were changed, Mr. 
Rathbone being elected president, Mr. Bay- 
ard, vice-president, and V. M. Watkins, 
cashier. J. G. Kennedy succeeded Mr. 
Watkins, and in 1873 having resigned, his 
place was in turn occupied by Henry Reis, 
the present cashier. Mr. Bayard succeeded 
Mr. Rathbone, who subsequenth- removed to 
New York cit}', and Mr. John Gilbert was 
selected to fill the vacancy occasioned by 
Mr. Bayard's advancement. In June, 1883, 
the charter of the bank expired, at which 
time with the renewal of its charter, its name 
was changed to the " Old JVcitioiial Baiik.''^ 
The otllcers of the bank at this time are 
Samuel Bayard, president; John Gilbert, 
vice-president; Henrj- Reis, cashier; Samuel 
Bayard, David J. Mackej', William Ileilman 
Robert K. Dunkerson, Henry F. Blount, 
William M. Akin, Edward G. Ragon, and 
John Gilbert, directors; a galaxy of names 
guaranteeing fidelity to trust, and superior 
abilitv in the conduct of affairs. The capital 
stock of the bank is $500,000.00; its surplus 
$250,000.00, and its deposits 940,980.57. 
The stock has paid large dividends and com- 
mands a high premium in the market. The 
building now occupied b}' the bank on the 
west side of Main street, between Water 
and First, was built in 1836. It is a massive 
structure of imposing aspect, substantially 
built and well arranged for the transaction 
of the business which it was designed to ac- 
commodate. In the present year the build- 
ing has been thoroughly repaired and re- 



BANKS. 



209 



fitted, its interior arrangement and finish dis- 
playing the highest degrees of art and skill- 
Tlie building is valued at $27,577.94. The 
career of the institution has been remarkable, 
growing in strength and popular favor as 
the years have advanced. From its organ- 
ization as a small bank in 1834, it has 
wielded a beneficent influence on the busi- 
ness affairs of this part of the country. Its 
obligations have been fulfilled to the letter 
always, and because of its acknowledged 
solidity and wise management, it was selected 
as a national depositor}-. The chief execu- 
tive of the bank, Mr. Bayard, has been 
identified with it for more than a third of a 
centurv, and has, bv his financial ability, 
sound judgment and high reputation for ex- 
ecutive skill and untarnished honor, con- 
duced in no small degree to the success and 
financial repute of tiie bank, now the oldest 
institution of the kind in southwestern Indi- 
ana, and in financial circles everywhere 
recognized as one of the best and soundest in 
the state. 

T/ic F'ifft J^^jlioiial Bank. — The Evans- 
ville Insurance Company, which was granted 
a perpetual charter with banking privileges, 
January 21, 1850, commenced business under 
that charter as the Canal Bank, which was 
organized in the same year, the entire capital 
of the insurance company and bank being 
$250,000. John M. Stock well was elected 
president and James G. Jones secretary, who 
was very soon thereafter succeeded by 
W. T. Page. Operating under the free 
banking law of Indiana for many years, the 
concern did a successful business. 

The growth of the nation, the friendly 
and unrestricted commercial relations be- 
tween the several states, the development of 
natural resources, the increase of the prod- 
ucts of the farm and the shop, the progress 
of commercial and manufacturing interests, 
naturallv brintrintr about a vast exchantre of 



commodities, rendered necessary a system 
of exchange, or correspondence, which 
would make the medium of exchange of a 
certain and fixed value in all parts of the 
country. The facilities for banking and 
issuing currency afforded by state laws were 
very faulty because of the fluctuations of 
values in monev' carried from one state to 
another. To remedy this the national 
banking law was enacted, by which national 
banks invest their capital in the bonds of the 
national government and by a deposit of 
these in the United States Treasury, receive 
a proportionate amount of their value in 
notes countersigned b}' the officials and 
issued b\' that department, thus pro- 
viding, for circulation among the people, an 
issue guaranteed by the credit of the nation. 
By this means uniformity of values is se- 
cured and bank notes circulate freely and 
without (question, and at par, all over the 
country. The first bank in Evansville and 
indeed the sixth in the United States to 
make application for a charter under the 
new national bank law, was the First 
National Bank of Evansville, Ind., which 
was incorporated in 1S63 with a capital of 
$250,000, which was subsequently increased 
to $500,000. This bank, although the 
sixth to make application for a charter, was 
the twenty-seventh bank chartered. Some 
mistake was made bv which a trip to Evans- 
ville from Washington on the part of those 
having the matter in cliarge was necessitated, 
during which time twenty-one other banks 
were chartered. II. Q. Wheeler was its 
first president as a national bank, with W. 
T. Page as cashier. The fiirst board of di- 
rectors was composed of Gillison Maghee, 
Robert Barnes, Charles Viele, John S. 
Hopkins, John Ingle, jr., M. J. Bray, S. M. 
Archer, H. Q. Wheeler and William 
Brown, all men of great prominence in the 
annals of Evansville. Mr. Wheeler was 



210 



BANKS. 



succeeded in the presidency in 1867, by 
Hon. John S. Hopkins, and he, in 1S80 bv 
Charles Viele. Each of the three presidents of 
this bank has been a distinguished citizen of 
pure character, unsuUied reputation, and of 
great executive abihty. Mr. James H. Cut- 
ler, the present cashier, was elected to that 
position in 1S65, and bv his wise, conserva- 
tive, and honorable conduct has contributed 
largely to the present soundness and popu- 
larity of the institution. The present officers 
are: Charles Viele, president; James H. 
Cutler, cashier; Will Warren, assistant 
cashier; Thomas E. Garvin, John Ingle, 
Charles Viele, M. J. Bray, Isaac Keen, F. J. 
Reitz, Cyprian Preston and James H. Cut- 
ler, directors. In 1882 the original charter 
expired, at which time a ne.v one was 
applied for and received. From the com- 
mencement of its career this bank has en- 
joyed a successful business. Good dividends 
have been paid regularly on its stock, which 
has always been considered most desirable 
property. Its capital and surplus now 
amount to $700,000; its deposits to $818,- 
894.25. The banking house at the corner 
of Main and First streets, is a handsome 
edifice, with every convenience in its internal 
arrangement for the transaction of its large 
business. It was built in 1864 and rebuilt 
and remodeled in 1882. Its value now is 
$40,000. 

T/ic German A\itiunal Bank. — In January, 
1873, the charter of the East Chester Na- 
tional Bank, of Mt. Vernon, New York, 
was purchased and transferred to this citv, 
and permission granted bv Congress to 
change the name to the " German National 
Bank of Evansville." The capital stock 
was placed at $250,000, with permission to 
increase it to $500,000. The first officers 
were Samuel Orr, president; John A. Reitz, 
vice-president, and Phil C. Decker, cashier. 
Directors: Samuel Orr, John A. Reitz, 



Samuel Bayard, Thomas Kerth, Edward 
Boetticher, H. M. Sweetser, Chas. Schulte, 
Theo. R. McFerson and Phil C. Decker. 

In January, 1883, Mr. Orr was succeeded 
in the presidency by John A. Reitz; at the 
same time Phil C. Decker became vice- 
president and Henry L. Cook, cashier. At 
the present time the directors are John A. 
Reitz, Samuel Bayard, Thomas Kerth, P. C. 
Decker, Chas. Schulte, Edward Boetticher, 
William Rahm, jr., James C. Orr and R. K. 
Dunkerson. Its capital and surplus amount 
to $300,000.00, and its deposits to $327,- 
049.39. This bank commenced its career 
at No. 216 Upper First street, and now oc- 
cupies convenient and commodious quarters 
at the corner of Third and Main streets. 
Its management has been wise, and success- 
ful, there being at the present time $154,- 
489.45 in undivided profits. Those who 
control its affairs are citizens who have been 
identified for many vears with the business 
interests of the citv. Their capacity as 
financiers has been amph' demonstrated in 
the career of this bank. 

Citizens' JCa/ional Bank. — This bank was 
organized in 1873, and commenced business 
at No. 121 Upper First street as successors 
to the private banking house of W. J. 
Lovvry & Co. It began with an authorized 
capital of $175,000. Its first officers were: 
R. C. Slaughter, president; S. P. Gillett, 
cashier. Directors: R. C. Slaughter, John 
J. Roach, L. Swormstedt, George P. Hud- 
speth, Samuel Vickery, F. W. Cook, James 
H. McNeely, Fred Lunkenheimer and S. P. 
Gillett. In 1878 Mr. Slaughter retired 
from the presidencv of the bank, and was 
succeeded by Matthew Henning, who, in 
1883, was succeeded by S. P. Gillett, the 
present chief executive. In 1883 the office 
of vice-president was created, and Dr. C. P. 
Bacon was chosen to serve as vice-presi- 
dent. At the same time William L. Sworm- 



BANKS. 



an 



steclt was appointed assistant cashier, and in 
the followinj^ year was made casliier, the 
duties of which important office he has dis- 
charged with great satisfaction to the officers 
and patrons of the bank. The present 
board of directors is composed of ihe follow- 
ing citizens: F. W. Cook, C II. Kellogg, 
L. Lowenthal, A. C. Tanner, Samuel 
Vickery, S. P. Gillett, F. Lauenstein, 
W. M. Akin and C. P. Bacon. The capital 
stock and surplus amount to $240,000; its 
deposits to $281,448.92. The banking 
house is at the corner of Second and Main 
streets. 

The Merchants' A\itioiiaI Bank. — A his- 
tory of the banks of Evansville would be in- 
complete without some mention of the Mer- 
chants' National Bank, which, though now 
out of existence, at one time wielded a large 
influence in monetary circles here. It was 
organized February 8th, 1865. The capital 
stock was $350,000, all of which was 
promptly taken, notwithstanding it followed 
closely on the heels of two national banks 
heretofore spoken of. The directors for the 
first year were C. R. Bement, Richard 
Raleigh, W. J. Dallam, J. G. Venemann, W. 
W. Morgan, John A. Reitz, Morris Ranger, 
and Isaac Keen — Mr. Bement president, 
and John D. Roach cashier. In 1868 the 
officers were Richard Raleigh, president; 
John A. Reitz, vice-president, and Chas. W. 
Kerney, cashier. In 1868 H. L. Meadows 
succeeded Mr. Kerney as cashier; in 1869 
Mr. Bement was again chosen president. 
Matt llenning, vice-president, and J. A. 
Lemcke, cashier. Chas. Decker succeeded 
Mr. Lemcke as cashier in 187 1, and in 1872 
C. R. Bement again became president, and 
Matt llenning cashier. Subseijuentlv Mr. 
John Gilbert became vice-president of the 
bank and other changes occurred before the 
bank ceased doing business. A large pro- 
portion of the stock was owned by three 



wealthy gentlemen, who concluded, about 
1885, to conduct the business as a private 
bank, and surrendered its charter, granted 
b}- the national government. After about a 
year's time it discontinued business, without 
loss, however, to any of its patrons. In 1873, 
at the corner of Main and First streets, a 
very handsome banking house was erected 
at a cost of $40,000. 

The People's. Savings Bank. — Organized 
under the laws of the state of Indiana, this 
bank opened its doors for business on the 
5th day of May, 1870. Its first officers 
were: Gen. J. M. Shackelford, president; 
John D. Roach, secretary and treasurer; 
J. M. Shackelford, Eccles G. Van Riper, 
M. Muhlhausen, John Laval, James Steele, 
Fred Lunkenheimer, Christian Hedderich 
and James W. Lauer, trustees. After the 
death of Mr. Roach, in 1870, Dr. John 
Laval was elected secretary and treasurer. 
January 14, 1880, Dr. Laval resigned, and 
on March 19th following, Fred Lunken- 
heimer was elected to fill the vacancy thus 
occasioned. His successor was Maj. Jesse 
W. Walker, who served from April i, 1885, 
to April 25, 1888, the date of his death. 
On May 14, 1888, Col. John Rheinlander 
was elected to discharge the duties of this 
important trust, and is now serving. 

Gen. J. M. Shackelford served as presi- 
dent of the bank from its establishment un- 
til May 27, 1878, and M. Henning from that 
date until May 31, 1884, when he was suc- 
ceeded by Dr. M. Muhlhausen, the present 
chici executive. The vice-president is Mr. 
H. V. Bennighof. At the outset the duties 
of cashier were performed by the secretary 
and treasurer, but when the business trans- 
acted became so large as to demand the 
appointment of a cashier, Jacob Haas was 
selected as such. On April i, 1880, he was 
succeeded by Michael Schaeffer, the present 
efficient cashier. The present board of 



PA% 



BANKS. 



trustees is composed of: Dr. M. Muhl- 
hausen, H. V. Bennighof, M. Henning, Gen. 
J. M. Shackelford, James Steele, Col. John 
Rheinlander and Clements Reitz. 

During the first day of its career the bank 
secured two depositors, one making a deposit 
of $2.00, and the other of $1.00, and the 
doors were closed on the dullest day's busi- 
ness ever known to it. From this small 
beginning it has daily grown in favor with 
the people until at this time its active depos- 
itors number about 2,500, and its average 
deposits exceed $650,000.00. The bank 
has paid a semi-annual dividend to its depos- 
itors for the use of their money, which has 
ranged from 4 to 10 per cent, according 
to the earnings. It has been fortunate, and 
wisely managed, has passed safely through 
the periods of financial depression, and has 
alwa^'s received and merited the confidence 
and esteem of its patrons, who are found 
among all classes. Every dollar intrusted 
to its keeping has been faithfully and hon- 
estly accounted for. In addition to the 
banks thus far mentioned, several private 
banking houses have been established in 
the city to meet unusual demands made 
at particular periods for banking conveni- 
ences. A leading one of these institutions 
is the banking house of Archer & Co., which 
employs a considerable amount of capital, 
and does an active business. 

Building- and Loan Associations. — The 
legislature of Indiana, by an act approved 
March 5, 1857, which has been much im- 
proved by subsequent laws, provided for the 
organization of building and loan associa- 
tions, which because of their patrons, the 
simplicity of their workings and the small 
payments required to secure the possession 
of shares, have been well named " poor 
men's banks." Perhaps no single agency 
has done more toward enabling the poorer 
classes, those who eat their bread by the 



sweat of their faces, to own their own homes 
and to lay up trivial amounts, which in the 
aggregate secure many of life's comforts, 
small sums that would otherwise have been 
wasted. The declared objects of these in- 
stitutions are, to increase capital by accumu- 
lation, to assist their members in the 
acquisition of real estate, in the erection of 
buildings and in the removal of incum- 
brances on property. The pioneer associa- 
tion of this kind in the city was organized in 
May, 1873, with the following list of officers: 
Charles E. Baker, president; N. B. Hay- 
ward, vice-president; J. W. Jenner, secre- 
tary; H. C. Warren, treasurer and J. B. 
Rucker, solicitor. The benefits of such an 
association, wisel}- and carefully managed, 
soon became apparent, and on July i8th, 
1874, ^ second association was formed. 
From that time to the present this financial 
element has been bus}- accumulating money 
and building houses for those who are will- 
ing to save little at a time and utilize the re- 
sults of their toil. As the city grows their 
number increases. All through the outer 
portions of the city are neat and at- 
tractive homes inhabited by happy families 
enjoying the independence that ownership 
of a home affords. There are ten of these 
associations in the city, with a capital stock 
of $500,000.00 each, that being the limit 
fi.ved by law. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Hon. John S. Hopkins was born in 
Truxton, N. Y., October 28, 181 1, and died 
at his home in this tity July 6, 1882. He 
was a son of the pioneer, Edward Hopkins, 
and came to Evansville with his father in 
the fall of 1 819. From that time until his 
death he was continuoush' a resident of this 
city, and few men, if any, have been more 
prominently identified with its material 
growth and advancement from the condition 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



213 



of a village to that of a great and prosper- 
ous city. On the 9th of December, 1834, 
he was married to Mary Ann Parrett, 
daughter of Rev. Robert Parrett, founder 
of the Methodist Episcopal church in Evans- 
ville. Mrs. Hopkins survived her husband 
until 18S6. Her life was full of good works 
and every Christian virtue adorned her 
character. The bo\'hood of John S. Hop- 
kins was spent in the village of Evansville 
and his education was only such as could be 
obtained in the inferior schools of that day. 
His natural abilities, however, were of a 
high order and the experience of a bus}' 
life developed in him a strong, clear mind 
and great force of character. From early 
manhood he was an active business man 
and a prosperous and praiseworthy citizen, 
and no man e\er li\ed in this communit}- 
who more fully possessed the entire confi- 
dence and esteem of his fellow citizens. For 
man}' years he was engaged in merchan- 
dise, and built up an ample fortune, though 
alwavs liberal in his contributions to all pub- 
lic enterprises and in his private benefactions. 
Though a man of the most positive convic- 
tions and unflinching moral courage, he 
had, probably, not an enemy in the entire 
circle of his acquaintance. Though of a 
retiring and modest disposition he was often 
called to positions of trust and responsibility. 
In 1837 he was elected to the responsible 
position of city collector. In 1840 he 
became a member of the city council, and 
several times afterward was made a mem- 
ber of the nuuiicipal board. He was elected 
mayor of the city in the spring of 1853, and 
served from April 9 of that year to April 
12, 1856. In 1861, at a time when the 
patriotism and sterling i]ualities of every 
citizen were tried, he was a member of the 
Indiana legislature, and again in 1878 and 
1879, and in all these important positions 
cquitted himself in a manner honorable to 



himself and meeting the full approval of his 
constituency. After retiring from mercan- 
tile pursuits, he was chosen president of the 
First National bank at its organization, 
which position he held till about 1880. 
Before the organization of this bank he wrts 
president of the old Canal bank. For 
three years he was president of the Evans- 
ville, Cairo & Memphis Packet Company, in 
which position he manifested the same 
sagacity and sound judgment that marked 
his entire career. During the last }ear of 
his life he was almost entirely retired from 
acti\e life, performing only such duties as 
devolved upon him as a director in several 
corporations. From its infancy lie was a 
director of the Evansville Si Terre Haute 
Railroad and was connected in various wa}S 
with many of the great enterprises of the 
city. After retiring from the presidency 
of the Evansville, Cairo & Memphis Packet 
Company, as though possessing a premoni- 
tion that the end was drawing near, he 
engaged himself in " setting his house in 
order." In the last year of his life he 
visited the home of his youth, and afterward 
gave patrimonies to his children, so that 
when the final summons came it found him 
ready in all respects. At the time of his 
death three sisters and seven, children sur- 
vived him. His sisters were Mrs. Charles 
Viele, Mrs. Charles Babcock and Mrs. Eliza 
Wheeler. His children were: Frank Hop- 
kins, Mrs. Alexander H. Foster, Robert F. 
Hopkins, Mrs. Edward Tombler, John S. 
Hopkins, jr., Mrs. Frank Byrnes and 
Edward O. Hopkins. In many respects 
Mr. Hopkins was a remarkable man. He 
was an honored citizen and the tender and 
sincere sorrow of the entire communit\' fol- 
lowed him to his final resting place. 

Charles Vikle is one of the pioneers of 
the city of Evansville, and one of its most 
prominent and best known business men. 



2U 



BANKS. 



His history, therefore, is an essential part of 
the history of Evansville, though Mr. Viele 
very reluctantly yielded his consent to the 
appearance in this chapter of a personal 
mention of himself. He was born in Pitts- 
town, Rensselaer count}. New York, No- 
vember 22, 1818. His parents, Abraham 
and Hannah (Douglas) Viele were natives 
of the state of New York, the former of 
French and the latter of Scotch extraction. 
The elder Viele was a prominent and suc- 
cessful manufacturer of agricultural imple- 
ments and machinery, and one of the 
influential citizens of Rensselaer county. He 
was largely identified with local politics, and 
for many years occupied various positions of 
trust. Charles was the youngest son. His 
boyhood was passed in the village of Valley 
Falls, where he received an academical edu- 
cation. Earl}- in life he evidenced the pos- 
session of that spirit of push, energy and 
enterprise which is characteristic of New 
York people. At the age of eighteen he 
resolved to avail himself of the advantages 
offered bv settlement in what was then 
known as the " Far West." Li the spring 
of 1836, in company with Mr. A. B. Car- 
penter, he left the place of his nativity, and 
after a tedious journey, b)' rail to Columbia, 
Pa., then the terminus of all western railroads, 
thence b\' stage to Pittsburgh and by boat to 
Evansville; arrived in this city on the 26th 
day of March, 1S36. Evansville had at this 
time reached the distinction of a village, and 
under his observation, and, to a certain ex- 
tent, through his identification with its inter- 
ests, it has become the second citj' in the 
state of Indiana. His first employment was 
as clerk in the store of A. B. Carpenter, 
with whom he remained until 1S40, when, 
in company with Mr. Asa B. Bement, the}' 
founded the house of Bement & Viele, which 
became one of the largest and most success- 
ful grocery houses in the stale. The tirm of 



Bement & Viele was dissolved in 1865, and 
was succeeded by that of Charles Viele & 
Co. In 1870 Mr. Viele retired, his son 
George B. being his successor, and the firm 
of V^iele, Stockwell & Co. was established. 
For more than one -half a century he has 
been largely identified with the financial in- 
terests of Evansville. In 1850 the Evans- 
ville Insurance Company was organized, 
with a capital stock of $250,000. The 
charter contained insurance and banking 
privileges of a liberal character, and was a 
financial success from its inception. Mr. 
Viele was a member of the first board of 
directors, and it is stated that it was largel}- 
through his influence and energy that the 
company was brought into existence. Mr. 
Viele has never dissolved his connection 
with this bank, of which he has been the 
financial head for many years, and its presi- 
dent since 1879. To give a detailed history 
of his connection with the various enterprises 
with \vhich he has been identified in the half 
centur\' that he has been a resident of 
Evansville would require more space than is 
at the disposal of the writer. All enterprises, 
however, that have had for their object the 
advancement of the interests of the city of 
Evansville have always found in him a firm 
friend and patron. Mr. Viele is now in the 
seventieth year of his age, and in full posses- 
sion of his mental and physical powers. 
Extended travel, years of practical experience 
and close observation in social, political and 
business matters have given him a position 
that is attained but by few. It can be said 
of him that, in the half century of his busi- 
ness life, his escutcheon has never been 
marred by one single act not conformable 
in every way to the strictest rule of right 
and justice, and his career is worthy of emu- 
lation by all classes and conditions of young 
men. His liberality is proverbial, and during 
financial depressions he has frei|uently gone 



BIOGRAPHICJU.. 



213 



to those w horn he knew to be in distress and 
by his tinaneial aid and advice carried them 
to a phice of safety. hi his rehgious and 
political affiliations he is an Episcopalian and 
a republican. He has never aspired to po- 
litical prefernieiit, choosing to devote his 
energies to the cares of his business, rather 
than mingle in political life. Me has done a 
great work in the advancement of the moral 
and rehgious interests of Evansville and to 
him as much as to anyone else the church of 
St. Paul's is indebted, not onl\- for the beauti- 
ful building that bears its name but for the 
prominent position it holds among the sister 
churches of the state. In 184S Mr. Viele 
was married to Miss Mar}- J., daughter of 
Judge Edward Hopkins. Six children 
were the result of this union, of whom his 
sons George 11, Walter S. and Edward N. 
are now living. 

John Gilbkrt, vice-president of the Old 
National J5ank, was born in Chester county, 
Pa., April 20, 1818. His ancestors were 
among the first settlers of New England, 
having arrived there with the Puritan 
fathers in the early part of the seventeenth 
centur}-. His great-grandfather was one of 
the first to enlist in the revolutionary army, 
and was killed at Breed's Hill, the first bat- 
tle of the war. His parents, Joseph and 
Mary (Stewart) Gilbert, were natives of 
Pennsylvania, but early crossed the AUe- 
ghanies and settled on a farm about forty 
miles west of Columbus, Ohio, in Clark 
county. Here the boyhood of John Gilbert 
was spent, in the manner common to farmer's 
lads of that da}-. His opportunities for ob- 
taining an education were necessarily meagre, 
but he did not fail to take advantage of such 
as were afforded b}- the imperfect schools of 
the new country. Through the winter 
months of three years in his life, when his 
services were not needed ort the f;irm, he 
was sent to school, where he was instructed 



in the elementar}- branches of learning. He 
supplemented this instruction with much 
miscellaneous reading and study, which 
strengthened his mind and .stored it with 
useful information, hi 1836 he came to 
Indiana in the employ of the American Fur 
Company, at a salary of $15.00 per month. 
The company had a warehouse on the cor- 
ner of First and Division streets in this city, 
and engaged in the purchase, packing, and 
shipping of large quantities of furs and deer 
skins. The territory between Evansville 
and St. Louis, Mo., was " worked " b\- Mr. 
Gilbert for two years, during which time he 
learned the ways of the people and saw that 
he could better his condition by working for 
himself. This new west, then rapidly de- 
veloping, began to teem with opportunities 
for the young, energetic, and ambitious. 
He had saved his earnings and bought a 
team of horses. Clocks were about this 
time introduced to the pioneers of the west 
and were easily sold at good prices, but 
money was scarce and the-\ender was gen- 
erally required to sell on credit or take his pay 
in trade. Young Gilbert traded his horses for 
clocks and traded his clocks to the farmers 
for cattle, drove his cattle to the markets of 
St. Louis, and thus laid the foundation for his 
present splendid fortune. He then settled 
at Golconda, in Pope county, Ills., and be- 
gan the business of a general merchant, 
at the same time bu}ing tobacco and other 
country produce. His restless activity, close 
attention to business, and steadfast adher- 
ence to honorable methods, gained for him 
wealth and high social position. His abili- 
ties as a manager grew with the increase of 
his capital. For twenty years he continued 
his mercantile pursuits at Golconda with 
success. During this time he embarked in 
the steamboat business, his first venture 
being in a line of steamers between Louis- 
ville, Ky., and New Orleans, La., and he 



216 



BANKS. 



has since been prominently identified with 
steamboat interests on various rivers of the 
west. During the civil war period he owned 
several boats in the service of the govern- 
ment, and was president of a line of steam- 
ers plying between this city and Cairo. At 
the close of the war he organized the 
Evansville & Tennessee River Packet Com- 
pany, and started the first boat on the line 
from Evansville to Florence, Ala. This line 
has ever since made regular trips between 
the two points. He has been connected 
with the Evansville and Cairo line of steam- 
boats since its organization, and was lar<rel\- 
interested in the E\ansville & New Orleans 
Packet Companv while it existed. Since 
his connection with steamboat matters he 
has had built, either for himself or for the 
companies he represented, a number of 
steamboats, prominent among which are the 
"W. A. Johnson," "Silver Cloud," "Idle- 
wild," "Red Cloud," and "Joe Fowler." 
His vessel interests being centered princi- 
pally at Evansville, he removed here in 1S72 
and has since been identified with the vari- 
ous interests of the citj-. As originator and 
vice-president of the Citizens' Insurance 
company, vice-president of the Merchants' 
National bank, president of the Evansville 
Street Railway company, vice-president of 
the Old National bank, and as a stockholder 
in \-arious other enterprises, he has exhib- 
ited rare skill and sagacity as a man of 
affairs. He is also president of the Paducah, 
Ky., gas company, and a large stockholder 
in the Citizens National bank of that place. 
Dunng his residence at Golconda, 111., he 
held the office of ma3'or of that city, and 
since coming to Evansville has been one of 
her most enterprising and public spirited 
citizens. 

January 6th, 1S42, he was married to Miss 
Cornelia A. Bucklin, a native of Massachu- 
setts, whose death, occurring December 



29th, 1S87, was deeply lamented b}- the 
many friends whom the beaut)- of her char- 
acter had drawn about her. Of this union 
six children have been born: Henr\' C, 
Eliza, Fannie G., Mar\', 'William and John. 
Col. Johx Riieinlander, secretary and 
treasurer of the People's Savings Bank, has 
achieved an honorable record as citizen and 
soldier. April 26, 1828, and the city of 
Heilegenstadt, Germanv, were the date and 
place of his birth. His parents, Godfried 
Rheinlander and wife, emigrated from Ger- 
many to this country in 1844. A year later 
they reached Evansville, ha\ing sojourned 
for a time at Cincinnati, Ohio. They were 
respectable people, with the simple ways 
and industrious habits of the pioneers of this 
section. The early training of Col. Rhein- 
lander was obtained in schools of his native 
country. Soon after reaching this cit\' and 
at the very commencement of his young 
manhood he enlisted in the volunteer armies 
of the United States to assist in the campaign 
against Me.xico. Going to the front he ren- 
dered efficient service. When the civil war 
broke out he raised a company — B of the 
Twenty-fifth Indiana Infantry — and at its 
organization was commissioned captain. 
Nine months later his valiant and faithful 
service won him the rank of lieutenant-col- 
onel, which he held until mustered out in 
the fall of 1864. In the battle of Hatchie 
Ri\er, Tenn., he received a gun shot wound 
through the right thigh and for a time was 
seriously disabled. His army record is lus- 
trous with heroism and patriotism. As a 
business man he has been enterprising 
and industrious. He began as a cigar 
manufacturer and for manv years continued 
in that business successfull3\ His industry 
and good management constantly increased 
his business, and his integrity was alwaj's 
manifest in his dealings with his customers 
and employes. He has served the public 



BTOGRAPHICAL. 



217 



in many important relations, notabl}' as 
count\- coniinissionfr and county treasurer. 
In 1S7 :; lie was made a trustee and director 
in tlie sax'ings l^aiik, whicii important trust 
he continues to execute. In 1S8S he was 
called to preside as ciiief executiye of the 
bank. He is a member of the F. & A. M. 
and A. O. U. W. fraternities. Intelligent, 
inanly and modest, he has attained an enyi- 
able position in eyer\' relation of life. He 
has been married three times. In 1S49 Miss 
Maria Darling became his wife. Four 
children, E\a, Alice, Florence, and John W. 
were born of this union. The death of this 
wife occurred in 1862, and three years later 
the Colonel was married in Cincinnati, Ohio, 
to Miss Margaret Barg, to whom one child, 
Alexander, was born. She died in 1S72, 
and a few years afterward he married Miss 
Christine Hedderich, to whom two children 
haye been born. 

Samuel M. Archer, capitalist and 
banker, was born in Indiana Territor}- within 
the present limits of Gibson county, Febru- 
ar)' 24, 1809. He is the fourth son and onh' 
suryiying child in a family of nine children. 
His father, Thomas Archer, of South Caro- 
lina, farmer, came to Indiana Territory in 
yery early days, and settled in what is now 
Gibson count}-. He was instrumental in 
^organizing that count}-, was one of the pio- 
neer citizens of character and influence, and 
took an actiye part in the public interests of 
that section. As a soldier in the Indian war, 
he rendered effectiye serxice for his country, 
being in the battle of Tippecanoe under 
General Harrison. The boyhood of Sam- 
uel Archer was spent upon his father's farm 
in the manner common to the pioneer lads 
of that da}-. His business career was be- 
gun at Princeton, Ind., where he entered 
the general merchandise store of Robert 
Stockwell, as clerk, in 1827. H\- ditit of 
industry and economy the young man suc- 



ceeded in gaining admission as a partner in 
the concern, in which relation and as sole 
proprietor, he continued twenty "s-ears. 
Coming to E\ans\ille in 1855, he embarked 
in the wholesale dry goods business with 
D. J. Mackey, piu-suing it successfully seyen 
years. In 1867 he began a banking and in- 
surance business with John D. Roche as a 
partner. This partnership was dissolyed by 
the death of Mr. Roche in 1870, when 
he sold the insurance business and de- 
deyoted himself to his bank, which 
he has since conducted with marked 
ability and gratifying success. He has 
been a director in the Eyansyille (now 
Old) National bank, for twenty years; is a 
stockholder in the First National bank, and 
for some time seryed on its board of direc- 
tors. During the early part of his career as 
banker he met many heay}- re\-erses, losing 
$10,000 in bonds by robbery, and sustaining 
heayy losses in the failure of the Eyansville 
rolling mills. But being one of the best of 
financiers and possessing in a high degree all 
the qualities essential to the successful bus- 
iness man, he moyed steadily forward, 
and by practicing honorable methods has 
attained a high rank among those noted for 
shrewdness and ability. He was married in 
1845 to Miss Mary E. Snethen, a natiye of 
Maryland. Of this union three children 
haye been born; Annie, Lacy and Charles 
S., all distinguished by accomplishments of a 
high order. Mr. Archer and his family are 
prominent members of Grace Presbyterian 
church. 

Cir.\KLEs II. RrrxKR, paying teller of the 
First National bank, was born October 4, 
1854, at Cassel, German}-. The only child 
of John D. and Elizabeth (Bernat) Ritter, 
natiyes of Germany, he was early thrown 
upon his own resources b}- being left an 
orphan. His father was a cabinet-maker 
and followed that yocation during the brief 



718 



BANKS. 



period which ehipsed between his settlement 
here in 1859, and the breaking out of the 
civil war. Responding to the call of his 
but recently adopted country, he enlisted in 
Co. K, Thirty-Second Indiana Infantry. 
Upon the organization of this companj' he 
was elected to a lieutenanc}- and later was 
promoted, for valor and efficienc_y, to the 
rank of captain. On Chickamauga's battle- 
field he laid down his life, heroicalh- leading 
his command. Early after his enlistment, 
in 1S61, the death of his wife occurred. 
Charles Ritter was reared and educated by 
his uncle, Charles Ritter, now deceased. 
He early entered a dry goods store as a 
clerk, and at the age of fifteen was em- 
ployed in the First National bank as a mes- 
senger. His ability and integrity soon 
proved themselves. He rose rapidly, first 
to the place of assistant book-keeper, then 
to that of receiving teller and at length was 
promoted to his present important position. 
By industry and economy he has accumulated 
some valuable property, but perhaps the 
richest of his possessions, he being a young 
man with the best of his life's work before 
him, is his excellent reputation for capacit}' 
and honor. He is a member of the I. O. 
O. F. May 7th, 1878, he was united in 
marriao-e to Miss Louisa M. Schmidt, a 
native of this city, daughter of Charles 
Schmidt, a well known citizen. They have 
two children: Fred D.; and Marie Louise. 

Michael Schaeffer, the cashier of the 
People's Savings bank, is a young man 
whose attainments in the past bespeak for 
him a bright future. He was born July 10, 
1861, in this city. His parents, Peter A. 
and Maria (Janz) Schaeffer, were natives of 
Germany, and now reside in Evansville. Of 
a family of nine children he is the only sur- 
vivor. He received a Hberal education in 
the public schools. Trinity Catholic school, 
and the commercial college of Kleiner & 



Wrioht. When sixteen vears of age he was 
employed as a clerk. April i, 1880, he was 
appointed cashier of the Savings bank, hav- 
ing previously served as a clerk and book- 
keeper for about two years. As an efHcient 
accountant, an able manager, and a courte- 
ous gentleman, he has contributed largely to 
the success of the institution with which he 
is connected. He was married May 2, 1888, 
to Miss Kate Negele, a daughter of George 
Neifele, a well known citizen. Mr. and Mrs. 
Schaeffer are members of Trinity Catholic 
church. 

Reixhold F. Schor, chief book-keeper 
of the First National bank, was born in 
Prussia, March 25, 1844. His paternal 
grandfather, Fraugott Schor, was a school 
teacher in Germany. His parents. E.- G. 
and Pauline S. (Boehmer) Schor, were na- 
tives of Schweidnitz, Prussia, and came to 
this city in 1S54. E. G. Schor, born April 
2, 1820, was a merchant tailor in his native 
country, and for some time followed that 
. business after settling in Evansville. For 
thirteen years he was in the office of the 
Evansville Union, and for eleven years past 
! has been engaged as a manufacturer of pot- 
tery and stone ware. He is the father of 
j one son and two daughters : Reinhold F., 
; Mary (now Mrs. John Groom) and Martha 
! (now Mrs. S. L. Bray). Reinhold Schor 
was educated in the public schools of his 
native country, and of this city, graduating 
from the high school in 1S62. Since that 
time, by much miscellaneous reading and 
study he has attained a broad acquaintance 
with the best works in literature and science. 
In geology and conchology he is especially 
proficient. In 1882, the city council ap- 
pointed him trustee of the public schools, 
which position he held for three years. 
: When a young man he learned the printer's 
trade, and worked as a compositor for some 
time, and later served as deputy county 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



221 



auditor under Victor Bisch. He was then 
called by H. Q. Wheeler to take a position 
as clerk and book-keeper in the bank with 
which he is now connected. His long con- 
nection with the bank, his faithful attention 
to dut}-, and his uni]uestioned integrity con- 
nect his personal history with the annals of 
the bank. He is a member of the K. of P. 
and I. O. O. F. fraternities. He was mar- 
ried August 1 6, 1 868, to Miss Mary E. 
Schmutte, a native of this city, and daughter 
of the pioneer, Henr}' Schmutte. They 
ha\e four children: Bertha N. (now Mrs. 
H. S. Haynes, of Owensboro, Ky.,), Ernest 
A., Annie, and Arthur H. 

James H. Cutler. — Among those deserv- 
ing special mention in this chapter is Mr. 
James H. Cutler, cashier of the First Na- 
tional Bank of Evansville. He was born in 
Highgate, Franklin county, Vt., December 
12, 1S29. His father, Jesse Cutler, was a 
manufacturer and farmer and a gentleman 
of prominence and influence. He was a suc- 
cessful business man and i|uite largely iden- 
tified with local politics. He represented 
his district in the general assembly and filled 
other positions of trust and responsibility. 
James. H. was reared on his father's farm 
and received an academical education. While 
yet in his teens he began life as a clerk in a 
general store in his native village. His em- 
ployment was not wholly uncongenial, but 
the rigorous climate so impaired his health 
that a change of locality seemed imperative, 
and in 1S54 he decided to remove to St. 
Louis, Mo., but learning of the superior ad- 
vantages offered for settlement in Evans- 
ville, which at this time had begun to assume 
prominence as a commercial center, he de- 
cided to make it his future home. Although 
he had just passed his majority he had 
alreadv laid the substructure of a sound 
business education, and in a little time he 
accepted a position as book-keeper in the 
13 



house of Johnson & French. In i860 he 
began his career as a banker in the old 
Canal bank, which at the time was one of 
the most important financial institutions in 
the southern part of the state. Upon its 
reorganization as a national bank, in 1863, 
Mr. Cutler retained his former position. 
His industr}-, integrit\-, and sound views on 
finance soon made his services almost indis- 
pensable to the bank's success, and in 1865 
he became its cashier, which position he 
still retains. Those familiar with the history 
of this bank assert that its success and the 
enviable position it holds among the sub- 
stantial and successful banks of the state is 
due largely to Mr. Cutler's efforts, and that 
among the bankers of the cit}' very few if 
any have a more extended knowledge of 
monetary matters or possess in a greater de- 
gree the esteem and confidence of the busi- 
ness men of the city. In his religious and 
political affiliations he is a Presb^'terian and 
a republican. In 1857 Mr. Cutler was 
married to Miss Lorrain M., daughter of 
Deacon Asa Dean, one of the prominent 
and substantial citizens of Bakersfield, Frank- 
lin county, Vt. Three children have been 
born to them: Alberta L., William II., and 
Adelbert J. 

William L. Swormstkdt, cashier of the 
Citizen's National bank, was born at Chicago, 
III, September ayih, 1S62. His father, 
Leroy Swormstedt, a native of Ohio, was 
for many years a merchant in Chicago, 111., 
and a planter in Louisiana, his health caus- 
ing him to spend his winters in the south and 
his summers in the north. He was well- 
known in this city, where for some time he 
li\ed as an invalid, his death occurring in 
March, 1888. The mother of William 
Swormstedt, whose maiden name was Mary 
E. Lovvrj', was a daughter of William J. 
Lowry, at one time one of the most promi- 
nent of Evansville's citizens. William re- 



FEDERAL AND MUNICIPAL. 



ceived a good education and was well fitted 
for a business career. He entered the Citi- 
zens National bank in 1882 as a book- 
keeper, in the next year became assistant 
cashier, and in January, 1884, was elected 
cashier, which responsible position he has 
since held, discharging its duties with rare 
good judgment and to the entire satisfaction 
of the directory of the bank. He is also 



engaged in the general insurance business, 
is treasurer of the Germania building asso- 
ciation and holds important offices of trust 
in some of the lodges to which he belongs. 
He is an active and influential member of 
the F. & A. M., and K. of P. fraternities, 
having attained the degrees of Templarism 
in the former and the Uniform Rank in the 
latter. 



CHAPTER VII. 

Bv M. J. BRAY, M. 1). 

The Mkdical Profession — Early Practitioners — Hardshii's ok the Practice — 
Diseases Most Prevalent in Pioneer Times — Medical Societies — Hospitals 
— Colleges — The Physicians of the Past — Present PRACTiTioNers. 




HEREVER frail man has li\ed and 
ii.««« suffered, in the earliest times as \vell 
as to-day, the vocation of the phys- 
ician has ranked among the most important 
of human pursuits. Who is more eagerly 
welcomed than he, when the pale messenger 
casts his shadow oYcr the household r But 
experience teaches, and the opinion will pre- 
\'ail that, 

" Clod and the doctor we alike adore, 
Just on the brink of danger, not before. 
The danger past, both are alike requited. 
Ciod is forgotten and the doctor slighted." 

No professional record is found of the 
healing art as practiced in this vicinity 
before 1S20, and all that is known prior to 
that time is purely traditional. PreYious to 
1 81 2 the southwestern part of Indiana, now 
called the " Pocket," was a dense wilder- 
ness, and it was not until about 1815 that 
there was an opportunity for a jihysician to 
practice his profession, owing to the country 
being so sparsely settled. Those who were 
residents at that time were obliged to rely 
upon the roots and herbs indigenous to the 
soil for a means of cure for such diseases as 
were common. The pioneer physician was 
generalU' without a medical education, and 
if he attained success it was the result of 
experience. Few knew anything of materia 
mcdica, and in surgcrv their knowledge was 
confined to a few of the minor operations, 
such as blood-letting, extracting teeth, and 
lancing a superficial abcess. Dr. Hornby, 



an Englishman, was the first to settle with- 
in the present limits of \'anderburgh countv- 
He came in 1818, made his home near 
McCutchanville, and gave to the people of 
that vicinity the benefit of such medical 
knowledge as he possessed. He was not a 
graduate of any medical school; what 
knowledge of medicine he had was obtained 
in an apothecary shop. He entered a tract 
of wild land and made for himself and fam- 
ily a comfortable home. He was a good 
citizen and neighbor and died about 1832. 

Dr. William Trafton, who came in 1820 
from Lewiston, Maine, was the pioneer 
physician of EYansYille. He had attended 
medical lectures at Dartmouth medical col- 
lege and was well qualified for a frontier 
physician. Bold and decided in his opinions 
and untiring in the pursuit of his profession, 
he had but little respect for the opinions of 
others or the dogmas of medicine, unless 
based on common sense. He originated 
new views upon the pathology of disease 
and inaugurated a new mode of treat- 
ment. Discontinuing the practice of 
treating remittent fevers with emetics, 
cathartics and calomel, he introduced 
the present mode of giving quinine. 

After a protracted illness his death oc- 
curred in 1857. Contemporaneous with Dr. 
Trafton was Dr. Shaw, whose frail consti- 
tution was unable to endure the severe labor 
and exposure incident to the practice at that 

(223) 



29.h 



THE MEDICAL PBOEESSIOX. 



time, and he died siiortly after his settle- 
ment. In 1822 Dr. Harxey PhilHps came 
from New York and settled in Evansx'ille. 
He had a superior mind, and had studied 
under some of the best medical teachers in 
New York city. He lif^Mted the brachial 
artery just above the arm for aneurism, 
caused by blood-letting, it being the first 
capital operation in surgery performed in 
the count}'. He was just in middle life 
when he came, and died about 1S25. 

In 1833, two brothers, A. P. and Isaac 
Hutchinson, located in E\ans\ ille. They 
were steam or botanical practitioners, and 
were graduates of a botanical institute in 
Cincinnati. They were valuable citizens, 
and had a reputable practice. Isaac was 
appointed collector of the port of Evansxille, 
in 1857. His death occurred in the follow- 
ing year; that of his brother in 1841. Dr. 
Lane, from Kentucky, and a relati\e of 
Gen. Joseph Lane, hung out his shingle in 
1834. He was self-educated, and an excel- 
lent practitioner of medicine. He had the 
confidence of the community, and was a fine 
type of the frontier gentleman. He wrote 
upon politics and medicine, and was a good 
speaker and a ready debater. He was a 
regimental surgeon during the war with 
Mexico, where he contracted a disease of 
which he died soon after his return. 

Dr. Bray came to the county in 1835, and the 
following year a bright galaxy of medical 
gentlemen, all well educated, refined and 
accomplished, gathered in the then flourish- 
ing town. Among them were Drs. G. B. 
Walker, Daniel Morgan, L. L. Laycock, 
Lindley, and William Trafton. 

Hardshifis of the Practice. — The practice 
of medicine in the pioneer days was 
attended with difficulties that physicians of 
the present day can scarcely comprehend. 
Roads and bridges were almost un- 
known in certain localities. In hi'di 



water dug-oiUs were used in cross- 
the creeks, and when belated or, 
as fre(|uently happened, the physician got 
lost in the woods, he made a pillow of his 
saddle and wrapping his blanket around 
him, lay down under the spreading branches 
of a tree and passed the night as best he 
could. The nearest drug store until 1836 
was at Louisville, 200 miles away, and the 
physician carried his own medicines. 
People were poor, money was difiicult to 
obtain, and the pioneers called the physician 
only in extreme cases, each family supply- 
ing itself with barks, roots and herbs which 
were administered in the simpler forms of 
disease. 

Early Diseases. — In the early days the 
most common forms of disease were remit- 
ting and intermitting fevers, epidemic ery- 
sipelas, pneumonia and bowel complaints. 
The year 1836 was very sickly. Intermit- 
tent and remittent fevers prevailed 
in an epidemic form. In tlie win- 
ter of 1837 and 1838 epidemic pneumonia 
prevailed and more than fifty people died. 
The disease was caused by cold rain and 
snow. The snow was more than a foot 
deep and there was sleighing three or more 
weeks. In about the year 1842 erj-sipelas 
visited this localit\-, prevailing in certain 
districts in an endemic form. The people 
called it lilack tongue. It was sudden in its 
attack and ran its course rapidly, generally 
proving fatal. 

Shortly after the first settlements were 
made the people were scourged with a 
disease commonly known as milk sickness. 
This disease prevailed not only in the 
country but in the towns, and in fact through- 
out the state. As soon as the land was 
placed under cultivation it disappeared 
Cases were more numerous in the fall of 
the year than at an\- other time, and were 
more general and obstinate in a dry season 



EARLY DISEASES. 



025 



than a wet one. Between the salt well and 
the village of Evansville, the ground was 
strewn with the bleached bones of cattle 
that had died from it. It may have been 
a species of bacteria, or a vegetable poison. ^ 
Whatever it was, it made the springs and I 
surface water unhealth}- and even poisoned 
the dew which gathered upon the herbage. 
Milch cows imparted the disease to their 
cahes, and the people contracted it from 
drinking the milk or eating the butter or 
beef of diseased cattle. Dr. Trafton made 
several post-mortem examinations, and in 
his opinion it was caused by a specific 



poison which spent its force upon the '. 
mucous membrane of the stomach and 
bowels, the pyloric orifice being particular^ • 
implicated and frequently closed up. The 
old treatment was severe purgation. Dr. ; 
Trafton, however, changed the practice, 
giving medicines to subdue irritation and in- 
flammation, and afterward mild purgatives. 
This treatment was so simple and effectual 
that it disarmed the disease of much of its 
terror, and the doctor was almost deified by 
his admiring countrymen. The scalpel in his 
hands was the key which unlocked the : 
mystery of the disease. 

Cholera. — Evansville and \'anderburgh 
county were visited with cholera in 1S32, 
the germs of the disease being brought by 
passengers from New Orleans. It came in 
the form of an epidemic, made its attack : 
suddenlv and ran its course rapidly. Com- 
ing in the summer it left late in the fall, and 
was not as fatal here as in other places, al- 
though it caused about twenty-five or thirty 
deaths in a population of 225 or 250. It 
yielded in its first stages to simple remedies 
such as calomel, opium, paregoric or red 
pepper. There was at the time but one 
physician in the town and county. In 1 85 1 and 
1852 the disease again appeared. The san- 
itary condition of E\ansville, however, had 



been much improved by sewerage and 
ditching. Water street had been cut down 
ten feet and all stagnant water and ponds 
had disappeared. The sanitary condition of 
the city was such that tiie disease was kept 
under control. There were onlv a few cases 
above Main street, the greater number being 
in Lamasco and below. The Germans suf- 
fered more than natives, owing it is pre- 
sumed, to the crowded condition in which 
they lived. B. F. Dupuy, a very prominent 
citizen of that day, died of the disease in 
1852. The disease prevailed in a sporadic 
form from 1849 to 1852. In 1866 it again 
appeared for a short time, the infection 
coming from New York. There were but 
few deaths, and the greater number of them 
were among old people and invalids. The 
last visitation was in 1873. The most vi"-or- 
ous sanitary measures were enforced by the 
city authorities, and it lasted but a short 
time. It assumed a malignant tvpe in July 
of that year, but the deaths were principally 
among loafers and strangers. It prevailed 
with fearful violence in the neiirhborino- 
town of Mount Vernon, whence the inhabit- 
ants fled panic-stricken. 

Surgery. — Before the coming of Dr. Bray 
there had been no physician in Evansvillle 
who made an)- pretensions to a knowledge 
of surgical science. Blood-letting, tooth- 
pulling and lancing were about the onh- op- 
erations undertaken by the pioneer doctors. 
The unfortunate man who met with an ac- 
cident serious enough to fracture a femur or 
crush his skull was either a cripple for life 
because of inferior attention, or died from 
the results of his injuries. Dr. Bray had 
pursued his studies in the east and settled in 
Evansville with the intention of practicing 
surgery. The town was in a promising 
growth at the time, 1835, 'i"*^ southwestern 
ern Indiana, southeastern Illinois,and western 
Kentucky, localities to which the town was 



22fi 



THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 



rapidly becoming a recognized supply depot, 
there was not a skilled surgeon. The doc- 
tor's services were early in demand, and his 
practice through the long period since his 
settlement here, now more than fift}- years, 
has extended throughout all the territory 
adjacent to Evansville, and has embraced 
almost every form of operation known to 
the surgical science. In later years man)- 
well educated and skillful surgeons located 
in Evansville, and a great variety of delicate 
and important work has been done success- 
full}-. It is pleasant to note the fact that ^^^ 
surgeons of Evansville, as a class, have 
maintained a very high standing in scientific 
circles throughout the country. Their ex- 
periences and reports of cases are given 
much weight b}^ practitioners generally. In 
1835 Mr. Bray amputated a leg above the 
knee, in Evansville, which was the first 
operation of the kind in the county. Dr. 
Trafton had charge of the patient, a young 
man traveling west. He had a compound 
complicated dislocation of the ankle joint 
caused by an accident with machinery. Such 
injuries are like gunshot wounds — they sel- 
dom heal by the first intention. The tibia 
was dislocated inwards, the fibula fractured 
at its lower third, and the sole of the foot 
turned outwards. The capsular ligament 
was lacerated, and the synovial fluid of the 
joint escaped. Dr. Bray advised immediate 
amputation, but was overruled by Dr. Traf- 
ton and his patient, and no other physician 
was in the place. The inflammation caused 
bv the injur}- terminated in mortification of 
the leg. Dr. Bray was then requested b}' 
Dr. Trafton and his patient to amputate. 
He declined at first, but finally yielded to 
their wishes. The patient survived only a 
short time. While in a state of in artindo 
mortis he desired the prayers of a minister, 
but there was none in the town to smooth 
the pillow of the dying boy among strangers. 



The first trepanning operation in the town 
was performed by Dr. Bray in 1836, upon 
John Stinson. The whole length of the 
parietal bone was fractured and one plate 
depressed under the other, caused by a blow 
from an axhandle in the hands of John Roos. 
This depression was removed by the eleva- 
tor and he recovered consciousness, but in 
about six weeks he had svmptoms of an 
abscess between the dura-mater and inner 
plate of the skull. Dr. Bray opened the 
abscess by taking out a plug of the bone; 
a large quantity of pus escaped, and the 
patient made a good recovery. 

Medical Societies. — The first medical 
society was organized in Evansville in 1845, 
was named the Evansville Medical Societv, 
and the following was the preamble: 

" Whereas, We, the undersigned physi- 
cians of Evansville and its vicinity, con- 
vinced of the expediency and importance of 
establishing a medical societ}' for the pur- 
pose of promoting professional harmony 
and improvement, and to exalt generally the 
character, usefulness and dignity of the pro- 
fession, do herebv unite ourselves into an 
association, for the attainment of these 
objects, and do appoint Drs. William H. 
Stockwell, G. B. Walker and S. Thompson 
a committee to prepare a suitable constitu- 
tion and by-laws, to be submitted to the 
society on Saturday evening, January 4, 
1845." Signed by William Trafton, T. 
Muhlhausen, S. Thompson, M. J. Bray, 
Daniel Morgan, W. Hamilton Stockwell, 
Percival Egerton Garrick and G. B. Walker. 
A suitable constitution and b3'-laws for the 
guidance of the society were adopted. The 
high ideas which governed the early physi- 
cians in their practice and show the loft}' 
character of the men then constituting the 
medical fraternity here, are presented in 
the following Code of Medical Ethics as 
adopted bv the society: 



MEDICAL SOCIETIES. 



227 



Rule I. It is the duty of every medical 
practitioner to treat his patients with stead- 
iness, tenderness and humanit}', and to make 
due allowance for that mental weakness 
which usually accompanies bodily disease. 
Secrecy and delicacy should be strictly 
observed in all cases in which they may 
seem to be peculiarly required. 

2. The strictest observance of temper- 
ance cannot be too strongly inculcated on the 
minds of the practitioners of medicine and 
surgeons, a clear and vigorous intellect and 
a steady hand being absolutely necessary 
to the successful practice of these branches 
of medical science. 

3. Unfavorable prognostications should 
never be made in the presence of patients; 
yet, should there seem to be immediate dan- 
ger, it becomes the duty of the medical 
attendant to apprise the patient's friends of 
that circumstance. 

4. In every instance in which one phys- 
ician has been called on to visit the patient 
of another, a consultation with the former 
medical attendant shall be proposed. Con- 
sultations in difficult cases should always be 
recommended, and the physician called on 
for that purpose should always pav the 
greatest degree of respect to the practitioner 
first employed, and allow him the privilege 
of delivering all the directions agreed upon. 

5. Special consultations are sometimes 
wished for; in such cases the physicians 
called on should carefully guard against 
paying another visit, unless he should be 
requested to continue his services by the 
patient or some of his friends. 

6. When one physician is called on to 
visit the patient of another in his absence, 
or during short indispositions, he should not 
manifest a wish to continue in attendance 
any longer than the physician first called on 
should be able to resume charge of the case, 
unless a continuance of his services should 



be expressl}- wished for by the patient or 
his friends. 

7. Physicians should not visit their pa- 
tients too frequently, lest seeing them oftener 
than necessary might produce unsteadiness 
in the treatment. 

8. Theoretical discussions should not be 
too freely indulged in consultations, as they 
frequentl)^ give rise to much perplexity with- 
out any improvement in practice. 

9. The junior ph\sician in attendance 
should always deliver his opinion first, and 
when there are more than two, the others, 
according to seniorit}-, and a majority should 
decide; but in the event of a tie, the physician 
first in attendance should gi\e the casting 
vote in regard to the future treatment, and 
to him should be intrusted the future man- 
agement of the case, unless the patient or 
his relatives should object to his being con- 
tinued. 

10. Although the possession of a diploma, 
honorably acquired, furnishes presumptive 
evidence of professional ability, and entitles 
the possessor to pre-eminence in the profes- 
sion. 3-et the want of it should not exclude 
practitioners of experience and sound judg- 
ment from the fellowship and respect of the 
regular graduate. 

11. In consultations, punctuality in meet- 
ing at the same time should be strictly ob- 
served, but the physician who first arrives 
should wait a reasonable length of time for 
the arrival of others. A minute examina- 
tion of the patient, however, should not take 
place until one or more of the medical 
attendants are present, except in cases of 
emergency; all subsequent visits should, if 
practicable, be made by mutual agreement, 
and no medical discussion should take place 
in the presence of the patient. 

12. Attendance upon members of the 
profession or their families, should always 
be gratuitous, but should not be officiously 



THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 



obtruded should the circumstances of the 
medical practitioner indisposed enable him 
to make a recompense for medical services 
rendered to himself or family, it is his duty 
to do so, especially if he reside at a distance. 

13. When one practitioner is called on 
to visit a patient whose recovery has been 
despaired of b}' the physician first in attend- 
ance, and the disease should afterward ter- 
minate fatally under his management, he 
should avoid insinuating to the friends of the 
deceased that if he had been called on a day 
or a few hours sooner he could have effected 
a cure. Such a course of conduct is highly 
reprehensible and empirical in the extreme. 
And in the event of the patient's recov'ery, 
such a person should not assume all the 
credit, as the cure might have been partly 
effected by the medicines prescribed before 
he took charge of the case. 

14. The use of nostrums and quack 
medicines should be discouraged as degrad- 
ing to the profession, injurious to health, 
and often destructive of life. Should pa- 
tients, laboring under chronic complaints, 
obstinatel}' determine to have recourse to 
them, a reasonable degree of indulgence 
should be allov/ed to their credulity by the 
physician ; but it is his sacred duty to warn 
them of the fallacy of their expectations and 
the danger of the experiment, and the neces- 
sit)^ of strict attention to the effect produced 
by them, in order that their bad effects, if 
an}^ should be timely obviated. 

15. No physician should, either by pre- 
cept or example, contribute to the circula- 
tion of a secret nostrum, whether it be his 
own invention or exclusive property or that 
of another. For, if it be of real value, its 
concealment is inconsistent with beneficence 
and professional liberty, and if mj'sterj' alone 
give it value and importance, such craft 
impHes either disgraceful ignorance or 
fraudulent avarice. 



16. In all cases where diversity of opin- 
ion and opposition of interest give rise to 
controversy or contention between two or 
more members of the profession, the decis- 
ion should be referred to a sufficient num- 
jber of physicians, as they are frequently the 
onl}' persons in the community capable of 
properly estimating the merits of the dis- 
pute. But neither the subject litigated nor 
the decision thereon should be communi- 
cated to the public, as individual reputation 
might suffer and the credit of the profession 
generallv be injured. 

17. A wealthy physician, or one retired 
from practice, should refuse to give gratui- 
tous advice, unless the danger of the case, 
the absence of the practicing phvsician, or 
jthe poverty of the patient should warrant 
him in so doing. In all cases where he may 
|be preferred, he should recommend a con- 
sultation with some one engaged in active 
practice. This rule should be strictly ob- 
;served, as a contrary course is gratuitouslv 
depriving active industry of its proper 

reward. 

... 
I 18. When a physician is called on suddenly 

to visit the patient of another, in consequence 
of some unexpected or alarming change in the 
'sN'mptoms, he should adopt a temporar}- 
jplan of treatment suited to present circum- 
stances. He is not warranted in interfering 
afterwards, unless requested to take charge 
of the case, when he should propose an im- 
mediate consultation with the physician 
previously employed. 

19. Phvsicians should never neglect an 
opportunity of fortif3'ing and promoting the 
good resolutions of patients suffering under 
the bad effects of intemperate lives and 
vicious conduct, and in order that their 
counsels and remonstrances ma}- have due 
weight, it will readily be seen that they 
should have full claim to the blameless life 
and high moral character which has been 



MEDCIAL COLLEGES. 



239 



stated to be a necessary pre-requisite to an 
honorable stand in the profession. 

20. Medical men should " remember the 
Sabbath day to keep it hoh'," and visits 
should, as far as consistent with professional 
engaiiements, be made either before or after 
public worship, or during its intervals. 

The following is a list of the signers to 
the constitution and by-laws of the earh' so- 
ciety, and exhibits the names of the leading 
p|i\'sicians in Vanderburgh countv from 
1845 to 1S73: William Trafton, D. S. Lane, 

D. F. Muhlhausen, W. Hamilton Stockwell, 
G. B. Walker, Charles S. Weever, M. J. 
Bray, John R. Wilcox, Daniel Morgan, P. 

E. Garrick, Isaac Casselberry, John T. 
Walker, B. V. Peel, E. P. Spunine, L. L. 
Laycock, C. A. Foster, W. H. Byford, J. B. 
Stinson, William A. McDowell, Allan C. 
Ilallock, Mark Trafton, William Gramm, 
Hugh Ronalds, James G. Hatchet, Benjamin 
K. Davidson, Able D. Cook, John Conning- 
ton, D. A. Farnsley, W. M. Elliott, S. 
Ruark, J. P. DeBruler, Adolphus Wolkup, 
J. J. Pennington, F. Schellar, C. C. T\rrell, 
S. W. Thompson, J. B. Johnson, E. T. 
Runcie, T. C. Vannuys, T. H. Rucker, H. 
T. Legler, M. Winnings, W. G. Jones, B. J. 
Day, Oscar Kress, H. M. Harvey, M. 
Muhlhausen, John Maginnis, J. F. Hilliard, 
A. M. Owen, W. H. A. Lewis, M. C. 
Barkwell, W. M. Newell, R. H. Singleton, 
I. T. Conn, C. P. Bacon, Edwin Walker, J. 
W. Compton, E. Linthicum, J. II. Kenned}', 
J. W. Williamson, J. E. Harper, P. V. 
McCoy. 

The Evansville medical society, termin- 
ating in 1873, was superseded bv the Drake 
medical society, which continued in existence 
until 1878, when the Vanderburg county 
medical society was organized. 

Evansville Medical College. — The Evans- 
ville medical college was organized at the 
office of Drs. Trafton and Weever, in Evans- i 



ville, on the evening of March i, 1846, by 
the calling of Dr. G. B. Walker to the 
chair and the selection of Dr. L. L. Laycock 
as secretary. Articles of organization and 
by-laws were adopted. L. L. Laycock was 
elected dean of the college, and the follow- 
ing faculty chosen: L. L. Laycock, profes- 
sor of theory and practice ; S. R. Wilcox, 
professor of materia medica and therapeu- 
tics; G. B. Walker, professor of obstetrics; 
C. S. Weever, professor of anatoni}'; M.J. 
Bra)^ professor of surgery, and C. A. Fos- 
ter, professor of chemistry. The first course 
of lectures in the college commenced Mon- 
day, November 5, 1849. The class was 
composed of forty-one matriculates, nine of 
whom were candidates for graduation. The 
course was composed of five lectures 
per day, with the exception of Saturday, 
when there were but two lectures given. 
The first commencement was held in the 
Methodist church, on the evening of Satur- 
day, February' 23, 1850, when, with appro- 
priate ceremonies, including an address b\- 
Judge C. I. Battell, president of the board 
of directors, the degree of M. D. was con- 
ferred on William Gillespie, J. M. Graham, 
A. C. Halleck, J. C. Patton, C. R. Smith, 
F. Williams, E. P. Banning, A. A. McRey- 
nolds and W. Asselinian, after which the 
graduates were addressed b}- James E. 
Blythe, one of the most prominent law\ers 
in this part of the state. 

In 1850, W. Walling, M. D., of Prince- 
ton, Ind., was appointed professor of the 
institutes of medicine and medical jurispru- 
dence. The same year Prof. C. S. Weever 
resigned the chair of anatomy, and H. H. 
Byford, ^L D., of Mt. Vernon, Ind., was 
elected to the vacancy. The same ^-ear the 
honorary degree of M. D. was conferred 
upon Prof. C. A. Foster. 

Graduates of 1851: Abel C. Cook, 
John A. Cooper, George Detar, William R, 



230 



THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 



I^am, Lee Haslewood, George B. Lewis, 
Sam D. Moore, Edward D. Rathbone, 
Derastus Thomas, I. R. Tilman. Grad- 
uates of 1852: Augustus Defoe, William, 
Graham, James G. Hatchett, EHsha V. 
Mitchell, Shadrach Ruark, Richard Smyth 
and Enoch E. Welborn. 

In 1851, L. L. La3-cock, professor of 
theory and practice of medicine, resigned 
and was suceeded by Prof. W. H. Byford. 
Dr. Hugh Reynolds was appointed to the 
chair of anatomy, vacated b_\- Dr. B3'ford 
on his election to that of practice. Dr. 
William A. McDowell was appointed during 
his j'ear to the chair of institutes, which 
was made vacant by the resignation of W. 
Wallinrr, M. D. The chair was made vacant 
by the death of Dr. McDowelHn 1853, and 
was filled by the appointment of Dr. John 
T. Walker. 

Graduates of 1853: Henry M. Bacon, 
William M. Elliott, Fred McKasson, John 
Kivett, John W. Runcier, John Stott, Will- 
iam D. Laimer, Edwin W. Organ, Q. B. 
Welborn, William W. Welborn and Charles 
Wheeler. 

Graduates of 1854: Jacob Jenner, J. M. 
Ireland, E. T. Runcie, M. Muhlhausen, 
Thomas Wheeler, J. P. Pike, Milton H. 
Bacon, and Z. R. Millard. The lectures in 
the college terminated in 1856, and were not 
resumed until 1871, from which time they 
were continued up to 1883. In 1871 the 
facult}' was composed of the following gen- 
tlemen: G. B. Walker, obstetrics: Daniel 
Morgan, diseases of women and chijdren; 
William R. Davidson, physiology, M. J. 
Bra}-, surgery, J. P. DeBruler, theory and 
practice; Isaac Casselberry, medical juris- 
prudence; T. C. VanNe3-s, chemistry; M. 
C. Barkwell, anatomy; H. G. Jones, 
materia medica ; and A. M. Owen, eye and 
ear. 

The College Dispensary, under the im- 



mediate control of the facultv and supported 
by the city, was an invaluable adjunct of the 
college and one of great practical value to 
the student. It furnished a large field of 
observation, enabling the student to acquire 
proficienc}' in the art of examining, diagnos- 
ing and prescribing, and familiarized him 
with the manipulations belonging to minor 
surgery. Advanced students had cases of 
obstetrics and other patients intrusted to 
their attendance. A large number of pa- 
tients were annually treated, clinics being 
held at the dispensary ever}- day. The col- 
lege museum contained the usual specimens 
found in such a collection, as well as valuable 
anatomical preparations and pathological 
specimens. 

The following was the faculty in 1876-7: 
Daniel Morgan, M. D., professor of dis- 
eases of women and children: John II. 
Compton. M. D., professor of materia medica 
and therapeutics; J. E. Lilly, M. D., profes- 
sor of chemistry, pharmacy and toxicology; 

E. Linthicum, M. D., professor of genito- 
urinary and venereal diseases and clinical 
surgery; A. M. Owen, M. D., professor of 
surgery; G. B. Walker, M. D., professor of 
principles and practice of obstetrics; George 

F. Center, M. D., professor of ophthal- 
mology, otology and orthopoedic surgery: 
Edwin Walker, M. D., professor of anatomy; 
A. H. Bryan, M. D., professor of general 
pathology; N. G. Jones, M. D., professor of 
principles- and practice of medicine and clin- 
ical medicine; W. R. Davidson, M. D., pro- 
fessor of physiology and histology; N. W. 
Austin, M. D., lecturer on surgerj- relat- 
ing to venereal diseases; J. E. Harper, M. D., 
lecturer on medical jurisprudence and dem- 
onstrator of anatomy. 

From 1882 to 1884, when the college closed, 
the following physicians composed the faculty : 
Dr. P. Y. McCoy, professor of surgery; Dr. 
Edwin Walker, professor of clinical gyne- 



COLLEGES, HOSPITALS AND JOURNALS. 



-231 



cology and nervous diseases; Dr. C. P. 
Bacon, professor of diseases of women ; Dr. 
Geo'-ge P. Hodson, professor of obstetrics; 
Dr. F. W. Achilles, professor of chemistry 
and to.xicologv; Dr. L. D. Brose, professor 
ofanatom}-; Dr. C. E. Lining, professor of 
materia medica and therapeutics; Dr. E. 
Linthicum, professor of genito-urinary dis- 
eases; Dr. J. O. Stillson, professor of physi- 
ology and diseases of eve atid ear; Dr. H. 
G. Jones, professor of theory and practice ; 
Dr. G. M. Young, professor of hygiene and 
medical jurisprudence: Dr. Jacob Kerth, 
demonstrator of anatomy. 

Hospital Medical College. — The organi- 
zation of this institution was due to the 
efforts of Dr. A. M. Owen. It was chart- 
ered in 1872. Its first faculty was composed 
as follows: Dr. Geo. B. Walker, dean and 
professor of obstetrics; Dr. A. M. Owen, 
professor of surgery; Dr. Charles Knapp, 
professor of theory and practice of medicine; 
Dr. C. M. Dudenhausen, professor of 
materia medica and therapeutics; Dr. John 
E. Owen, professor of anatomy; Dr. A. M. 
Scott, professor of physiology; Dr. Edward 
Murphy, professor of chemistry; Dr. W. D. 
Neal, professor of diseases of women; Dr. 
J. S. Gardner, dean of anatomy. The col- 
lege was so ably managed and its instructors 
were of such high standing in the profession 
that its success was remarkable. Degrees 
were conferred on nine graduates at the 
close of the first year, and in all about tift)- 
physicians recei\ed its diplomas. The death 
of Dr. Walker, in 1887, was a serious blow- 
to the institution. The engrossing demands 
of Dr. Owen's practice forced his resigna- 
tion, and principally because of these losses 
in the faculty it was deemed best to suspend 
operations under the charter. The enter- 
prise was highly successful and it is now the 
purpose of the friends of the old institution 
to revive it and again make Evansville the 



seat of a medical college which will be the 
pride of the state. 

/lospitdh. — The U. S. hospital was fitted 
to receive patients in 1857. M. J. Bray, 
M. D., was appointed post-surgeon. His 
successors were J. P. DeBruler, M. D., and 
J. B. Johnson, M. D., appointed respectively 
in 1861 and 1862. The medical staff, com- 
posed of the college faculty, held clinics 
semi-weekly. After the late war the U. S. 
hospital was sold to the Sisters of Charity, 
who changed its name to St. Marv's hos- 
pital. 

The City hospital is a private enterprise, 
being instituted by some of Evansville's 
most respectable and 'skillful ph3-.sicians, 
among them Drs. W. S. Pollard, R. Hart- 
loff, E. Walker, G. Hodson, J. Kerth, J. C. 
McClurkin, arid E. Linthicum and others. 
It received its first patients in 1883, and has 
since done much good. 

The Small Pox hospital was built in 1884 
and is in a good condition to receive patients. 

The asvlum for the poor, built and sus- 
tained by the count}-, was finished in 1838, 
at an expense of about $80,000. 

Alcdical yotirnah. — The Water n Retro- 
spect of Medicine and Surgery, edited and 
pubhshed by H. M. Harvey, M. D.; N. A. 
Lewis, M. b., and H. M." Newell, M. D., 
was established in 1872; was quite popular, 
though with a limited circulation, and con- 
tinued publication but a short time. The 
Indiana Medical Reporter, a montlil}- 
journal of medicine and surgery, edited by 
Doctors A. M. Owen, J. W. Compton 
J. E. Harper, Arch. Dixon, and J. Gardner, 
was first issued in 1S80. It was a popular 
journal and ably conducted for about two 
jears before its publication ceased. 

Physicians of ?\'otc not Elscivhere Men- 
tioned. — From the earliest times the medical 
profession has been ably represented at 
Evansville. Many, no longer connected 



^32 



THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 



with the practice, deserve some notice in 
this connection. The brief mention made in 
each case may fail to do ample justice to 
the man whose memor}- it ma}- perpetuate, 
but it will serve at least to give his name an 
honorable place in the annals of the county. 

Elias T. Runcie, M. D., a native of 
Ireland, was the descendant of a talented 
family. Coming from his native country he 
made his way to the west and established 
himself in the practice of medicine and sur- 
gery at Millersburgh, Warrick county, Ind. 
He remained there for manv years in 
the successful discharge of his professional 
duties, and came to Evans ville in 1865. 
Here he soon attained a prominent place 
among physicians, which he held through- 
out his entire career. He graduated from 
the Evans ville Medical College in 1854 and 
afterward graduated from other medical 
colleges in the east. He served as a volun- 
teer surgeon at various places during the 
civil war. He was a member of the Evans- 
ville Medical Society, and his opinions were 
always accorded the greatest respect. He 
was a kind neighbor, a good citizen, and, 
beloved by all who knew him. His death 
occurred in 1877, after a practice of twenty- 
four years. 

D. T. Muhlhausen, M. D., came to Evans- 
\ille in 1839 and died in 1862. He was a 
graduate of the medical school of Heidel- 
berg, Germany. He had man}- social qual- 
ities , was a kind neighbor and a warm 
friend. He had a large German practice, 
and left a fair estate. 

John R. Wilcox, M. D., a native of Ohio, 
came here from the south about 1839 and 
died about 1858. He kept a drug store a 
short time before he engaged in the prac- 
tice of medicine, was a professor in the med- 
ical college of Evansville, where he displayed 
considerable talent and a broad knowledge 
of his profession. He was kind to the poor 



and served them with a willing heart, and 
always pleasant and agreeable, he had a 
large but not a lucrative practice. He was 
a member of the Presb^'terian church and 
had many Christian virtues. He left a 
small estate for his familv. 

William A. McDowel, M. D., came here 
about 1848 and died about 1853. He was a 
native of Kentucky and related to Dr. Eph- 
raim McDowel, who first performed the 
operation of ovariotomy. He had acquired 
a good classical and medical education in the 
east and practiced medicine successfully in 
Louisville, Ky., before he settled here. He 
wrote a medical work on consumption, which 
gave him notoriet\^ He was professor in 
the medical college of Evansville and made 
a good reputation as a lecturer. He was 
aggressive in his profession and original in 
his conceptions. He was tall and dignified 
in his person, had many social qualities and 
was intelligent. 

Adolphus F. Wulkop, M. D., settled in 
Evansville in 1854 and died thirty years 
later. He was a graduate of the medical 
university of Berlin, Prussia, president of the 
board of health in Evansville, and a member 
of the Evansville medical societ}-. He had 
a large German practice, was a kind neigh- 
bor, a warm friend, and was respected by all 
who knew him. 

John Walker, M. D., was a graduate of 
the Ohio medical college. He pursued his 
professional studies with his distinguished 
brother, Dr. G. B. Walker, as his preceptor. 
He began the practice of medicine and sur- 
gery' about the year 1839. He served as 
assistant surgeon m Col. Joseph Lane's regi- 
ment of Indiana infantr}-, in the war with 
Mexico. At the end of the war he resumed 
his practice in Evansville, became a member 
of the Evansville medical society, and pro- 
fessor of anatomy in the Evansville medical 
college. When the civil war broke out he 



EARLY PHYSICIAXS. 



23:"} 



was appointed surgeon of the Tweiity-Hfth 
Indiana Volunteers and while with the army 
contracted a disease from which he did not 
recover. His death occurred soon after he 
returned home. He had a paying practice 
and left a fair estate. 

Dr. J. T. Conn came to Evansvilie in 1S59. 
He was a well-informed physician, had a 
moderate practice, was a kind neighbor and 
a good citizen. He left a small estate for his 
wife and children. He and his family were 
always ver\' much resjiected. 

Hugh Ronalds, M. I)., was reared and 
educated in the state of Illinois. He came 
to Evansvilie about 1850 and died in 1S63. 
He was a graduate of the Louisville med- 
ical college, Kentuck}-, and a partner with 
Dr. M. J. Bray for three 3ears. He was a 
member of the Evansvilie medical society, 
served as secretary and afterwards as presi- 
dent. He was appointed professor of anat- 
omy in the Evans\'ille medical college and 
filled the place with distinction. He had a 
quick, acti\ e mind, improxed b\" books and 
study; had a large practice and left a fair 
estate. His man\- excellent qualities as a 
man, a citizen, and a physician made him 
many friends who deeph' mourned his loss 
when his death occurred. 

Washington A. Thompson, M. D., was a 
decendant of a talented and wealthy English 
family. His father was a physician of no- 
toriety, and at one time a professor in a 
medical college in St. Louis, Mo. He was 
a member of the Evansvilie medical society 
and was elected secretary. He had a bright 
mind improved by early training and had a 
fair practice. He added to his inherited 
estate and left his family- in comfortable cir- 
cumstances. He settled in Evansxille in 
1862 and died in 1870. 

Dr. O. Kress came to the city about the 
year 1856, and died in 1884. He was assist- 
ant surgeon in one of the hospitals in the 



late war, a successful practitioner, and a 
reputable citizen. 

Dr. H. G. Jones came to Evansvilie about 
the year 1862, and died in 1883; he was a 
skillful plnsician and succeeded in the 
practice. 

Dr. Thomas Runcie began the practice of 
medicine in Ingletield, Vanderburgh count}-, 
in 1849, and died in 1867. He was a gradu- 
ate of a medical college in Ireland; and 
achieved a pleasing degree of success in his 
professional work. 

Dr. John F. Milliard came to Evansvilie 
about 1S67 and died in 1878. He was a 
volunteer surgeon during a part of the late 
war. He had a good practice, was a fine 
physician, and stood high in professional 
circles. He was a delegate to the medical 
convention at San Francisco, Cal. 

Dr. J. Maginnis began the practice of 
medicine in Evansvilie about 1855, and died 
in 1873. He was a surgeon in the army 
during the late war and a member of the 
Evansvilie Medical Societ}-; was a good 
physician, and successful in practice. 

Dr. Jesse Burns came here in 1849 and 
died about 1S73. He was a fair physician 
and had a moderate practice. 

Dr. J. B. Johnston came to Evansvilie in 
1S62, and died in 1870. He was appointed 
surgeon of the Marine Hospital in 1862, and 
was a good physician. 

Dr. Winings, who came from Mt. Vernon, 
practiced medicine in Evansvilie for a short 
time. He wa; ver\- eccentric, one of his 
most prominent peculiarities being that he 
usually expressed a medical opinion in bib- 
lical language. On one occasion a lady 
called on him and during the conversation 
he learned that she had been under treat- 
ment by a homeopathist. He asked whether 
she thouirht she had been benefited. Re- 
ceivinsr an aflirmative answer, he said: 
"Well, whosoever employeth a homeopathic 



23Jf 



THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 



doctor and is holpen thereby hath confess- 
ed hysterics alread}- unto condemnation." 

The following named physicians practiced 
medicine in Vanderburgh county for awhile, 
but moved away and have since died : Dr. 
Charles S. Weever, Dr. P. E. Garrett, Dr. 
S. Thompson, Dr. L. L. Laycock, Dr. Neg- 
ley. Dr. Stockwell, Dr. Cregg, Dr. Everett, 
Dr. Newell, Dr. Finch, Dr. Welborn, Dr. 
Davidson, and Dr. Kruse. 

Roster of Physicians. — The following is 
a complete list of the ph3-sicians who have 
been licensed to practice in Vanderburgh 
county under the acts of 1885, relating to 
the practice of medicine, surgery and 
obstetrics: Richard A. Armistead, Henry S. 
Ashford, L. R. Allen, F. W. Achilles, Paul 
Artell, Thomas E. Allen, Nicholas R. 
Alve\-, James Allison, Alfred T. Bennett, 
Louis D. Brose, A. H. Bryan, William D. 
Babcock, Baxter W. Begley, Joseph F. 
Blount, John T. Binkley, O. A. Barten- 
werffer, Madison J. Bray, sr., A. B. Barker, 
Jerome S. Belter, S. L. Bryan, C. P. 
Bacon, S. D. Brooks, G. B. Beresford, T. 
J. Baldwin, Matilda Caldwell, John W. 
Compton, W. C. Couden, R. M. Corlew, Fred 
S. Compton, E. L. Carter, John L. Clark, 
William Cross, George P. Crosby, D. A. 
Crawford, Wilbur F. Clippinger, Joseph B. 
Crisler, John L. Dow, B. J. Day, William 
R. Davidson, F. L. Davis, H. T. Dixon, 
William W. Dailey, G. H. Eiskamp, Will- 
iam A. Fritsch, Walter Failing, Louis 
Fritsch, William Falsettor, Frederick F. 
Fullec, Carl Flucks, William E. Fitzgibbons, 
Simon Gumberts, J. S. Gardner, George 
Gilbert, Willis S. Green, Wilham Gramm, 
C. H. Gumaer, John F. Glover, A. M. 
Hayden, L. S. Herr, A. S. Hay- 
hurst, A. S. Haynes, Alonzo S. Hazon, 



Richard Hartloff, George Hodson, Henry 
H. Hooker, William A. Hewins, Thomas J, 
Hargan, P. N. Hoover, William A. Hunt. 
E. H. Hart, Samuel C. Henderson, H. W. 
Hendrick, Louis Henn, August F. filing. 
Joseph Jacobsohn, Charles Knapp, Jacob H, 
Kerth, F. H. Kelley, J. B. Kirkpatrick, Victor 
Knapp, William J. Laval. John Laval, Edward 
Linthicum, James H. Letcher, Thomas 
Maser, John C. Minton, Matthias Muhl- 
hausen, Carl G. R. Montaux, William A. 
Maghee, David A. Moore, Hans von Metz- 
radt, \"ictor H. Marchaud, Charles H. 
Mason, C. A. McMahan, Joseph C. Mc- 
Clurkin, P. Y. McCoy, J. C. McClurkin, 
Henry F. McCool, Alexander McMillen, 
Benjamin F. McCoy, John E. Owen, A. M. 
Owen, Arthur OXeary, P. Ottmann, Carl 
Ludwig Oehlmann, W. D. Neel, E. Noble, 
Elvis G. Neel, Seaton Norman, William S. 
Pollard, Johannes Pirnat, J. J. Pennington, 
T. E. Powell, George C. Purdue, Willis 
Pritchett, S. Rouark, William G. Ralston, 
Thomas H. Rucker, W. B. Rose, John 
Rutter, William J. Reavis, Ethan Spencer, 
P. L. Schuyler, Wilhelmina Suiter, Philip H. 
Simmons, Theodore Schulz, T. W. Stone, 
Henry M. Sherman, Freeman W. Sawyer, 
A. H. H. Sieffert, Augustus Soper, Lee 
Strouse, Katherine S. Sn3der, T. H. Tay- 
lor, William J. Tapp, Monroe Tilman, C. C. 
T\'rrell, George A. Thomas, George Taude- 
loff, B. C. Thorp, William Vitzdamm, 
George W. Varner, Geo. B. Walker, Floyd 
Williams, Isaiah Wilton, Edwin Walker, 
Anthony P. Witting, William Weber, Lud- 
son Worsham, Herman Wilde, W. M. Wal- 
den, C. V. Wedding, John B. Weever, 
Ralph 15. Watkins, Hamlin J. Walters, 
Thomas F. Williams, G. M. Young, and 
George W. Yates. 



BIOGEAFHICAL. 



2S.5 



Of Dr. William IIorxby. jk., liitlc can 
be added, from the brief records of liis day, 
to the mention of him in the preceding cluip- 
ter. The family liistory, however, gives 
him credit for possessing a medical educa- 
tion, lie studied medicine in Toville, in the 
count\' of Somerset, ami stud\ing further at 
St. George's hospital, in London, received 
the decree of M. D. Such is the record of 
the family, which is yet prominent and in- 
fluential in the county. This jiioneer doctor 
was born at Cerne-Abhas, in Dorsetshire, 
England, and was the son of an elder Wil- 
liam Hornb\-, who was a rugged sea captain 
ofthe north of England. William, jr., married 
one Sarah K. Rideout, and they had three 
children: William, Charles and Henrv. 
About the beginning of the present centur_y 
Dr. Hornby abandoned the practice of the 
healing art and took up agriculture in his 
native shire. Nineteen years later he yielded 
to the temptations that the new world held 
forth to every enterprising man and started 
with his family for America. They landed 
at Philadelphia in April or May, 1819, 
traveled by wagon to Pittsburg, and there 
being no better passage, they secured a flat- 
boat and made their way down the Ohio to 
Evansville. Thev selected their home in 
the woods of what is now Scott township, 
where Dr. Hornby resided until 1832, the 
year of his death. There he passed his 
days, answering the calls of the afflicted, 
raising his family honorabh- and comfort- 
ably, and clearing a farm for their future 
inheritance, thereby building to himself an 
imperishable monument in the county. 

William Tr.m-ton, M. D., an eminent 
pioneer physician, settled at Evansville in the 
first months of its existence, and died here 
after achieving a reputation growing out of 
his medical discoveries honorable to himself 
and highly valuable to the profession. He 
was born near the village of Lewiston, 



Maine, in 1792. His father was a New 
England farmer unable to give his son a 
collegiate education. He was disciplined in 
the school of self-reliance, and beginning the 
battle of life with a sound mind and a sound 
body as his richest inheritance, achieved 
success, for which he was indebted to no 
one but himself. He was not a profound 
scholar but, self-taught, was well informed 
and possessed a strong mind. He passed 
his youth in his native place and received his 
primary education in the free schools of the 
state. Later he pursued his studies, to fit 
himself for the practice of his profession, at 
Hebron academy, Maine, and received the 
title of M. D. from Dartmouth medical col- 
lege. New Hampshire. In 1819 he came to 
Evansville, and began the practice of medi- 
cine, being the first physician in the town; 
and though settlements were then few and 
widely separated, he was soon kept busy 
with the duties of his profession, for sickness 
prevailed to an alarming extent and even 
checked immigration, l^he first widespread 
disease with which he had to contend, ex- 
cepting the ever present effects of malarial 
poisoning, was milk-sickness. He studied 
the disease carefully and with the use of the 
scalpel discovered its pathology. His discov- 
eries led to new forms of treatment which were 
simple and effective. The}- robbed the disease 
of its terrors and won for Dr. Trafton the 
lasting gratitude of his neighbors. He 
prospected in other fields of medical science 
with fine results. Not satisfied with the 
approved treatment of diseases caused by 
the specific poison of malaria, he began a 
series of experiments which led to the use 
of quinine as a febrifuge, which has become 
the panacea for all miasmatic and periodic 
diseases. He also made many minor dis- 
coveries in the practice of medicine. The 
hardships of his practice were very great, 
and his inconveniences can hardly be con- 



^,96' 



THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 



ceived by the practitioner of to-daj-. For 
seventeen years liis nearest drug store was 
at Louisville, Ky., and d uring his entire 
practice the greater portion of this section 
was a wilderness, through which he trav- 
elled, often at the cost of much bodily 
suffering, and at times in the presence of 
great peril. On several occasions he 
crossed the angry waterS of the Ohio river i 
on floating cakes of ice in order to minister j 
to the wants of the sick and afflicted. His 
attainments and professional labors caused 
him to be ranked among physicians who 
had done work that would survive for ages. 
He had great force and positiveness of char- 
acter as a man, and his professional convic- 
tions were absolute. He was president of 
the first medical society organized in this 
county, and his opinions upon ([uestions 
of medicine were respected by all. He was 
one of the foremost in establishing the 
Evansville Medical College, and was one 
of its trustees at the time of his death. 
He was progressi\e, and took an active 
part aside from his professional work in the 
advancement of the city in early times. He 
attained an enviable prominence as a citizen. 
In 1827 he was a candidate for the state leg- 
islature, running against Charles Mcjohnston 
and Thomas Fitzgerald. Dr. Trafton beat 
them both in his own county, but falling be- 
hind in Posey and Warrick, was defeated. 
In 1828 he ran again for the same office and 
succeeded, his competitor being John Davis. 
He was not an orator, but brought sound 
business abilitv to aid him in the discharge 
of his official duties. His religious belief 
underwent a great change during his life. 
In his youth he made a public profession of 
religion and joined the Calvinist Baptist 
church. Later he renounced the doctrines 
of foreordination and predestination and the 
orthodox ideas of the future life. But to 
the last he believed in the eternal justness 



of God, and the souFs immortahty. How- 
ever, he was not a Christian. He was phil- 
anthropic, dealt fairly with his fellow men, 
was unselfish in his friendships and an ex- 
cellent neighbor. At times he appeared 
rough and unpolished which, no doubt, was 
a result of pioneer manners and associations. 
He was to some extent intemperate in the 
use of intoxicants, though he seldom in- 
dulged beyond the bounds of propriet}- and 
sobriety, or compromised his dignity or 
manly bearing. He was not without faults, 
but on the whole was a good man and a use- 
ful citizen. Many years after his death such 
distinsfuished citizens of Evansville as Dr. 
M. J. Bray, Hon. John S. Hopkins, Samuel 
Orr, Jacob B. Fickas, John Greek, Rev. 
J. V. Dodge, Dr. George B. Walker, and 
others, united in praising the excellent traits 
of his character and his great usefulness as 
a pioneer citizen and physician. 

He was twice married. His first wife was 
but thirteen 3'ears of age when she became 
a bride, and the marriage was terminated 
by a legal separation. The fruit of this 
union was one child — a daughter. A few 
vears afterward, the death of his divorced 
wife having occurred in the meantime, he 
was again united in marriage to Miss 
America Butler, an estimable Christian lady, 
who was connected with one of the best and 
most respectable families in Kentucky. She 
was an Episcopalian and her Christian virtues 
commanded the respect of all who knew 
her. She was the mother of one child — a 
son who became a respected lawyer in 
Henderson, Ky. This second marriage oc- 
curred in 1832, and the doctor crossed the 
river on the ice to secure his bride. Dr. 
Trafton died in 1847, "like a philosopher," 
meeting death fearlessly, believing it to be 
but the release of the soul into a new fife. 
His remains were buried in Oak Hill 
cemetery. 



-% 






DR. M. J. BRA Y. 



237 



Madison J. Bray, M. D., the eldest 
physician and surgeon, and the Nestor of the 
medical profession of Vanderburgh county, 
was born in Turner village, Androscoggin 
county, Maine, January i, iSii. He is of 
Enelish descent, and one of a familv of ten 
children — five girls and five boys. Mis 
father, Capt. William Bray, was a successful 
village merchant, and a prosperous man of 
business. During the war of 1812 he com- 
manded a company of cavalry and was sum- 
moned to the defense of Portland, then the 
capital of the state. He died at the early 
age of forty-two years, having gained in 
that brief time an enviable reputation and a 
comfortable competency. The mother of 
Dr. Bray, iicc Miss Ruth Cushman, was 
descended from Puritan ancestry, and a lady 
of much force of character and ability; she 
survived her husband four jears. After her 
death the doctor was in a measure thrown 
upon his own resources. Up to the age of 
sixteen he worked in a cardinji mill durincf 
the summer, and attended the village school 
during the winter. In this way he acquired 
the rudiments of a good education, and when 
sixteen j-ears old commenced teaching, which 
vocation he followed at intervals for eight 
years. The ambitious desire of his youth 
was to become a physician, and he earl)' 
de\eloped an aptitude for surgical science. 
He began his preparatory course under very 
favorable circumstances, having free access 
to a good anatomical museum, owned by 
his preceptors, Drs. Tewksbery and Millett; 
and, as he saj-s, "saw a very respectable 
practice of surgery." He attended three 
courses of medical lectures, one at Dart- 
mouth, N. H., and two at Bowdoin, Me., 
from which latter institution he graduated 
with honor in the j-ear 1835. In November 
of the same year he left his home to estab- 
lish himself in the practice, his objective 
point being the state of Louisiana, his idea 
14 



being that the patronage of several large 
plantations would be more lucrative and 
pleasant than a general practice in tiie north. 
Arriving at Louisville, he found his funds 
exhausted, and to obtain money to continue 
his journey he made an application for a 
school. Before his proposition was accepted, 
he accidentally overheard some gentlemen 
talking of E^•ansville, then a little hamlet of 
about four hundred inhabitants, of the great 
advantages it possessed, and of the proba- 
bility that it would soon become a large and 
prosperous city. He at once changed his 
plans, engaged passage on a boat, and on 
the 25th day of November, 1835, arrived in 
Evansville, penniless and without a single 
friend or acquaintance in the place. Dr. 
William Trafton was at that time the 
only doctor in all this region of coun- 
tr)-, and, learning that a young ph3fsician 
had arrived in the village, sent 
for him, and being favorably impressed, 
proposed a partnership, which was gladly 
accepted, and which continued for two years. 
Dr. Bray soon learned that the field was an 
inviting one for a surgeon, there being no 
physician in the southern portions of Illinois, 
Indiana or western Kentucky who desired 
surgical practice, or who professed any 
knowledge of surgical science. Evansville 
was a central point to this territor}-. Re- 
cognizing this, the doctor decided to aban- 
don his cherished plan of settling in 
Louisiana, and began wliat has since proved 
to be the most successful and lucrative prac- 
tice ever confided to anv physician in Evans- 
ville. At that time the practice of medicine 
and surgery was attended with difficulties 
that the physicians of the present day can 
scarcely comprehend. The ph^-sician fur- 
nished his own medicines, and the nearest 
drug store was at Louisville, 200 miles 
away. The doctor entered very earnestly 
(ind enthusiastically upon the performance 



23S 



THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 



of his professional duties, in which he ex- 
ceeded tlie hmits of prudent labor, but pos- 
sessing a magnificent physique and a robust 
constitution, he was able to endure a great 
amount of arduous toil. His practice for 
many years was devoted largely to surgery, 
in which he soon acipired an extended and 
enviable reputation. Patients came to him 
from long distances, and many difficult and 
dangerous cases were successfully treated. 
In 1846 he spent several months in New 
York cit}-, where he availed himself of the 
instruction of those eminent surgeons, Drs. 
Parker and Mott. He paid especial atten- 
tion to orthopedic and ocular surgery, and 
afterwards performed many difficult opera- 
tions of this character. A detailed mention 
of the many difficult cases which he has suc- 
cessfully treated is unnecessary, for nothing- 
can be added to the excellent reputation as 
a physician and surgeon which he has firmly 
established. He has been in practice for 
over a half century, and during this time 
none have been more successful, or have en- 
joyed to a greater degree the confidence and 
esteem of the people. In all things in an}' 
way connected with the medical profession 
his name stands pre-eminent. He became 
a prominent member of the State Medical 
Society soon after its organization, and in 
1856 was elected its president. He was a 
member of the Tri-State Medical So- 
ciety, and wrote for it a history 
of surgery in Vanderburgh and ad- 
jacent counties. He is about the onl}- 
survivor of the charter members of 
the Vanderburg Medical Society, of which 
he was president several terms, and to which 
he reported many of his surgical cases. For 
many years he was one of the prominent 
members of the Evansville Board of Health, 
and has done much to place the city in a 
healthy hygienic condition. The doctor has 
interested himself in everything pertaining 



to the city's interest and advancement. He 
was one of the incorporators of the old 
Canal bank, now the First National, and 
for many jears has been a member of its 
board of directors. In 1847, with others, 
he procured the charter for the Evansville 
Medical College, and filled the chair of 
surgery from the founding of the school 
until the commencement of the war of the 
rebellion. After the war he was acrain 
called to the same position and occupied it 
until ill health forced his resignation. The 
doctor alwavs evinced a penchant for mili- 
tary surgery, and in 18.^5 '^^'is appointed 
surgeon of the Maine militia, a position he 
never filled, however, bj- reason of his emi- 
gration to the west. In 1847 he was ap- 
pointed by President Van Buren surgeon of 
the marine hospital at Evansville, which po- 
sition he filled creditably until the breaking 
out of the civil war. As soon as the news 
was received, in 1S61, that Fort Sumter had 
been fired upon. Dr. Bray immediately 
rented a room and formed a little class of 
students in military tactics, which he him- 
self instructed. He bought for them a bass 
drum at his own expense, which was the 
first money expended in Vanderburg 
county for militaiy purposes, and was the 
initial event in the war history of the county. 
These young men afterwards entered the 
service and were the leaders of the great 
number afterwards sent by Vanderburg 
county for the suppression of the rebellion. 
In 1862, although exempted bj' age from 
military service, he resigned a large and lu- 
crative practice in order to aid in the organ- 
ization of the Sixtieth Regiment of Indiana 
Infantry. He was commissioned surgeon 
of the regiment, and followed its fortunes 
for two years, when he was obliged to re- 
sign by reason of ill health, caused by ex- 
posure. At the battle of Mumfordsville he 
was taken prisoner; he was treated with the 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



339 



utmost kindness and distinction by the rebel 
otlicers, especially General Brat^j;, who gave 
him a set of surgical instruments and such 
provisions as he thought advisable to take. 
At the close of the war he was appointed 
surgeon of St. Mary's Hospital, which 
position he held for many jears. 
A fact connected with his practice worth}- of 
special mention is that he never sued a man 
or made any charge for medical services to 
any woman who was obliged to rely upon 
herown labor for a livelihood. He has alwaj's 
carried into his daily life the tenets of his 
religion; and has since his boyhood been a 
consistent member of the Episcopal church. 
Dr. Bray is now in the seventy-eighth year 
of his age with unimpaired intellectual vigor 
and enjo3'ing the full fruition of a well 
spent life. He has witnessed the transition 
of a little hamlet to a cit\^ of over 50,000 
inhabitants, and by Jiis personal influence 
and effort has contributed largely to the 
greatness and prosperity which the citizen 
of to-day is permitted to witness. He mar- 
ried in 1838, Miss Elizabeth, daughter of 
Charles and Ann (Tate) Johnson. She was 
the cousin of Admiral James Alden who 
distinguished himself during the late war. 
Two children were the result of this union, 
Madison J., jr., and Elizabeth; the latter 
died in infancy. Madison J., jr., is one of 
the prominent business men of the city, and 
at present president of the Business Men's 
Association. 

John William Compton, M. D., stand- 
ing for nearly a quarter of a century in the 
front ranks of those who have attained 
special prominence in the general practice 
of medicine in the city of Evansville, was 
born near Hardinsburg, ]5reckinridge 
county, Ky., July 22, 1S25. His fatiier, 
Jeremiah Dabney Complon, was born near 
Culpepper Court House, Va., in iSoi. He 
was a farmer by occupation, and a fine 



type of the Virginia gentleman of that da\', 
tilling his farm in the summer and teaching 
the village school in the winter months. He 
married Miss Nancy, daughter of John 
Ball, of Culpepper Court House. She was 
born in 1804, and received a liberal educa- 
tion, and careful reading had given her a 
well stored mind and a love for literature. 
She became an extensive writer on religious 
subjects, leaving a large book of manu- 
scripts, which, for want of press facilities in 
that day, were never published. The 
Comptons, of English extraction, were 
among the old and reputable families of 
Virginia. The progenitor of the famil}^ 
was Matthew Compton, who came to Vir- 
ginia from England long before the time of 
the Revolution. William, a son, was Dr. 
Compton's grandfather, and removed to 
Kentucky at an early day, and was a pioneer 
and prominent citizen of Breckinridge 
county. The early life of Dr. Compton was 
not unlike that of most of the youths of 
that time, being passed upon his father's 
farm. He received his education at a com- 
mon school, and under the tutelage of a 
Prof. Fabrique, of his native village. While 
his advantages for obtaining an acquaint- 
ance with books were to some extent lim- 
ited, his studious habits, quick perception 
and retentive memory enabled him to 
advance rapidly, and at length to possess a 
greater store of information than was com- 
mon among the lads of this time and locality. 
At the age of sixteen he was so far 
advanced as to be emplo3'ed as a teacher, 
and continued so occupied for four years. 
At the end of this time he decided to make 
the practice of medicine his life's work, and 
entering the ollice of Dr. Norvin Green, 
no\v president of the Western Union Tele- 
graph Co., in 1S47 commenced tiie study 
of medicine under the instruction of that 
distinguished physician, and in 1849 took a 



THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 



course of lectures in the medical depart- 
ment of the University of Louisville, and 
later graduated in the medical college of 
Evansville. In the earl}' part of the j'ear 
1S50 he established himself in the practice 
of his profession in Knottsville, Ky. The 
cit}^ of Owensburg, K}-., however, offered 
superior inducements and he removed there 
in 1852, where he remained in active prac- 
tice until the breaking out of the war in 
1861. Unswerving in his lo3-alt3' to the 
Union, he was commissioned assistant sur- 
geon of the Seventeenth Kentucky Infantry. 
In March, 1863, while in camp at Nash- 
ville, Tenn., he resigned his commission to 
accept the position of surgeon of the board 
of enrollment of the Second District of Ken- 
tucky, and in that capacity actively served 
until the close of the war in 1S65. In Octo- 
ber of that year he came to Evansville, 
where he formed a partnership with that 
distinguished practitioner. Dr. James P. 
DeBruler, and has since remained actively 
engaged in the practice of his profession. 
The doctor soon took a leading position 
among his medical brethren, and shortly 
after taking up his residence here was 
elected president of the Evansville Medical 
Societ}'. In 1872 he was appointed county 
ph3-sician for Vanderburgh country. In 1S75 
he was appointed to the chair of materia 
medica and therapeutics in the Evansville 
Medical College, clinical surgeon for dis- 
eases of women, in the college dispensary, 
and staff surgeon to St. Mary's hospital. As 
a teacher of materia medica he adopted a 
change in the mode of instruction, by leav- 
ing to botanists and others the technical 
description of medicines, and by confining 
his lectures more particularly to the 
therapeutic indications and the good 
that might be accomplished by the 
judicious administration of remedies and 
their application to diseases. He became a 



popular and instructive lecturer. In 1881 
he became a member of the Indiana state 
board of health, and at its first meeting was 
unanimouslv elected its president. He filled 
this position four years, when the demands 
of his practice became so imperative that he 
was obliged to tender his resignation. He 
is at present a member of the board of 
health of the cit\' of Evansville. He is 
prominently identified with man}- of the 
leading medical societies of this country, 
such as the American Public Health Asso- 
ciation, American Medical Association, Mis- 
sissippi Valley Medical Association, Indiana 
State Medical Societ}-, and is an honorary 
member of the Mitchell District Medical 
Society and the Southwestern Kentucky 
Medical Association. In 1882 he was ap- 
pointed a member of the United States 
board of examining surgeons for pensions, 
at Evansville, and served as its president 
until 18S5. He is a charter member of 
Farragut Post, No. 27, G. A. R., and has 
been surgeon of the post continuously since 
its organization. While the duties of his 
official positions and his practice have been 
onerous, he has made many valuable contri- 
butions to medical, scientific and general 
literature, notably: "The Geological, Geo- 
grapliical and Climatic Influences and Pre- 
vailing Diseases of the Second District of 
Kentucky," (reported to the war depart- 
ment and printed in the medical statistics of 
ths provost marshal general's bureau), 
"Injuries to the Brain," "Solution and Ab- 
sorption of Medicine," " Chemical compounds 
in the Nutrition of the Human Body," " Dis- 
eases of the neck and body of the Uterus," 
" Paralysis from pressure of displaced uterus 
on sacral plexus of Nerves," "State medicine 
and Hygiene," "Ante-partum HtEmorrhage," 
" Precautions requisite in the administration 
of Ergot," and others which were read before 
different society meetings and published in 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



341 



leading medical journals; he has' also written 
articles in extenso for current magazines, 
and on many important medical and sanilarj- 
topics, but lack of space forbids their enum- 
eration. But few physicians in this, part of 
the country are more extensively or favor- 
ably known than Dr. Compton, and jus- 
tice to him recjuircs the statement that 
but few have been more successful in all the 
varied departments of life. Early thrown 
upon his own resources, with indefatigable 
zeal he overcame every obstacle, and 
through his own personal efforts, unaided by 
the adventitious circumstances of wealth and 
influential relationships, has advanced to his 
present position. His record as a physician 
and a private citizen is honorable in all its de- 
tails, and his career is worthy of emulation. 
Politically he is a republican., active in local 
politics, but in no sense a politician. He is 
a member of the First Cumberland Presby- 
terian church and takes a lively interest in 
all benevolent enterprises. In 1S53 he was 
married to Miss Sallie, daughter of David 
Morton, a well known citizen and merchant 
of Owensboro, Ky. Of this union four 
children are now living: Margaret O., (now 
Mrs. Ira D. McCoy), Morton J., Frederick 
S. and John W., jr. 

Ahkaham M. Oaven, M.D., the acknowl- 
edged leader in the active practice of his 
profession in the city of Evansville, and the 
most eminent and successful surgeon in 
southern Indiana, is the son of Abraham B. 
Owen, M. D., a Virginian by birth, and in 
his day one of the most prominent and suc- 
cessful physicians in Kentucky. The elder 
Owen practiced his profession for several 
years in the city of Louisville, but about 
1843 removed to Madisonville, Hopkins 
county, Ky., where Dr. A. M. Owen was 
born, March 19, 1849. 1'he mantle of the 
father fell upon the son, Un- while a mere 
boy he evidenced a decided love ior medical 



knowledge and an especial fondness for sur- 
gical science. He received his education in 
the academies of his native state and the 
university of \'irginia, and began his j^repar- 
atory course in medicine in the office of his 
father. It soon became evident to the father 
that his son needed advantages in the prose- 
cution of his medical studies, not obtainable 
in his native town, and in 1S65 he entered 
the office of that eminent physician and sur- 
geon. Dr. Frank II. Hamilton, of New York. 
Completing his preparatory course he en- 
tered the Bellevue Hospital Medical college 
in 1866, from which he graduated with 
honor in the class of 1870. His graduating 
thesis, " Tetanus," was ably prepared and 
did credit both to himself and the colle<fe. 

o 

Immediateh' after his graduation he came to 
Evansville and began the practice of his pro- 
fession under rather adverse circumstances, 
but in a comparati vel}- short time he found him- 
self in the possession of a large and lucrative 
business. His success in surger}' gave him 
an enviable reputation, and his territorj' grew 
until it now embraces southern Indiana, 
northern Kentucky, and southwestern Illi- 
nois. He was the founder of the E\ans\ille 
Hospital Medical College of Evansville, and 
occupied the chair of surgery until his large 
and growing practice and his extensive busi- 
ness interests compelled him to tender his 
resignation. The heav}- demands lipon his 
time have prevented him- from making any 
contributions to medical literature further 
tlian reports of some of his most important 
surgical cases. He is however, an associate 
editor of the ^SV. Louis Medical Review and 
the A'czv E It gland Medical Mont Id y Re- 
porter. He established, and for three vears 
was the editor and publisher of the Indiana 
Medical Reporter, now tlie Western Medical 
Reporter oi Chicago. He is a prominent 
member of nearly all of the more important 
1 medical organizations of the country, notably 



2J^ 



THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 



amon^ the number the International Medi- 
cal Congress, the American Surgical Asso- 
ciation, the American Medical Association, 
the Mississippi Valley Medical Association, 
the McDowell Medical Association, the In- 
diana State Medical Societjr and the Van- 
derburg County Medical Societ}-. Not- 
withstanding the magnitude of his gen- 
eral and surgical practice. Dr. Owen has 
given due attention to matters of public im- 
port and has identified himself with all en- 
terprises having for their object the advance- 
ment of the interests of the city of 
Evansville. Me is one of the incorporators 
and the present president of the Evansville 
& Chicago railroad company, president and 
director of the District Telegraph company, 
president of several business associations, 
and in fact is in some way identified with 
many commercial enterprises of a public 
character. He is an enthusiastic and an 
indefatigable practitioner, and a fine tj^pe of 

self-made 
His life evidences the fact that tal- 



the class to whicli he belongs, 



men. 



ent, combined with energy and a laudable 
ambition, may rise superior to adverse con- 
ditions and wrest success from unfavorable 
circumstances. In 1875 the doctor was 
married to Miss Laura, daughter of G. N. 
Jerauld of Princeton, Indiana. Three child- 
ren have been born to them, Amelia E. 
Leartus J., and George J. 

Isaac Casselberry, M. D., w^as born on 
the farm of his father, Thomas Evans Cas- 
selbeny, in Posey county, Ind., November, 
26, 1 82 1. The Casselberry famil}' were 
among the prominent pioneer families of 
West Franklin, in Posey count}', to which 
place Paul Casselberr}-, grandfather of the 
subject of this mention, removed with his 
family from Morristown, Pennsylvania, in 
i8o6. Almost from the date of their settle- 
ment the family took a conspicuous part in 
the affairs of the county and the name of 



Casselberr}^ is indelibly stamped upon its 
history. The father of Dr. Casselberry was 
one of the commissioners who located the 
county seat of Vanderburg county at Evans- 
ville; he was a gentlemen of much force of 
character and in many ways identified him- 
self with the interests of Vanderburg county. 
His death occurred in 1826. His wife was 
Miss RachaelJ., daughter of Charles Car- 
son. Isaac was a child five years old at 
the time of the death of his father. His 
early training devolved upon his mother 
and to her he was no doubt indebted for 
those valuable lessons that proved so ser- 
viceable in after years. She died in 1844. 
Pr. Casselbeny received an academical edu- 
cation and in 1841 began the stud}- of medi- 
cine in the office of that eminent physician, 
Dr. M. J. Bray, of Evansville. Two years 
later he placed himself under the the tutelage 
of R. D. Mussey, M. D., of Cincinnati, Ohio. 
In 1845 he graduated with honor from the 
medical college of Ohio and soon after re- 
turned to Evansville, where he formed a 
co-partnership with his former preceptor, 
Dr. Bray. In a comparatively short time he 
obtained an enviable position in the practice, 
and ■ soon became known as one of the 
leading physicians in this section of 
the state. At the commencement of the 
war he tendered his services to the 
government, and received the appointment 
of surgeon of the First Indiana Cavalry. 
He served in this capacity until the close of 
the war, when he returned to Evansville, 
and was appointed by President Johnson 
collector of customs for the port of Evans- 
ville, which position he filled with great 
credit until a change of administration 
necessitated his resignation. He then re- 
sumed the practice of his profession, and 
from that time until the date of his decease, 
July 9, 1873, was one of the most zealous, 
energetic and self-sacrificing physicians in 



bio6raphica l. 



24s 



the county. From the time the city of 
Evansville was placed under sanitary regu- 
lations, Dr. Casselberry lilled the oifice of 
secretary of the board of health. He was 
one of tlie founders of the Evansville Medi- 
cal College, and one of its first trustees. In 
1871 he was called to the chair of phj-sical 
diagnosis. In everything connected with 
the welfare of the college he manifested 
that zeal and energy which characterized 
all his undertakings, and the success of the 
institution was largely due to his efforts. 
Dr. Casselberry was probably more exten- 
sively known outside the state as a strong, 
forcible writer, and a valuable contributor 
to medical literature. Many of his articles 
were extensively copied in medical publica- 
tions. Lack of space prevents a detailed 
mention, but the following are among the 
more important papers: "An Inquiry into 
the Piiysiology of the Organic Nervous 
System" — American 'Jourual of Medical 
Science, 1852; "Causes of Fever" — Ibid, 
1856; "Ancient Marriages of Consanguinit}-" 
— ll)id, 1859; a series of articles on "Causes 
of Epidemics," Kaihville Medical and Siiro-f- 
cal Journal, 1857 to 185S. In 1857, Dr. 
Wright, of the Menipliii Medical /Recorder, 
made an able review of some of Dr. Cassel- 
berry's articles, in which he remarked that 
much credit was due him for the boldness 
and industry with which he strove to throw 
light on pathological subjects. He was one 
of the charter members of the Indiana State 
Medical Society, and his election as presi- 
dent of that body was a merited honor. 
Me was a permanent member of the Ameri- 
can Medical Association, and it was one of 
his greatest pleasures to meet its members 
in annual session. Dr. Casselberry, though 
starting in life without any of the accidental 
aids of wealth, was able to conquer in 
every department of iuinian endeavor which 
he chose to enter. His character was a 



strange mingling of manlj' sternness and 
womanl}' kindness. He was gentle, almost 
to a fault, yet possessed an iron nerve and 
invincible will. He had the bearing and man- 
ner of a genuine gentleman, which, united 
with a comeliness of person and a fine pres- 
ence, endeared him to all who were fortunate 
enough to become his associates. He died 
in Evansville, July 9, 1873, after a laborious 
and successful practice of twenty-eight years. 
In 1847, Dr. Casselberry was married to Miss 
Louisa Garvin, daughter of Jolm and Provi- 
dence Garvin, of Gett3sburg, Pennsylvania. 
Two children were the result of this union, 
only one of whom, Mrs. Laura Dunkerson, 
is living. 

George Brinton Walker, M. D., was 
born December 6, 1807, at Salem, New 
Jersey, and died September 6, 18S7, at 
Evansville, Ind. He was the son of Wil- 
liam and Catharine (Tyler) Walker. After 
receiving his general education in the com- 
mon schools of his native village, and in 
those of the city of Cincinnati, whither he 
had removed in his youth with his parents, 
he took up the study of medicine, and grad- 
uated in the spring of 1830, at the Ohio 
Medical College. After practicing medicine 
for five j'ears in Cincinnati, he removed to 
Evansville, where for more than half a cen- 
tury, and to within a few weeks of his death, 
he daily performed the duties of liis profession. 
He joined the \'anderburgh County Medi- 
cal Society, in 1879, and served one term as 
its president, in 1886. He was also a member 
of the Evansville Medical Society, Tri-State 
Medical Society, First District Medical So- 
ciety, of Ohio, and the Society of Medicine 
and Pliilosophy, of Ohio, during the presi- 
dency of Dr. Drake. He was dean and 
professor of obstetrics in the Medical Col- 
lege of Evansville, for several years from its 
establishment, and resigned this trust in 1881 
only to be called upon to serve in a similar 



2}^Jl^ 



THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 



capacity in the newly organized Hospital 
Medical College. He was a member of the 
city board of health and its president for 
several years. During the civil war he 
served for three jears as surgeon in the va- 
rious hospitals of this city, and was ever 
steadfast in his devotion to the Union. His 
public services were by no means confined 
to his profession. Always progressive and 
public-spirited, he did much to develop the 
natural resources of this locality and build up 
the city of Evansville. He was a director 
of the Evansville & Grawfordsville 
railroad during the period of its construction, 
was a state director of the Evansville branch 
of the state bank of Indiana, a member of 
the board of directors of the Public Hall 
company and a director of the Evansville 
Street Railway company. In politics Dr. 
Walker was a democrat, and attained some 
prominence. His first vote was cast for 
General Jackson. In 1852 he was a dele- 
gate to the Baltimore convention, which 
nominated Franklin Pierce to the presi- 
dency. Being a thorough student, uncom- 
monly devoted to his books, and possessing 
a retentive memory and an exceptional!}- 
critical mind, he was well versed in every 
branch of the medical science. As a prac- 
titioner he was eminently successful, and 
throughout his long career in this city occu- 
pied a v^ry prominent place among the 
members of the medical profession. He 
was accomplished not only in professional 
but also in general literature. As a lecturer 
and writer he was accorded a very high 
rank, and as a conversationalist w'as consid- 
ered delightful. Indeed, his intellectual 
peers were not numerous. His thorough 
manhness, the beauty of his character and 
the gentleness of his disposition endeared 
him to all who had the pleasure of his 
friendship. Always upright and honorable, 
kind and humane, he was much respected 



and beloved. Dr. Walker w-as married to 
Miss EHzabeth Clark, of Cincinnati, the 23d 
of June, 1835. He was never blessed with 
children of his own, but had in his family 
from their childhood the three children of 
his brother, Wm. H. Walker. Tlie widow 
and these children survive. 

James P. DeBruler, M. D., for man\- 
years a well-known and successful physi- 
cian in Evansville, was born in Orange 
County, North Carolina, September 21, 
1817. During his infancy his parents 
removed to Dubois county, Indiana, bring- 
ing with them their slaves, whom the}- lib- 
erated soon after their arrival. The elder 
DeBruler bought a large tract of wild land, 
and began its improvement, he and his fam- 
ily suffering all the trials and hardships 
incident to pioneer life in the forests of 
Southern Indiana. The doctor w-as reared 
under tlie stern influences of cabin life in 
the woods, but the lessons learned from his 
experiences there proved highly serviceable 
in after years. His early mental training 
was necessarily meagre, because of the 
inferior schools of the pioneer era, but by 
dint of persistent study he obtained a famil- 
iarity with many good books, and at the age 
of eighteen began the study of medicine. 
Subsequently he graduated from the medi- 
cal department of the University at Louis- 
ville. He began the practice of iiis profession 
at Rockport, in Spencer county, where he 
remained nearly twenty years, enjoying 
perhaps the largest practice confided to any 
physician to that locality. In 1855 he 
came to EvansviUe, where he remained 
extensively engaged in his profession until 
his decease. His abilities soon earned for 
him a high standing among physicians here, 
which lie lield throughout his residence in 
Evansville. In his practice he exhibited the 
highest degree of skill and professional at- 
tainments. He was appointed by President 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



i?i5 



Lincoln surgeon of Marine Hospital in this 
city, and continued on dut}' there until it 
was changed into a militar}' hospital, early 
in the war. He was its first surgeon and 
acted in that capacity as long as there was 
any need of his services. He took an active 
interest in all matters pertaining to the pub- 
lic welfare and did much to advance the 
general prosperity of this city. He was 
never a politician, but soon after coming to 
Evansville, in 1856, was nominated as a 
candidate for the legislature, but failed to 
be elected. From that time forward he de- 
voted his entire attention to his professional 
duties. He was appointed, without solicita- 
tion on his part, postmaster of this cit}' by 
President Johnson, but resigned without 
taking charge of the ofKce. He had a deep 
love for the science to which he devoted so 
many years of his life, and pursued his labors 
with great enthusiasm. He was highly 
honorable in every relation of life and pos- 
sessed in a marked degree the character- 
istics of genuine manliness. His death, 
occurring August 12, 1S74, was generally 
lamented. Dr. DeBruler was married, 
September 2, 1847, to Miss Sallie E. Gra- 
ham, daughter ot the late Judge J. W. 
Graham. Their son, Claude G. DeBruler, 
deceased, was for some time editor and pro- 
prietor of the Evansville Daily yotirnal, 
and was known as one of the most intellect- 
ual and enterprising citizens of the city, in 
his d.ay. 

Daniel Morgan, M. D., for many years 
a promment citizen and successful practitioner 
•'of Vanderburgh county, was born in Can- 
terbury, Conn., March 22d, 1813. His 
paternal grandfather, James Morgan, a 
Welshman, who settled in Connecticut as 
carl)- as 1638, served the colon}^ six times 
in the general courts and occupied a promi- 
nent position in the colonial debates. His 
father, Isaac Morgan, was a successful far- 



mer and a gentleman of prominence in the 
section in which he lived. His mother, 
whose maiden name was Mary Adams, was 
a relative of John Quincy Adam.s. After 
attending several seats of learning in Brook- 
lyn and New Haven, he studied medicine in 
the office of an eminent physician and sur- 
geon. Dr. A. F. Harris, of Canterbury. He 
graduated from the medical department of 
Yale College in 1835. Shortly afterward 
he came to Evansville, where he established 
himself in the practice of his profession, in 
which he rapidly rose to prominence, soon 
commanding a large and lucrati\e practice. 
In 1839 he was most happily married to 
Miss Matilda, daughter of Samuel Fisher, 
of Lynchburg, Va., who died December 
22d, 1S87. Eight children were born to 
them, onl}' two of whom are now living, 
Mrs. M. A. Dixon, and Miss Julia A. Mor- 
gan. Dr. Morgan was a member of the 
American Medical Association, the Evans- 
ville Medical Society, and the Drake 
Academy of Medicine. In all of these medi- 
cal societies he was an influential member 
and an acknowledged leader. He possessed 
a remarkable memorv and a well balanced 
mind, qualifications which made him an ex- 
cellent physician. He was appointed sur- 
geon of one of the U. S. hospitals in 1862, 
and it was while discharging his duties here 
that he had erysipelas inoculated in one of 
his fingers, which at length produced paraly- 
sis and later caused his death. Forty-four 
years of his life were devoted to the practice 
of his profession, in which ifis knowledge, 
skill, and energy were shown to be of the high- 
est type. His reputation as a physician was 
onl}- equaled bj^ his record as a high-minded, 
valuable citizen. He always found time for 
matters of public import; took a lively in- 
terest in politics, and in 1868 was elected to 
the state senate wiiere he served four years, 
distinguishing himself by his sound views 



u^ 



THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 



on all important legislation and makinjj an 
enviable record. In 1871, he was elected 
to a chair in the Medical college of Evans- 
ville, and was one of the most prominent 
members of the faculty. In his personal 
appearance he was a man of fine presence; 
and possessed a large amount of personal 
magnetism and rare social quahties. His 
kindness of heart, his genial disposition, and 
his untarnished Christian character, caused 
him to be esteemed and respected by all 
who knew him. At the age of seventeen 
he united with the Presbyterian church and 
was a consistent member of that organiza- 
tion throughout his life. His death, which 
was generally lamented, occurred January 
25th, 1879. 

Richard Hartloff, M. D., a leading 
physician and surgeon of Evansville, is a na- 
tive of Prussia, born in the Rhine Province, 
August 16, 1845, the second of eight chil- 
dren born to Frederick William and Fred- 
erica (Borghoff) Hardoff. The father was 
born in 1815 and the mother in 1816. They 
emigrated to America in the spring of 1853, 
and settled near fronton, Ohio, and in the 
fall of the same year, removing to Indiana, 
settled near Cannelton, Perry county. Here 
in 1864 the mother died, and three years 
later the father removed to a farm in Spencer 
county, and continued to reside there until 
his death, which occurred in 1886. Of the 
children four survive. Dr. Hardoff attended 
school in his native country, advancing in 
his studies so far as to be versed in reading 
and writing in the German language, and 
afterward attended the public schools of In- 
diana until 1864. lie then entered Wallace 
College in Ohio, near Cleveland, where he 
attended two years. Returning to Indiana, 
he taught school for two j-ears in Perr}- and 
Vanderburg counties, and during that period 
read medicine. He next entered the medi- 
cal department of the University of Louis- 



ville, Kj-., and graduated in 1871. He at 
once came to Evansville, and began prac- 
ticing his profession. In 1876, he visited Eu- 
rope and pursued a course of study of the eye 
and ear at the Vienna University, Austria. 
Returning to Evansville, he resumed the 
practice which he has continued to the pres- 
ent, meeting with pronounced success. Dr. 
Hartloff was united in marriage in 1867 to 
Emilia Johann, who was born in Prussia in 
1 848, and died in 1875. To this union one 
son and one daughter were born, both of 
whom survive. In 1876 he was married to 
Mrs. Elizabeth Oliver, /ice Austin, who was 
born in Manchester, England, in 1844. Dr. 
Hartloff served as health officer of Vander- 
burgh county in 1883; was one of the board 
of pension examiners from 1882 to 1886; 
has been for three years a member of the 
Evansville board of health, of which he is 
president; and is also the present city 
physician. He is a member of the F. & A. M. 
and I. O. O. F. fraternities. 

William G. Ralston, M. D., a pioneer 
citizen of southwestern Indiana, and for 
many j^ears a prominent member of the 
medical profession in Evansville, was born 
in Princeton, Gibson county, Ind., February 
13, 1819. During his boyhood the schools 
in his locahty were very imperfect. He 
succeeded, however, in obtaining a good 
common school education, and in 1S41 be- 
gan the study of medicine in the office of 
Dr. Joseph Neely, of Cynthiana, Posey 
county, Ind. After pursuing his studies 
three years he began the practice in part- 
nership with his old preceptor, but one year 
later established himself at Boonville, the 
county seat of Warrick count}'. Here he 
remained eighteen years, successfully en- 
gaged in the practice. He soon attained a 
prominent place among the physicians of 
that town, which he maintained throughout 
the whole of his residence there. In 1863, 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



247 



he came to Evansville, where he lias since 
been engaged in tlie general practice. He 
was surgeon of the Eighty-tirst Indiana In- 
fantry Volunteers, and while in that position 
was appointed by President Lincoln surgeon 
of the board of enrollment for the First 
congressional district of Indiana, in which 
capacity he served two years. In 1S69, he 
was appointed surgeon of the U. S. Marine 
Hospital at this place, and held the position 
four years. Since that time his efforts have 
been devoted entirely to the general prac- 
tice. Although his extensive practice and 
long period of stud}', shaped by the sugges- 
tions of his varied experiences as a prac- 
titioner, had familiarized him with the dis- 
eases prevailing in this locality and the ap- 
proved methods of their treatment, yet when 
the Evansville Medical College was estab- 
lished, he was matricujated in the institu- 
tion and graduated therefrom in 1S72. In 
his practice Dr. Ralston has been eminently 
successful, while his social relations have 
been of the most gratifying character. He 
has not sought by questionable methods to 
attain a popularity not wholly merited. 
But performing every dut}' without osten- 
tation, and carrying into his professional 
work the suggestions of a gentle disposition 
and a kind heart, he has endeared himself 
to all with whom he has come in contact. 
Dr. Ralston was married in April, 1850, to 
Miss Isabella Matthewson, daughter of Dr. 
R. C. Matthewson, of Boonville, Ind. Mrs. 
Ralston was born September 20, 1830, and 
died in 1S82. Of this union three sons were 
born : William M., Charles N., and Andrew G. 
The eldest of these died in Texas, in 1885. 
Dr. Ralston is a member of Crescent 
Lodge No. 122, I. O. O. F., and belongs to 
the First Cumberland IVesbyterian church. 
Politically he was originally a whig, and 
has been a republican since the organiza- 
tion of that partv. 



Matthias Muiiliiausen, M. D., promi- 
nent as a physician and a public spirited 
citizen, has worked out his career from his 
youth in this city. His father. Dr. Francis 
Muhlhausen, an erudite and distinguished 
physician, for man}^ years occupied an hon- 
orable place in Evansville, both in profes- 
sional and social circles. He was a native 
of Germany, and there married Mary Ann 
Jageman. Their son, Matthias, was born 
at Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, Januarj' 19, 
1833. Emigrating to America in the fall of 
1838, they located in Baltimore, where they 
remained a short time. They moved thence 
to Taylorsville, Ohio, where for about one 
year Dr. Muhlhausen was engaged in the 
practice of his profession. At the end of 
this time he was induced to locate in Evans- 
ville, and came here in the fall of 1839. 
From that time until his death in 1862 he 
resided here, and practiced medicine and 
surgery. He was a scholarly and skillful 
physician, a graduate of Heidelberg Uni- 
versity', and had one of the largest practices 
known to the profession in southern Indiana, 
during his day, extending as it did from 
Owensburg, Ky., to Mt. Vernon, Ind. Per- 
haps no physician who ever practiced here 
left a fairer name professionally and socially, 
and to-day he is remembered as one of the 
prominent men of southern Indiana during 
the period of its most rapid development. 
His wife survived him sixteen years and 
died in this city. They were the parents of 
two children, Matthias, and a younger 
brother who died in 1852. 

Dr. M. Muhlhausen received his early 
mental training in the public schools of this 
citj', but when quite young was sent to St. 
Gabriel college at Vincennes, Ind., where for 
a time he pursued his studies. At an early age 
he began the study of medicine under the sup- 
ervision of his father, and later attended the 
Evansville Medical college, graduating there- 



us 



THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 



from in February, 1854. ^^ began practic- 
ing his profession in Evansville at once and 
has continued uninterruptedly to the present, 
being now recognized as one of the leading 
physicians of the city. While the demands 
of his profession have, to a great extent, 
engrossed his attention, he has not neglected 
his duties as a citizen. He has filled various 
official positions during his active life, and 
has served with credit to himself and profit 
to the public in everj^ such relation. He 
has represented his ward in the citv council, 
has been a member of the board of health, 
and a member of the board of Metropolitan 
police commissoners, where he was associa- 
ted with Capt. J. A. Lemcke, now treasurer 
of state, and Mr. Ed. Law. For four 3-ears, 
from 1872 to 1876, he had charge of St. 
Mary's hospital. His public spirit has caused 
him to be identified with many efforts to 
advance the general welfare of the city. 
He was one of the chief instruments in se- 
curing the State Insane As3lum at this point, 
and in various ways, especially as an active 
member of the Business Men's association, 
has contributed largely to the city's pros- 
perity. He has been a director and is now 
president of the People's Savings bank, one 
of the safest and most prosperous institu- 
tions of its kind in Indiana. Dr. 
Muhlhausen was married, November 8, 
1S59, to Josephine Reitz, daughter of 
Clement Reitz, sr., a citizen of tliis city. 
Mrs. Muhlhausen was a native of Germany 
and died in this city December 28, 1881, 
leaving two sons and one daughter. In pol- 
itics Dr. Muhlhausen has affiliated with tlie 
democratic partly; he is a member of the 
Roman Catholic church. 

William S. Pollard, M. D., one of the 
prominent practitioners of the city of Evans- 
ville, was born in Carmi, 111., Nov. i, 1838. 
His father, William, was a physician, a 
graduate of one of the medical universities 



of Virginia, his native state, and a successful 
practitioner. On account of his hatred 
for the " peculiar institution," he liberated 
his slaves and removed to Kentucky, thence 
to Mt. Vernon, Indiana, where he practiced 
his profession for several years. From Mt. 
Vernon he went to Cynthiana, Ind., where 
he died in 1S74. He was a thorough gen- 
tleman of the old school, kind, courteous, 
and the personification of liberality. He was 
highly esteemed by all who knew him. The 
boyhood and early manhood of William S. 
was passed under the paternal roof. He 
received an academical education, and in 
i860 commenced the study of medicine 
in his father's office. The following year, 
however, he joined the Federal army as a 
member of an Illinois Infantry regiment, 
with which organization he remained but a 
short time. Returning to Indiana, he aided 
in the formation of the Twenty-fourth 
Indiana Infantr}', Col. Hovey commanding. 
On the muster-in of the regiment he was 
commissioned second lieutenant and as- 
signed to Company K. By regular grada- 
tions he rose to the rank of lieutenant- 
colonel, aided only by his ability as an officer 
and his splendid record as a soldier. He 
participated in all the battles in which his 
regiment was engaged, notably among the 
number the siege of Vicksburg, the battle 
of Shiloh, Champion Hills, the siege of 
Corinth, the battles of Blakely and Mobile, 
Ala., and other minor engagements. The 
close of the war found the regiment at Gal- 
veston, Texas, whence they were ordered 
home for muster-out. Returning to civil 
life, he first engaged in merchandizing; but 
this vocation not proving congenial, he 
resolved to make the practice of medicine 
his life's work. In 1869 he entered the 
Miami Medical college, from which institu- 
tion he graduated with honor in the class of 
1871. In the same year he came to Evans- 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



349 



ville and began the practice in company 
with that eminent physician and citizen, Dr. 
James P. DeBruler, with whom lie re- 
mained until the death of the latter in 1S75, 
when he succeeded to the larger share of 
his practice. One singular fact in con- 
nection with the doctor's professional life, 
and perhaps a remarkable one, is that he 
has never changed his location nor his office 
since he first began the practice in iSyr. 
In the practice of medicine Dr. Pollard has 
been highly successful, especially in diseases 
of the chest. Me occupies a foremost posi- 
tion among his medical brethren, and is 
ever\ where recognized not only as an able 
and successful physician but as a valuable 
citizen. For three years he was county 
physician ; and for ten years has been exam- 
ininjr suri^eon for the United States Pension 
Bureau. He is also a member of the city 
hospital association. He affiliates with the 
republican party, and is a prominent mem- 
ber of the G. A. R. In the Masonic order 
lie has held a conspicuous place, being now 
captain-general of Lavallette Commandery, 
K. T., having occupied in regular succes- 
sion all the intermediate chairs. In civil, 
military and political life his record is un- 
tarnished, and his career affords another 
example of the well-known fact that ability, 
industry and honesty, coupled with pluck 
and energy, always produce success. In 
1S74 ^'^"^ doctor was united in marriage with 
Miss Mattie A., daughter of Gideon Sutton, 
of Centerburg, Ohio. Two children have 
been born to them: one died in infancy, and 
the remaining child, Walter S., is a bright 
boy of four years. 

A. M. Hayden, M. D., physician and sur- 
geon, of Evansville, Ind., was born in 
Hampshire county, Va., (now West Vir- 
ginia), May 28, 1852, and is the son of 
Dr. A. R. and Louisa (Thompson) Hayden. 
His fatiier was born in Kentucky, in 1807, 



being the son of Virginian parents who emi- 
grated from their native state to Missouri, 
in the early part of the century-, and re- 
mained but a short time, returning to Vir- 
ginia where they lived and died. Dr. A. B. 
Hayden is a graduate of Jefferson Medical 
College and now resides in Virginia, having 
retired from active labor after a lone and 
successful practice of his profession. His 
wife, Louisa Thompson, a nati\-e of Hamp- 
shire' county, Va., born in 1815, and still 
surviving, is the daughter of honorable \'ir- 
ginians, who, in their day, occupied a prom- 
inent place in the localit}- where they re- 
sided. Dr. A. M. Hayden is the vouncrest 
of eight children. His early education was 
secured in the country schools of his native 
county. His youth was passed on his 
father's farm, working at farm labor during 
the summer, and attendin<r school durin<r 
the winter months. Later he finished his 
literarj' education at Winchester seminar}', 
Winchester, Va. In 1S70, he began the study 
of medicine with his father as a preceptor, and 
in March 1875, graduated from Sterling 
Medical College, Columbus, Ohio. Coming 
to the west, he settled at Newburgh, Ind., 
and there began, at once, the practice of his 
profession in partnership with Dr. P. S. 
Thompson, of that place. About two years 
later he located in Evanville, where he has 
since resided, obtaining a large practice and 
recognition as one of the best physicians in 
the city. In 1S7S, Dr. Hayden took a course 
of lectures in the medical department of the 
Universit}' of New York, and in 1855, being 
prepared by the varied experiences of a ten 
years' practice for the stud\- of every branch 
of medical science, pursued a course of in- 
struction at the New York Polyclinic. Re- 
turning to Evansville he began to devote 
especial attention to surgical science, and in 
that branch of his practice has already at- 
tained an honorable eminence. The extent 



250 



THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 



of his achievements and tlie result of his 
Hfe's work ought not to be reckoned at this 
time, for even the prime of his activity is 
not vet passed. His usefulness as a citizen 
and ph\-sician has long been recognized, and 
his career thus far, has been eminently suc- 
cessful. He is a member of the Vander- 
burgh Medical Society, the Indiana State 
Medical Society and the American Med- 
ical Association. To the journal of the 
American Medical Association he has con- 
tributed some valuable papers. He has 
obtained popularity in social circles. For 
manv years he has been an earnest member 
of Orion Lodge No. 35, K. of P. He is now 
chancellor commander and is said to be one 
of the best otficers the lodge ever had. He 
is a good parliamentarian, loyal to the order 
and untiring in his efforts to advance its 
prosperity. He wields a large influence 
and has done much to place P3-thianisni on a 
firm basis in this cit}' and in a high place in 
popular esteem. He was married October 
I, 1S79, to Malinda A. Van Dusen, a native 
of Vanderburgh county, born September 
26, 1861, who is the daughter of ^Martin A. 
and Abbie (Olmstead) Van Dusen. Her 
maternal grandfather was Judge William 
Olmstead, a distinguished pioneer of this 
county. Two daughters have been born of 
this union. 

John B. Weever, M. D., did not begin 
his practice in Evans ville until 1886, but very 
soon thereafter his abilities were recognized 
and alreadv his worth has attracted to him 
an extensive and lucrative business. For 
many years, though not a resident of this 
cit}', he was bv no means a stranger in it. 
His boyhood was spent here, his father 
being for a Ion/' time a citizen of the place, 
and the greater portion of his life has been 
passed in the neighbo? Ing town of Mount 
Vernon, in Posey county. He was born in 
the town of HoUowell, Kennebec county, 



Maine, September 25, 1836. His father. 
Dr. Charles S. Weever, was a native of 
Massachusetts, born in 1809. He came to 
Evansville in 1837, and first engaged in mer- 
chandising, but the business was not congen- 
ial to him, and failing to meet with the degree 
of success which he had anticipated and de- 
sired, he began the study of medicine in the 
office of that distinguished pioneer physician. 
Dr. William Trafton. Later he attended the 
Jefferson Medical College, at Philadelphia, 
Pa., where he graduated in 1844. Return- 
ing to Evansville he formed a copartnership 
with his late preceptor, with whom he was 
associated until Dr. Trafton's death. In 
1850 he removed to Mt. Vernon, Ind., where 
he was engaged in general practice until 
his death, which occurred in 1861. He was 
successful in the practice, and was the first 
professor of anatomy in the Evansville med- 
ical college. He is still remembered by the 
older citizens of this city as an upright man 
and a skilful physician. 

Dr. John B. Weever received an academ- 
ical education and in 1855 began the study 
of medicine in his father's office. Subse- 
quently he continued his studies under the 
direction of Dr. S. D. Gross, of Philadelphia, 
and entering the Jefferson Medical College in 
that cit}', graduated therefrom in 1858. He 
then returned to Mt. Vernon and engaged 
in the practice with his father until the hitter's 
decease, in 1S61. Thereafter he continued 
his professional work alone, remaining in 
Mt. Vernon until 1886, when he came to 
Evansville. He did a successful business 
and was recognized as a most able and skill- 
ful physician. Upon coming to Evansville 
he at once took a high rank among the phy- 
sicians of the place and by reason of his 
worth as a citizen and physician has estab- 
lished himself in public favor. He has been 
a member of the Vanderburg Count}' Med- 
ical Society since 1886, and is at this time its 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



251 



president. For many years he has been a 
member of the Indiana state medical society 
and the American Medical Association. In 
his religiou.s and political affiliations he is a 
Presbyterian and a republican. In 1S62, Dr. 
Weaver was united in marriage to Miss 
Emma J. Slocum, Carmi, 111. Of this union 
seven children have been born, only three of 
whom survive, as follows: Walter R., 
George S., and Paul S. 

Edwin Walker, M. D., Ph. D., a prom- 
inent physician and surgeon of Evansville, 
was born in this city May 6, 1853, and is the 
son of James T. and Charlotte (Burtis) 
Walker, distinguished pioneers, mentioned 
more at length elsewhere in these pages.* 
He was educated in the public schools of 
this cit}', graduating from the high school in 
1869. Later he spent two vears at Hanover 
College, Hanover, Ind., pursuing a course 
of classical study. While there he was a 
member of the Union Literary Society and 
the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He began 
the study of medicine in the office of Dr. G. 
B. Walker, of this city, in 1871, and at the 
same time attended three courses of lectures 
in the Evansville Medical College, graduat- 
ing therefrom in 1874. He at once entered 
upon the practice of his profession and in the 
same year was appointed professor of anat- 
omy in the college where recentlv he had 
been a student. In 1S77 '""^ attended a 
course of lectures in New York city, and 
two years later again entered the universit}-, 
in that city, where he graduated with honors, 
taking the prize for the greatest proficiency 
in diseases of the nervous system. During 
this winter he was a private student of Prof. 
E. C. Seguin, whose scientific methods did 
much to shape his subsequent studies. Re- 
turning to Evansville, he was made professor 
of diseases of women and diseases of the 

* See personal mention of James T. Walker in " Bench 
and Bar." 



nervous system in the medical college of this 
city, and again resumed the duties of his 
profession, achieving through his merit a 
large measure of success. In 1S83 he at- 
tended a course of lectures at the New York 
city Polyclinic and pursued a special course 
of study on diseases of women and diseases 
of the throat, under direction of Prof. Bos- 
worth. Two years later he spent two 
months attending hospital clinics, and in the 
fall of the same year went to Europe, where 
he remained until August, 1886, spending 
his time in studv especiallv on diseases of 
women and of the nervous system, receiving 
private instruction from and examining the 
work of the leading teachers in Berlin, 
Vienna, London, and Edinburgh. Again 
in 1888 he spent such time as he could take 
from his practice in New York city instruct- 
ing himself in the medical science. Few 
men have entered with greater zeal upon 
the study of any branch of science and have 
attained greater success in (jualifying them- 
selves for the practical application of theories 
and principles than has Dr. Walker. His 
life has been particularly active. He has 
explored carefully and thoroughlv many 
avenues of learning, and by the systematic 
methods of a perfect student has made his 
mind a veritable storehouse of useful infor- 
mation. In 1876 and 187S he was county 
physician; with others he was instrumental 
in establishing the city hospital, and he is 
now a member of the Vanderburgh County 
Medical Society, the State of Indiana Medi- 
cal Society, the Mississippi Valley Medical 
Society, and the American Medical Associa- 
tion. Few men ha\e more thoroughlv fitted 
themselves for a successful life's work in any 
chosen profession than has Dr. Walker. 
Recognizing this fact, the faculty of Hanover 
College, one of the leading educational in- 
stitutions in the state, conferred upon him, in 
1888, the degree of Ph. D, In 1880, Dr. 



252 



THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 



Walker was united in marriage to Miss 
Capitola Hudspeth, a native of Boonville, 
Ind., born in 1859, and daughter of George 
and Margaret (hmith) Hudspeth, for many 
years well known residents of this city. 

George P. Hodson, M. D., physician and 
surgeon of Evansville, is a native of this 
city, born April 11, 1S53. He is the son of 
John M. and Jane (Vaughn) Hodson. Dur- 
ing his boyhood he attended the public 
schools of this city, and at the age of seven- 
teen years entered Asbary University (now 
DePauw University) at Greencastle, Ind. 
Here he spent three years, passing through 
the junior year, but was unable to complete 
the course. In 1873, he began the stud}' of 
medicine in the office of that eminent physi- 
cian, so long and so favorabl\- known in 
Evansville, Dr. George B. Walker. He 
entered the Evansville Medical College, and 
graduated in February, 1876. Immediately 
thereafter he commenced the practice' of his 
profession, achieving success, not, however, 
without meeting many discouragements. 
In 1883-4 ^^ attended a course of lectures 
at the New York Polyclinic, and there 
added greatly to his store of information. 
Returning to Evansville, he was appointed 
professor of obstetrics in the Evansville 
Medical College, and filled that chair until 
the college closed, in 1SS5. For this position 
he was well qualified, having made the study 
of obstetrics a specialty, and his discharge of 
its duties was eminently satisfactor}'. For 
three years from 1SS4 he was secretary of 
the board of health of Evansville, and in that 
capacity rendered valuabl** service to the 
citv. He was instrumental in founding the 
Evansville city hospital. He is now a mem- 
ber of the Vanderburgh County Medical 
Society, the Indiana State Medical Society, 
the Mississippi Valley Medical Society and 
the American Medical Association. Dr. 
Hodson was married on the I2th day 



of October, 1875, to Miss Mary Smith, of 
Richland county. 111., who is a native of 
Posey connt}', Ind., born March 27, 1856. 
The varied experience of a ten years' prac- 
tice, attended by a constant and thorough 
reading, prepared Dr. Hodson for the skill- 
ful treatment of many forms of disease. 
His ability had been recognized, and his 
practice had constantly extended itself until 
his time was fully occupied by the proper 
discharge of his professional duties. But 
desiring to enjoy every advantage and be 
abreast of the times, he again, in 18S7, 
visited New York citv, and there spent 
much time in the hospitals and in the study 
of the medical science under the direction of 
the best instructors. Dr. Hodson is a young 
man, with the greater and more important 
portion of his life's work before him. What 
he may }'et achieve cannot be stated with 
certainty, but his attainments and his past 
successes justify the most favorable pre- 
dictions. 

Benjamin J. Day, M. D., is of English 
descent and was born in Calvert county, 
Md.,June 28, 1822. His father, Robert J. 
Dav, was a planter, who died in 1S30. His 
mother, Marj- Da}-, died when he was an in- 
fant. Left an orphan at the age of eight he 
was soon taught to rely upon his own re- 
sources. His early training was received 
in the inferior schools of that time. He ob- 
tained, however, the rudiments of an English 
education. In 1839 he obtained a position 
as clerk in a store at Prince Frederick, Md., 
where he remained a year, at the end of 
this time giving up his position to begin the 
study of medicine. In the spring of 1840, 
he entered the office of Dr. William H. 
McDaniel, but soon after received an invi- 
tation from an elder brother — a practicing 
physician at Mount Carmel, 111., to come to 
him, which he did in July of the same year. 
For two years he applied himself very earn- 






^^^^^=^4^^^^ 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



255 



estl}' to his medical studies, and at the end 
of that time began the practice under ad- 
verse circumstances in Gibson county, Ind- 
Success liowever, attended his efforts. In 
the autumn of 1847, he entered the Univer- 
sity of Maryland at Baltimore, but did not 
complete his studies there. He graduated 
in 1856, from the Pennsylvania Medical 
College at Philadelphia. Becoming tired of 
country practice he removed to Baton 
Rouge, La., where he remained until i860, 
when he returned on private business. The 
war breaking out, he decided to locate in 
Evansville, which he didin 1S62. Ilewasap- 
pointed acting assistant surgeon of hospital 
No. 3, and soon after received a commission 
as pension surgeon. On the reorganization 
of the Evansville Medical College he was 
appointed to the chair of Surgical Pathol- 
ogy, which he filled acceptably for several 
years. He has been a contributor to several 
medical journals and is a member of the 
State and Vanderburgh County Medical 
Societies. With the exception of Dr. Bray 
he is perhaps the oldest resident physician in 
the city. He is now retired from active 
practice. 

William H.Maghee, M. D., a prominent 
young physician and surgeon of this cit\', 
is a native of Evansville, born June 22, 1856. 
His father, Joseph B. Maghee, is a native 
of Pennsylvania, and was born in Ilohnes- 
burg, April 9, 1814. He came to Evans- 
ville in 1836. He was for a number of 
years engaged in the dry goods business in 
the city, and then purchasing a farm re- 
moved there and remained for a number of 
years. He then returned to this city, where 
he now resides, living in retirement. The 
mother of Dr. Maghee is Marj- Jacobs, 
who was born in Evansville, September 13, 
1819, and is now the oldest living native- 
born inhabitant of the city. Her father was 
Gen. J. H. Jacobs, who was a native of Penn- 
15 



syh'ania, and was one of the pioneers of 
Vanderburg county, there being only a few 
houses in Evansville when he arrived. He 
had the first glass window in Evansville, in 
his house, and killed the last bear ever 
seen in this section of the county. He was 
an officer in the war between the United 
States and Mexico, going from Vanderburgh 
count}', and during the war was wounded in 
the knee, from the effects of which his death 
occurred. To Joseph and Mary Maghee 
eight children were born, six of whom sur- 
^•i\•e, three sons and three daughters. Dr. 
Maghee was reared in Evansville and at- 
tended the public schools, graduating from 
the private academy of Misses Hooker and 
Hough. He began reading medicine in 
1876, with Dr. Joseph W. Irwin, one of the 
leading physicians of Evansville at that time 
and now a prominent practitioner of Louis- 
ville, Ky. In 1879 '■'s entered Jeffer- 
son Medical College of Philadelphia, from 
which he graduated in 1881. He next lo- 
cated in Princeton, practicing his profession 
there until August, 1884, and then located 
in Evansville, where he has since practiced 
with success. He is a member of the Gib- 
son county Medical Society and of the State 
Medical Society, also of the Mississippi Val- 
ley Tri-State Medical Society. He is also 
a member of the Masonic fraternity, being 
made a Mason in 1885, Chapter Mason in 
1887, and Knight Templar in 1888. He 
was married June 15, 18S1, to Ella C. 
Kimball, of Princetown, Ind., who was the 
daughter of J. C. and Amanda Kimball, 
and was born December 10, 1858. She 
died October 14, 1884. One child was born 
to this union, on May 22, 1882, and died 
May 19, 1883. 

John E. Owen, M. D., began the practice 
of his profession in Evansville in 1880. He 
was born in Madisonville, Ky., October i, 
1854, 'i"<^^ when twenty-one years of age 



2.56 



THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 



became a student of medicine in the office 
of his brother Dr. A. M. Owen. He gradu- 
ated from the Evansville Medical College in 
1879. "^^^ following year he entered the 
College of Physicians and Surgeons in New 
York city, and graduated from that institu- 
tion in 1880. He was a member of the 
faculty of the Evansville Medical College, 
occupying the position of demonstrator of 
anatoni}', which position he resigned to 
enter the Hospital Medical College of Evans- 
ville, where, until the close of that institu- 
tion, he filled the chair of professor of anat- 
omy. He has been county physician, and 
is a member of several important medical 
associations. 

P. Y. McCoy, M. D., of Evansville, was 
born in Golconda, 111., June 29, 1S41. His 
paternal grandfather, John McCoy, was a 
native of Kentucky, vvho early emigrated to 
Indiana territory, settling within the present 
limits of Clarke county. There, in 181 7, 
his father, Dr. George R. McCoy, was born. 
Dr. George McCoy possessed a sturdy 
character, a strong intellect and a good edu- 
cation, which he obtained by dint of untiring 
effort. He was a graduate of the old 
Transylvania Medical College at Louisville, 
K3\, completing his studies there about 1835 
or 1836. Emigrating to Golconda, 111., he 
practiced his profession in that town and 
vicinity until his death in 1848. During his 
day he was the leading physician of the 
county and was well and favorably known. 
Upon the removal of the Cherokee, Choctaw 
and other Indian tribes from northern Ala- 
bama and Mississippi to the Indian territory, 
he was selected by the U. S. government to 
attend to their wants while en-route. His wife, 
the mother of Dr. P. Y. McCoy, was Mary 
Fields, who was born at Golconda in 1818, 
and is now a resident of that place. Her 
father, Daniel Fields, was a native of Ken- 
tucky, who emigrated to Ilhnois at an early 



date and settled in what is now Pope county. 
At one time he was a large land owner in 
the county, and laid out and founded the 
town of Golconda. The descendants of the 
pioneer Daniel Fields were always eminently 
respectable. Dr. P. Y. McCoy was reared 
in Golconda and his early mental training 
was obtained in the public schools of that 
place. Later he pursued his studies at 
Franklin College, Frankhn, Ind. At the age 
of eighteen j-ears he began the study of 
medicine at Golconda under the directions 
of Count Albert De Leczynski, a Polish exile, 
who was banished from his native country 
on account of his political opinions. He was 
a graduate of the University at Vienna, a 
man of varied attainments, and one of the 
most skilled physicians and surgeons of the 
countiy. Dr. McCoy attended his first 
course of lectures in 1860-61 at Rush Medi- 
cal College, Chicago, 111., and graduated from 
that institution in 1863. In the same, year 
he began the practice of his profession in 
Golconda, his native town, but soon there- 
after removed to Columbus, Ky., where he 
remained about ten years. While living in 
Kentucky he was a member of the Kentucky 
State Medical Society, and was its delegate 
in 1873 to the meeting of the American 
Medical Association at St. Louis, Mo. In 
1873, htted by the experience of ten years' 
practice to comprehend the most difficult 
subjects presented in medical instruction, he 
spent several months in New York city pur- 
suing his studies and attending the hospitals. 
In addition to the valuable instruction re- 
ceived in the university and hospitals he pur- 
sued a special course of study under the 
tutelage of Dr. Marion Sims, devoting par- 
ticular attention to the diseases of women. 
He also gave much time to surgery and is 
now regarded as being among the more 
prominent surgeons of southern Indiana. In 
the fall of 1873 he came to Evansville and 



i 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



251 



resumed tlie duties of his profession. His 
popularit}' and jiractice gradually extended 
themselves and he was soon recognized as 
one of the leading physicians of Evans\ille. 
In 1884 he again visited New York. City 
and there took two courses of lectures at 
the Polyclinic College. During its existence 
he occupied the chair of surgery in the 
Evansville Medical College. He is now a 
member of the Vanderburgh County Medi- 
cal Society, surgeon of the L. & N. R. R. 
at this point, one of the best of phj'sicians, 
respected on every hand, and enjoys a high 
professional and social standing While not 
a specialist and although engaged in the 
general practice, he gives especial attention 
to surgery and the diseases of women, and 
in these two departments of the practice he has 
been particularly successful. In Masonry- 
he has attained the degrees of Templarism, 
and he is a prominent member of the K. of P. 
Dr. McCoy was married in 1865 to Miss 
Nellie Woods, who was born in Livingston 
count}', Ky., in 1845. She died in 1871, 
leaving a son and daughter, the latter sur- 
viving. In 1876 the doctor married EtRe 
Carr, who was born in Kentucky in 1856, 
and is the daughter of N. F. Carr, of this 
city. 

Charles Knapp, M. D., physician and 
surgeon, and a leading citizen of Evansville, 
is a native of Germany. He was born at 
Birkenfeld, near the Rhine, December 21, 
1845, the son of Dr. Charles J., and Cather- 
ine (Tuerkis) Knapp. Dr. Charles J. 
Knapp was born in 1823, and was educated 
in the schools of his native land. He came 
to America in 185 1, landing at New Orleans. 
He remained there a short time and then 
went to New Albany, were he resided until 
about 1856, and then removed to Rockport, 
Ind. He next went to Boonville, Ind., 
about i860, and engaged in merchandising. 
Later he was employed in the drug business, 



and subsequently took up the study of med- 
icine. In 1874 ^'^^ visited Germany and 
pursued a course of study at Heidelberg, 
having previously attended Bellevue Hospital 
college at New York. Returning to Boon- 
ville from Europe he engaged in the prac- 
tice of medicine, and bid fair to make a suc- 
cessful and popular physician, but his career 
was cut short by death in 1875. Catharine 
(Tuerkis) Knapp died in 1856. To these 
parents four children were born, two of 
whom, Drs. Charles and Emil Knapp, of this 
cit}', survive. The father was married a 
second time, to Augusta C. Ross, and to that 
union four children were born, three of 
whom survive. His second wife dying, he 
was married a third time, to Mrs. Louisa C. 
Radmann, who survives him, and is a resi- 
dent of Boonville, Ind. Dr. Charles Knapp 
came with his parents to America in 1851. 
He was reared principally in New Albany, 
Ind., where he attended the public schools. 
He began the study of medicine in Boon- 
ville, Ind., in 1865, and in 1865-6 attended 
Rush Medical College at Chicago. During 
1866-7 he attended Bellevue Hospital Col- 
lege at New York, and for two years next 
thereafter, practiced at Huntingburgh, Ind. 
In 1869-70 he again attended Bellevue col- 
lege, and on March i, 1870, graduated from 
the institution. He returned to Boonville, 
but soon removed to Ferdinand, Ind., where 
he practiced until his removal to Evansville, 
in 1 88 1, where he has since resided and 
practiced his profession. He was united in 
marriage at Huntingburgh, Ind., in 1868, to 
Emma Pickhardt, who was born in Evans- 
ville, in 1851, and is the daughter of William 
Pickhardt. To this union Jive children have 
been born, four of whom survive. In 1882 
Dr. Knapp was selected to till the chair of 
pathology arid practice of medicine, and lec- 
turer on the eye and ear at the Hospital 
Medical College of Evansville, which he 



258 



THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 



occupied until the suspension of the college in 
1886. He was also chosen secretary of the 
college in 1883, and served until the suspen- 
sion. He was a charter member of the Dubois 
Count}- Medical Society, organized in 1S74, 
and has been since 1884 a member of the 
Vanderburgh Medical Society. He is also a 
member of the Mississippi Valley Medical 
Society and the American Medical Associa- 
tion. 

Columbus V. Wedding, M. D., physician 
and surgeon, was born in Ohio countv, Kv., 
December 2, 1852, and is the son of Mark 
and Nanc}- J. (Hale) Wedding. He re- 
ceived a liberal education, and at the age of 
sixteen years began the study of medicine 
with Dr. Josiah Hale, of Owensboro, Kv., 
as his preceptor. He remained with Dr. 
Hale four years, and in the winter of 1872-3 
attended a course of medical lectures at the 
University of Louisville, K.\. Immediately 
thereafter he began the practice of medicine 
at Stephensport, in Breckenridge count}', 
Ky., and succeeded in building up a good 
business. In 1878, he returned to the uni- 
versity at Louisville and graduated in Feb- 
ruary of the following year. He returned 
to his practice, but desiring to increase his 
knowledge, visited New York and Phila- 
delphia, in 1880, and in the hospitals of those 
cities obtained much valuable experience 
and information. Returning toBreckenridire 
county, after an absence of six months, he 
resumed his professional duties, and con- 
tinued actively engaged for three years. At 
the end of this time he visited the hospitals 
of London, where his observations added 
materially to his education. Thereafter, un- 
til 1S86, he remained at his old home, prac- 
ticing and meeting with much success. June 
I, 1886, he came to Evansville, and has 
since resided in this city. His success has 
been remarkably gratifying. He possesses 
a large practice, and is considered a skillful 



physician and surgeon. Dr. Wedding was 
married, June 8, 1870, to Laura E. Pate, a 
native of Kentucky, born December 27, 
1 85 2, and daughter of John A., and Matilda 
(Morton) Pate. To this union one son, 
Eslell \'., has been born. Mrs. Wedding is 
a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
church. The doctor is a member of Cres- 
cent Lodge No. 122, I. O. O. F., and of 
Excelsior Lodge, No. 38, A. O. U. W. In 
politics he is a republican. 

Louis D. Brose, M. D., is of German 
descent, and was born in the city of Evans- 
ville, April 20, 1859. He was educated in 
the public schools of the city, and began 
the study of medicine in the drug store of 
Dr. John Laval in 1877. His medical pre- 
ceptors were Drs. Bray and Wheeler and 
Dr. H. W. Austin, then surgeon of the 
Marine Hospital. His preparatory course 
was a very thorough one. In 1877-8 he 
attended the Evansville Medical College, 
and in the autumn of 1879 entered the 
Medical University of Pennsylvania, at 
Philadelphia, where he graduated in 1881. 
His thesis was entitled, " An Experimental 
Contribution to our Knowledge of Bright's 
Disease," and set forth the results of exper- 
iments which had been made on domestic 
animals, his object being to trace the prog- 
ress of the disease from its inception to its 
more advanced stages. This article 
attracted the attention of physicians and was 
published in many of the leading medical 
journals. After graduating in medicine he 
entered the philosophical department of the 
same institution and received the degree of 
Ph. D. and a gold medal for general profi- 
ciency in the hygienic department. In 1S82 
he became the resident surgeon and ph} si- 
cian of the German Hospital, of Philadel- 
phia. In this hospital he had much valu- 
able experience, and when leaving the 
institution he had so far advanced in the pro- 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



259 



fession that upo n his return to Evansville he 
was appointed demonstrator of anatomy in 
the Evansville Medical College. The next 
year he became professor of aiiatomy and 
retained this position until the college was 
closed. Me then gave his attention to the 
practice of medicine and surgery-, in which 
he is now engaged. He was physician and 
obstetrician to the Evansville Home of the 
Friendless in 1S83 and 1884, and for two 
j'ears was physician to the Evansville 
Orphan Asylum. In 1S86 he was ap- 
pointed surgeon of the Peoria, Decatur & 
Evansville Railroad at this place. His con- 
tributions to medical literature have been 
numerous. His tirst article appeared in the 
Philadelphia JMcdical A^civs in 18S3, was 
ably written, and attracted much favorable 
notice. Man}- other articles on subjects re- 
lating to the medical science have appeared 
from time to time in the daily press and the 
medical journals of the country, all of which 
have elicited the favorable comments of 
able phvsicians. His especial proficiency as 
a microscopist is worthy of note. Numer- 
ous instances are on record where he has 
removed small portions of tumors from pa- 
tients, and after microscopical examination 
has made an accurate diagnosis afterward 
of great value in operations undertaken for 
the patient's benefit. 

Charles Park Bacon, M. D., was born 
in Christian county, Ky., September 6, 1S36, 
and is the son of Charles A. and Susan 
(Rowlett) Bacon, both natives of Virginia. 
His father was a man of sterling integrity, 
with great natural endowments, both men- 
tal and physical. Educated in the common 
schools and academies of Kentucky, he be- 
gan the study of medicine, at the age of 
twenty-one, in the office of his brother, Dr. 
Thomas L. Bacon, of Henderson county, 
Ky. In the winter of 1859-60 he entered 
the University of Pennsylvania, and gradu- 



ated therefrom in the spring of 1861. Im- 
mediately thereafter he began the practice 
of his profession at Cadiz, Trigg county, 
Ky., where he remained until 1873, in which 
year he came to Evansville, where he has 
since resided. Dr. Bacon's abilities secured 
him a lucrative business at Cadiz, but desir- 
ing a larger field, he came to this city, where 
he has been equallv successful. He is a 
member of the Vanderburgh County Medi- 
cal Society, the Indiana State Medical 
Society and the American Medical Associa- 
tion. With others he was instrumental in 
establishing the cit}- hospital. He filled ac- 
ceptably the chairs of anatomy, surger}- and 
diseases of women, in the Hospital Medical 
College of Evansville. His thorough famil- 
iarity with the varied branches of the medi- 
cal science, and the successes achieved in 
his practice, have gained for him a high 
rank among the physicians of the city. Jan- 
uary 23d, 1866, at Cadiz, Ky., he was mar- 
ried to Miss Emma C. Mayes, daughter of 
Judge Matthew Mayes, one of the foremost 
lawyers of Kentucky. Of this union one 
child has been born, Miss Mayes. Dr. 
Bacon is a member of the Methodist church, 
and Mrs. Bacon of the Christian church. 

Edward Linthicum, M. D., one of the 
leading physicians of Evansville, was born 
at Rumsey, Ky., May 3d, 1846, the 
son of Rufus and Sarah (Hicks) Linthi- 
cum. The father was a physician of repute, 
and had been a student under that eminent 
practitioner, Dr. Dudley, of Lexington, Ky. 
but he died in 1863, Edward's mother having 
passed away two years previous. The 
home of the family at the time of the death 
of the parents was in Henderson county, 
Ky., and at Henderson, the education 
of the son Edward was obtained. The lat- 
ter began the study of medicine during the 
ife of his father, in the office, and afterward, 
in 1S65, he entered the Ohio Medical Col- 



360 



THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 



\ege. In the winter of 1866-7, he matricu- 
ated at the Long Island College Hospital, 
and graduated from that institution. His 
beginnings in the practice of his profession 
were in Kentuck}', where he remained three 
years, and then practiced one year at Rose- 
ville. Ark., after which he came to 
Evansville, in 1873. Here he has ever since 
remained, achieving signal success in the 
work of his profession, and winning a place 
in the front rank of the medical men of this 
region. Dr. Linthicum is a member of the 
American Medical Association, the Tri-state 
Medical Association, the Indiana State Medi- 
cal Association, and the societies of Vander- 
burgh county and the Mississippi valley. In 
1875 he occupied the position of demonstra- 
tor of anatomy in the Evansville Medical 
College, and in 1876, was professor of urin- 
ary diseases and clinical surger\'. The es- 
tablishment of the city hospital is in part due 
to the efforts of Dr. Linthicum who heartily 
joined in the movement. The doctor's fra- 
ternal connections are with Rainbow lodge, 
No. 67, I. O. O. F., of Kentucky, and St. 
George lodge, K. of P., Evansville. 
In 1885 Dr. Linthicum visited Europe, 
spending his time mainlv at London, Vienna 
and Berlin. While in Berlin war was de- 
clared between Servia and Bulgaria, and lie 
offered his services as a surgeon to the Ser- 
vian army, and served in that capacity dur- 
ing the war. 

John T. Binkley, M. D., a prominent 
physician and surgeon, and member of the 
United States board of pension examiners 
was born in Davidson count}*, Tenn., on 
Stone river, near the city of Nashville, June 
15, 1829. He is the son of H. J. and N. M. 
(Gleaves) Binkley, natives of Tennessee, 
the father born in 1S06 and the mother in 
1812. The death of his mother occurred in 
1844, that of his father in 1887. Dr. Bink- 
le}^ was educated in the public schools of his 



native state and at Tracy College, and be- 
gan the study of medicine when twenty-two 
years of age. In 1852-3 he attended the 
Pennsylvania Medical College at Philadel- 
phia, graduating therefrom and then spend- 
ing a year in the hospitals of that cit3% He 
commenced the practice of his profession in 
Stewart county, Tenn., in 1854, and in the 
following j-ear removed to Trenton, in the 
western part of the same state. Here he 
remained but a short time, moving thence 
to the cit}' of Nashville, where he remained 
until 1S58. In that year he located in 
Shawneetown, 111., and for some time was 
one of the most successful practitioners in 
that place. He came to Evansville in 1884, 
and has since continuouslv practiced his pro- 
fession in this city, attaining a high standing 
among physicians and enjoying an extensive 
practice. In Tennessee, while at Nashville, 
Dr. Binkley was a member of the Davidson 
County Medical association, and, upon his 
removal to Shawneetown, became identified 
with the Medical Association of Southern 
Illinois. Here his prominence in the profes- 
sion was recognized by an appointment as 
examining surgeon for the United States 
pension othce for Gallatin county. His con- 
tributions to medical literature have been 
considerable. A paper on " Gun-shot wounds 
of the brain," read to the Medical Associa- 
tion of Southern Illinois, was commented on 
favorably by eminent physicians, and was 
noticed by two European journals. Some 
other papers which attracted especial atten- 
tion were those on " Diseases of the sacro- 
iliac sj-nchondrosis," " American hellebore 
(veratrum viride)," and "Medical electric- 
ity." In June, 1885, he was made a member 
of the board of examining surgeons for the 
United States pension office at this place, 
and is now secretary of the board. Dr. 
Binkley has been married three times. His 
first wife, to whom he was married in April, 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



S61 



1854, was Miss Eliza Ryan, a native of 
Robinson county, Tenn., born Jul}' 22, 1837, 
and daughter of Dr. T. J. Ryan, of Spring- 
field, Tenn. She died March 22, 1S70, leaving 
four children. Mis second marriage occurred 
November 8, 1870, by which Miss Susan 
11. Rackerby, a native of Princeton, Ky., 
born September 17, 1837, became his wife. 
Her deatii occurred July 14, 187S. The 
doctor's present wife, to whom he was mar- 
ried November 12, 1878, was Miss Calantha 
Stubblefield, and was born at Sharpsburg, 
Md., June 12, 1836. 

T. E. Powell, M. D., is a native of Union 
count}-, Ky., where he was born March i, 
184S, the son of James and Jane (Leach) 
Powell. James Powell was a native of 
North Carolina, born about 1809, and died 
in 1877. His wife, Jane Leach, was born 
in Tennessee, in 181 3, and is now a resi- 
dent of Uniontown, Ky. To these parents 
nine children were born, Dr. Powell being 
the eighth, and of tiiese five are now living. 
Dr. Powell was reared on the farm in Union 
county, attended the public schools of the 
neighborhood, and finished his literary edu- 
cation at Princeton College, Ky. He began 
the study of medicine in 1872, at Union- 
town, Ky., and attended his first course of 
lectures in 1872-3, at the University of 
Louisville, where he graduated in 1874- ^^^ 
tiien began practicing at Corydon, Hender- 
son county, Ky., where he remained until 
1876, when he located at Uniontown. There 
he practiced until 1884. Going to New 
York he pursued a post-graduate course of 
study in the medical college of that city, and 
obtained his degree in 1885. He next lo- 
cated in Evansville, where he has continued 
in the practice of his profession ever since, 
meeting with success. Dr. Powell is a mem- 
ber of the Vanderburgh County Medical 
Society, Indiana State Medical Society, and 
of the American Medical Association. He 



is also a member of the K. and L. of H. and 
K. of P. fraternities. He was married in 
October, 1875, to Miss MoUie E. Dorsey, a 
native of Princeton, Ind., daughter of Wm. 
L. Dorsey, cashier of the People's National 
Bank of Princeton. Mrs. Powell died April 
6, 1885. 

IsATAM Wilton, M. D., police surgeon of 
Evansville, was born at New Albany, of 
American parents, September 27, 1846. 
His father was James Wilton, a native of 
Kentucky, born in Edmonson county, in 
November, 1814. He was one of the 
pioneers of Indiana, having come to Harri- 
son county while this state was a territory. 
His death occurred in Floyd county, in 1870. 
The mother is a native of Indiana, born in 
Harrison county, in January, 1814. She is 
now a resident of Evansville, making her 
home with her son. Dr. Wilton was reared 
in Floyd county, Ind., and there attended 
the public schools. He began reading med- 
icine in 1877 in this city, where he had 
removed in 1870. He attended the Evans- 
ville Medical College during 1877-8, and 
in 1882^3, attended the Hospital Medical 
College, from which he graduated in 1883. 
He then began practicing his profession in 
Evansville, and in July of the same year was 
appointed surgeon for the metropolitan 
police force of Evansville, and has filled 
that place up to the present. While read- 
ing medicine from 1S70 until 1S77, he filled 
various official positions, including police- 
man, patrolman, and deputy city marshal. 
He was married in February, 1881, to 
Annie Frederick, who was born in Jennings 
county, Ind., in 1853, and is the daughter of 
Conrad and Elizabeth (Lewis) Frederick. 
To this union si.\ children have been born — 
four daughters and two boys. The young- 
est son died July 23, 18S8, aged eight years. 

Rui'Us M. CoRLEW, M. D., was born in 
Montgomery county, Tenn., August 27^ 



262 



THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 



1S43, and is the son of William and Eliza 
(Pritchard) Corlew, both natives of Tennes- 
see. The father was born in 1810 and died 
in 18S1. The mother was born about 1820, 
and is still a resident of Tennessee. To 
these parents four children, three sons and 
a daughter, were born, all of whom survive. 
Dr. Corlew was reared in Montgomery 
county, and educated in Nashville, Tenn. 
He began the study of medicine in his 
native county in 1S60, with Dr. B. W. Us- 
sery as a preceptor. He entered the Uni- 
versity of Nashville, Tenn., in 1865, and 
took a thorough course, graduating in 186S, 
his term in college being at a time when the 
faculty was composed of such distinguished 
physicians as Drs. Paul Eve, Thomas R.Jen- 
nings, W. K. Boling, J. B. Lindsley, Joseph 
Jones, now of the University of New Orleans 
and William T. Briggs, now of Vander- 
bilt University, Nashville. After leaving 
college Dr. Corlew located on the Tennessee 
river in west Tennessee, where he practiced 
for three years, and then removed 
to Robertson county, Tenn., where he re- 
mained until 1880, then locating in Evans- 
ville, Ind., where he has since resided de- 
voting his attention to the general practice 
of medicine and surgery. He is one of the 
consulting physicians of St. Mary's Hospital, 
and a member of the Vanderburgh Medical 
society. He was married in 1868, to Sally 
A. Batts, of Robinson county, Tenn., and to 
this union, three children have been born. 
Dr. Corlew is a member of the Masonic 
fraternity, and is popular as a physician and 
citizen. 

J. L. Dow, M. D., of Evansville, was 
born at South Tam worth, Carroll count v, 
N. H., in 1839, and is the son of Eben and 
Harriet Newell (Mason) Dow, both natives 
of New Hampshire. Eben Dow was born 
in 1810, and died in 1859. ^'■'^ \\\ic was 
born in 1813 and is still living. The Dow 



family came west in 1849, locating at Can- 
nelton, Perry county, Ind., where the father's 
death occurred. Dr. Dow was reared in 
Indiana, and his early education was secured 
in the public schools. Graduating from the 
Cannelton high school, he commenced the 
study of medicine. He came to Vander- 
burgh county in i86r, and continued his 
medical studies, at the same time teaching 
school. In 1865-66 he attended Miami 
Medical College at Cincinnati, Ohio, gradu- 
ating from that institution. He then began 
practicing medicine at St. Wendell's, Ind., . 
where he resided and practiced for three 
yeai's. At the end of this period he located 
at Fort Branch, Gibson county Ind., where he 
remained for ten years, within which time, 
in 1875-6, he again attended Miami College, 
spending the time in the hospital, however. 
On November i, 1877, Dr. Dow located in 
Evansville, where he has since resided and 
practiced his profession. In October, 1883, 
he visited with his family in Washington 
city, where he remained until September, 
1884. Dr. Dow has filled the office of sec- 
retary of the Vanderburgh county board of 
health, which position he held for several 
months in 1887, and then resigned. He is a 
member of the Vanderburgh county, state, 
tri-state and national medical societies. He 
was married in 1867 to Miss Irene Graves, 
of Cincinnati, and to this union four child- 
ren were born, two of whom survive. His 
wife dying in 1S73, the doctor was again 
married in 1S76 to Miss Lucie S. Wood- 
bur^', of Massachusetts. Dr. Dow is a 
member of Reed Lodge, No. 316, Evans- 
ville Chapter No. 12, Simpson Council No. 
23 and La Vallette Commandery No. 15, F. 
and A. M. ; of Crescent Lodge No. 122, 
and Evansville Encampment No. 20, I. O. 
O. F. ; also of the grand lodge of the state 
in both orders. 

H. T. Di.xoN, M. D., was born in Ken- 



HOMEOPATHY. 



S63 



tuck)^ March 20, 1S50, and is the son of C. 
C. and Isabella (Clay) Dixon, both natives 
of Kentuck}'. The father died in 1884, and 
the mother is now residing in Henderson 
county. Dr. Dixon was reared in Hender- 
son count}', Ky., on the farm, attended the 
public schools, and later took a special 
course of studies under Prof. Gibson, of this 
county. He began reading medicine in 
1869, with his brother, Dr. R. S. Dixon, of 
Posey county, hid. He entered the Uni- 
versity of Louisville, Kj ., in 1872, from 
which he graduated in 1S7S, having taken 
three courses. He commenced the practice 
of his profession with his brother in Posey 
county, Ind., and later established himself in 
Union township, Vanderburgh county. After 
a time he removed to Henderson count}', 
Ky., where he practiced until his removal to 
Evansville, Ind., in 18S4. He was married 
October i, 1878, to Miss AmeHa Wilson, of 
Louisville, Ky., daughter of William Wilson, 
and to this union a son has been born. Dr. 
Dixon is a member of the McDowell Medical 
Society of Kentucky, of the Vanderburgh 
County and Indiana State Medical societies, 
and as a practitioner has been eminently 
successful. 

William Alexander, M. D., physician 
and surgeon and druggist, at corner of Wa- 
bash and Penns3'lvania streets, was born in 
Union county, Ky., November 27, 1855, and 
is the son of William and Augusta (Boetiger) 
Alexander. William Alexander, sr., was 
born in Ireland, and his wife in Germany. 
They emigrated to the United States about 
1850, and in 1856 located in Evansville. 
The mother died in 1879, '^'""^ '•'*'-" f'l^her is 
at present engaged in merchandising on 
Franklin street in this city. Dr. Alexander was 
reared principally in Evansville. When about 
fifteen years of age he entered a drug store 
as clerk. He began reading medicine in 
1879, and took his first course of lectures in 



18S3, at the Evansville Medical College, and 
afterward attended the Evansville Hospital 
Medical College. He began practicing in 
1 886 in Evansville, and in May, 1888, engaged 
in retail drug business. Dr. Alexander was 
married in May, 1877, to Ellen McNamara, 
and to this union four children have been 
born, three of whom survive. 

HOMEOPATHY. 

The homeopathic school of medicine did 
not have a representative in the city of 
Evansville until about 1S52. In that year 
Dr. E. J. Ehrman, coming from York, Penn., 
became the pioneer homeopathist in this 
city. He possessed considerable medical 
ability, although not a graduate of any med- 
ical school ; he had quite an extensive following 
among the Germans, and was quite suc- 
cessful. He was followed in 1863 by Dr. 
Herr, a convert to homeopathy from the 
eclectic school, and a graduate of the Eclectic 
Medical Institute of Cincinnati, Ohio. Dr. 
Herr is still practicing and is regarded as a 
popular and successful physician. 

In 1866 Dr. Davis, a graduate of the 
Cleveland Homeopathic College, became a 
partner of Dr. Ehrman. After the advent 
of Drs. Herr and Davis homeopathy rapidly 
o-rew in favor with the best families, and it 
was not long before its advocates were pos- 
sessed of a lucrative business. Both Dr. 
Herr and Dr. Davis were able exponents of 
the Hahnemann system of medicine, and 
their success obliterated in a very large de- 
gree the prejudice existing against what » 
some were pleased to term the " small pill " 
practice. Several homeopathists have 
come to Evansville at various times, but 
finding the field well occupied and the school 
ably represented, left for more desirable 
locations. The present practitioners are 
Drs. Herr, Davis, Taylor, Tyrrell and 
Schultz. 



&6i 



THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 

E. J. Ehrman, M. D., was born in Jax- 
thausen, Wurtemburg, Germany, October 
29, 1S19. He was educated in the common 
schools of his native land. In 1833, his 
father, Dr. Frederick Ehrman, who was 
well advanced in the science of medicine, 
and one of the first advocates of homeo- 
pathy in this countrj-, emigrated from Ger- 
many and settled in Liverpool, Penn., where 
he died in 1849. Dr. E.J. Ehrman was the 
youngest of five brothers, all of whom be- 
came homeopathic physicians. At the age 
of twenty he commenced the study of medi- 
cine in his father's office, continuing five 
years, and then beginning the practice at 
Liverpool, Penn. After several years of pro- 
fessional work he attended a full course of 
lectures at the Homeopathic Medical Col- 
lege of Pennsylvania, graduating therefrom 
in 1852. In the fall of the same year he 
came to Evansville, being the first advocate 
of the homeopathic school in this citv. He 
struggled against grave prejudices and sev- 
eral years elapsed before he could lay any 
foundation for the new mode of treatment. 
After securing a few intelligent patients his 
practice began to increase and his reputation 
was enhanced by a skillful treatment of a vari- 
ety of cases incident to this climate. After 
ten years his practice had so extended itself 
that he was forced to have an assistant in 
order to attend the manj' patients desiring 
his services. From that time until his death, 
which occurred November 24, 1879, his 
practice was quite extensive and lucrative. 
He was county physician and medical at- 
tendant at the marine hospital and orphan 
asylum. His ability was conceded by the 
profession of all schools, and his many years 
of honorable conduct in the communit}- as 
citizen and physician won him universal 
respect. Dr. Ehrman was married in 1845 



to Miss Elizabeth Churchill, a native of 
Switzerland, born in 182 1. Of this union 
eight children were born, four of whom 
survive. Mrs. Ehrman is still a respected 
resident of this city. 

L. S. Herr, a. B., M. D., was born in 
Ashland county, Ohio, February 3, 1828. 
His father was John Herr, a native of Vir- 
ginia, and a descendant of the Herrs who 
emigrated from Holland and settled in Vir- 
ginia about the year 1700. From Virginia 
John Herr removed to Harrisburgh, Penn., 
thence to Ohio, and settled in Ashland 
county in 1827. He and his wife were 
killed by accident in 1829, by the falling of 
a tree, while on a visit to Pennsylvania. Be- 
ing thus bereft of his parents while a child, an 
elder brother took charge of L. S., and gave 
him a good common school education. He 
was an apt scholar, and made rapid prog- 
ress. Before his seventeenth year he had 
taught two terms in the public schools. He 
continued his studies while engaged as a 
teacher, and entering Wooster College, 
Ohio, graduated therefrom in 1848. Being 
then twenty years of age, he decided to take 
up the study of medicine, and make the 
practice of that profession his life's work. 
He began his studies with Dr. T. W. Samp- 
sel, of Ashland, Ohio, and then attended a 
full course of lectures at the Ohio Medical 
College, matriculating in the winter of 
1S51-2. In 1S54, he entered the Eclectic 
Medical Institute of Cincinnati, Ohio, and 
graduated from that institution in the follow- 
ing year. Locating at Peoria, Hi., he began 
the discharge of his professional duties, and 
soon thereafter found himself in the posses- 
sion of an extensive practice. After three 
3'ears he removed to the city of Mexico, 
and there successfully engaged in the work 
of his profession. Returning to the United 
States at the end of three years, he located 
in St. Louis, Mo., and in 1S60 removed 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



265 



thence to Quincy, 111. Up to 1862 he prac- 
ticed allopathic methods, but in that year he 
embraced the homeopathic system of prac- 
tice, and has since been a prominent advo- 
cate of that school. In 1S63 he removed to 
Evansville, where he has since resided, suc- 
cessfuU}' practicing his profession. During 
his residence here of a quarter of a century 
he has thoroughly established himself in 
public favor as a physician and citizen. 
Progressive and active, he has kept abreast 
of the times, and has always favored efforts 
intended to advance the general prosperity 
of the city. When he came here homeo- 
pathy was still struggling against strong 
prejudices, which, by his skill and ability, he 
did much to overcome. He is now, and for 
many years has been, one of the leading 
homeopathic physicians in this part of the 
state. He is a member of the Indiana State 
Homeopathic Medical Association. In 1858 
Dr. Herr was married to Miss Sophia, 
daughter of Dr. Christian Fetter, a distin- 
guished physician of Baltimore, Md. Mrs. 
Herr was born in Pennsylvania in 1834. To 
this union one son was born, in 1859, who 
died in infancy, living but nine months. 

Fielding Lewis Davis, M. D., was born 
near Boonville, Ind., December 16, 1831. 
His parents, Amos and Elizabeth (Cain) 
Da\is were of Welsh and Irish extraction. 
The grandfather of Dr. Davis was a native 
of Wales, and came to this country some 
time before the revolution. But little is 
known of his history further than that on 
the breaking out of the war he joined the 
Continental arm}' and served until its close. 
The early life of Dr. Davis was replete with 
struggles and sorrows. At the age of five 
his father died, and seven years later he met 
with that irreparable loss, the death of his' 
mother, and was thus thrown upon his own 
resources. His boyhood was passed upon 
the farm, where the summer's work alter- 



nated with a term at the district school in 
winter. In this way he obtained the rudi- 
ments of an English education. At the age 
of sixteen he began teaching school. His 
savings were carefully husbanded, and for 
several 3'ears he attended school alter- 
nately as teacher and pupil. He paid 
especial attention to mechanics and civil 
engineering, and for a time followed sur- 
ve3'ing. In 1855, he began the study of 
medicine, firmly resolved to make it his life's 
vocation. He completed his preparatory 
course under man}' difiiculties and discour- 
agements, and in 1864 entered the Cleve- 
land Homeopathic Hospital College. A 
lack of means, however, prevented his grad- 
uation until 1869. His first location was 
Greencastle, Ind. Here he built up a suc- 
cessful practice, but not thinking the place 
a desirable one he came to Evansville in 
1866 and formed a copartnership with Dr. 
Ehrman, with whom he remained until 1877. 
At the time Dr. Davis came to Evansville, 
the general public knew but little of the 
principles of homeopathy, and whatever of 
popularity it has since obtained is due largely 
to his efforts in its advancement and his 
skill and success as a physician. Success 
attended his efforts almost from the outset, 
and despite opposition he was soon the pos- 
sessor of a lucrative practice and an enviable 
position as a citizen. He is a member of 
the American Institute of Homeopathy, the 
oldest national medical organization in the 
United States, the Indiana Institute of 
Homeopathy, and the American Microscop- 
ical Association. In his religious and polit- 
ical affiliations he is a Methodist and a 
staunch republican. In 1S55 the doctor was 
married to Miss Jane, daughter of Lewis 
Taylor, one of the early settlers of this sec- 
tion of the state. 

Theodore H. Taylor, M. D., was born 
in Warrick county, Ind., September 24, 



THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 



1852, and is the son of Peter and Margaret 
(Perigo) Taylor, natives of Indiana. He 
was reared on a farm, and in 1876, gradu- 
ated from the State Normal School at Terre 
Haute. In 1S80, he began the stud}' of 
medicine under Dr. Johnson, of Dale, Ind., 
finishing, however, his preparatory course 
with Dr. Davis, of Evansville, Ind. He is a 
graduate of the Cleveland, Ohio, Homeo- 
pathic College, and became the partner of 
Dr. Davis, in 1882. He is one of the prom- 
inent 3'oung practitioners of the county, and 
has already attained an enviable position. 
He was married September 30, 1886, to 
Ella F., daughter of Dr. I. Haas, the well- 
known citizen and dentist of this place. 

DENTISTRY. 

Dr. Isaiah Haas, for nearly thirty years 
past a well-known citizen of Evansville and 
a leader in the practice of dentistry, was 
born at Newark, Ohio, February 22d, 1829. 
His father, Adam Haas, was a Virginian, 
born December 25, 1798, and in early man- 
hood moved to Newark, where he was mar- 
ried to Miss Christina Le Pert, of New 
York. From Newark he went to Delaware 
county, in the same state, and commenced 
merchandising. In 1845 he removed to Wa- 
bash, the county seat of Wabash county, 
Ind., at which place he continued in business 
as a merchant until 1S60. Isaiah Haas re- 
ceived a fair education, such as could be ob- 
tained in the imperfect schools of that lo- 
cality and time; and when not at schoob 
assisted his father in the store, as book- 
keeper and salesman. In 1849, when the 
Morse electric telegraph was being extended 
westwardly, an office was opened above the 
store of Adam Haas, and a teacher was sent 
to instruct a young lawyer of the place how 
to manipulate the (at that time) wonderful 
instrument. The pupil failing to compre- 
hend quickl}' and the instructor's time being 



limited, Isaiah was induced to undertake the 
work. His consent was reluctantl}' given 
because of his father's absence, who was 
then in New York city buying goods. In 
ten days thereafter he was able to receive 
and send communications, and for three or 
four j'ears devoted his entire time to the 
electric telegraph. During this time Ezra 
Cornell, of Ithaca, N. Y., the founder of 
Cornell University, became lessee of nearly 
a thousand miles of telegraph line 
running in and through Ohio, Indiana, and 
Illinois. This great length of line with all 
its offices, men and material, was placed un- 
der the supervision of the young operator, 
with headquarters at La Fayette, Ind. His 
energetic, able, and successful management 
caused him to receive many flattering letters 
from Mr. Cornell. During this time he was 
married to Miss Adeline McHenr}', of Vin- 
cennes, who early fell a victim to consump- 
tion. Two children were born to them ; but 
in three years, all were gone. Before leaving 
the telegraph his attention was attracted to 
the profession of dentistr}', the study of 
which he commenced and prosecuted with 
vigor, having for his preceptors Prof. A. 
M. Moore, of La Fayette, Ind., and Prof, 
Samuel Wardle, of Cincinnati, Ohio, both 
eminent men in the profession. Prior to 
coming to Evansville, he spent some seven 
years in La Fayette, Ind. In 1857 he was 
married to Miss Sarah K. McHenry, a sister 
of his first wife. Two years later while on 
his way south for the purpose of visiting 
friends, he was unexpectedly detained in this 
city for two days. Here he met old friends 
who insisted that he make this place his 
future home, setting forth the outcome of 
the city in such glowing terms that a few 
weeks later he became a permanent resident 
of Evansville. For seven years, besides his 
dental work, he assisted Dr. Bray in all his 
surgical operations, and from that time for. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



S67 



ward, he has given his undivided attention 
to the practice of his profession. His repu- 
tation and practice increased year by year 
until the\' were b}- no means confined by the 
limits of this city. He has won a remark- 
able success, attaining prominence among 
the leading dentists in the state. For the 
good of the profession he has invented nu- 
merous articles, among thein artificial palates 
and noses, but has refused to take out pat- 
ents to monopolize their use. His high ideal 
of his profession is equaled only by his 
achievements. He is the dental father of 
eighteen dentists, all reputable practitioners, 
who are scattered throughout the country 
from New York city to San Francisco. He 
served as lecturer on dentistry in the Evans- 
ville Medical College, when that institution 
was in existence. Dr. Haas has had a dis- 
tinguished career in Masonry — as master of 
Evansville Lodge, No. 64, F. and A. M., for 
seven years; as officer of the Grand Lodge 
of the state, one year; as district deputy 
master, four years; and as lecturer of the 
district, four years. His knowledge and 
able exposition of Masonic law and land- 
marks have distinguished him in the order. 
Dr. S. B. Lewis, surgeon dentist, was 
born in Chautauqua county, N. Y., April 3, 
1846, and is the second of three children 
born to John F. and Mary E. (Brigham) 
Lewis. His parents were natives of New 
York, the father born in 1816 and the mother 
in 1818. His father died in 1S78 and his 
mother is still living at Greenville, Ohio. 
About 1853 his parents removed from their 
native state to Clermont countv, Ohio, and 
twelve years later settled at Green\ille. 
John F. Lewis was a stock dealer and a 
prominent man in his locality throughout 
his long career. Dr. Lewis was reared in 
Clermont county, and received a fair educa- 
tion in the public schools. He was a mere 
lad when the civil war broke out, but before 



its termination he was in the ranks of the 
federal army as a soldier. He first enlisted 
in the hundred-day service at Greenville, 
Ohio, joining Company G, One Hundred 
and Fifty-second Regiment, O. N. Ct. At 
the end of his service with the state troops 
he enlisted, in 1864, for one year in the One 
Hundred and Eighty-seventh Regiment Ohio 
Infantry Volunteers as regimental musician, 
and served faithfully until the expiration of 
his term of enlistment. After the war, re- 
turning to his father's home in Ohio, he be- 
gan the study of dentistrv, in 1866, having 
for his preceptor his brother. Dr. Walter F. 
Lewis. Coming to Evansville, he continued 
his studies in the office of Dr. Isaiah Haas, 
the well-known practitioner, and completing 
his studies he returned, in 1868, to Green- 
ville, Ohio, where he entered upon the 
practice of his profession. Five years later 
he came back to this citj' and has since de- 
voted his undivided attention to dentistry, 
his skillful and satisfactor}' work giving him 
a valuable reputation and an extensive prac- 
tice. During his fifteen years' residence in 
the city he has maintained a high standing 
as a citizen and has become prominently 
identified with the secret orders working 
here. He has attained high rank in the G. 
A. R. and Royal Arcanum, being at the 
present time grand orator in the latter. In 
the I. O. O. F. he has passed through the 
chairs and has done much to advance the 
interests of the order. In 1869 he was mar- 
ried to Miss Emma C. Dorman, of Green- 
ville, Ohio, and to them two children — a 
son and a daughter — have been born. 

Dr. Charles E. Pittmax, surgeon den- 
tist and prominent young citizen of Evans- 
ville, was born February 17, 1854, ^" Pose}- 
county, Ind., and is the son of Robert K. 
and Parthenia (Ross) Pittman. His educa- 
tion was obtained in the public schools of 
this city, and in January, 1875, ^^ began the 



268 



THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 



study of dentistry under the direction of Dr. 
I. Haas. After a thorough course of stud}- 
and practical training he entered upon the 
active work of his profession, and from the 
outset established himself firmly in public 
favor. His popularity and practice rapidly 
extended themselves because of his personal 
accomplishments and his conversance with 
the details of dentistr}-. At the present 
time he enjo3-s an extensive and lucrative 
business. His professional work is alwaj's 
of the highest order. His social achieve- 
ments have been no less gratifying. As a 
member of the K. of P. fraternit}- he has 
won an enviable distinction. He has passed 
through all the chairs in Orion Lodge, No. 
35; is a member of the Grand Lodge of 
Indiana, having served for two years as 
grand master at arms of that body; is now 
district deputy grand chancellor of Orion, 
St. George and Ben Hur lodges, and is a 
prominent member of Evansville Division, 
No. 4, M. R., K. of P. He is a typical 
knight, being an earnest worker, an ardent 
lover of the principles, familiar with the 
work in all its details and a perfect gentle- 
man. The doctor affiliates with the repub- 
lican party, and has taken a prominent part 
in organizing and drilling companies for a 
public parade. The histrionic talent pos- 
sessed by Dr. Pittman has contributed 
largely to public entertainment. As a mem- 
ber of the Ideal Opera company — whose 
presentations of the " Chimes of Normandy," 



the "Mikado," the "Grand Duchess," and 
the "Musketeers," have afforded delight to 
the music-loving portion of the populace — 
he has always pla3ed a prominent part, 
winning manv laurels. November 16, 1881, 
Dr. Pittman was married to Miss Annie 
Knowles, daughter of Charles and Emil}- 
Knowles. Mrs. Pittman is a native of Van- 
derburgh county, and was born June 28, 
i860. 

Dr. Emil Knapp, a well-known young 
dentist of Evansville, was born at New Al- 
bany, Ind., September 24, 1854, ^^^ ^^ ^^^ 
son of Dr. Charles and Catherine (Tuer- 
kes) Knapp, deceased, both natives of Ger- 
man)^ He was reared in the town of his 
birth, and in Spencer and Warrick counties, 
Ind. His education was received in the 
public schools of the state, and at St. 
Meinrad's College, in Spencer county. 
He came to Evansville in 1874, and about a 
3'ear later began the study of dentistry in 
Evansville in the office of Dr. S. B. Lewis, 
and remained with that gentleman nearly 
two years. He then took a course of lec- 
tures at the Oliio Dental College. Return- 
ing to Evansville, he began at once practicing, 
and has continued up to the present, meet- 
ing with success. He is now considered one 
of the leading dentists of Evansville. He 
was married May 25, 1876, to Marj' A. 
Elhs, daughter of Capt. August Ellis, of 
Evansville, Ind. To this union six children 
have been born, all of whom survive. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



Religious History — Walnut Street Church — First Avenue Presbyterian 
Church — Cumberland Presbyterian — Methodist Episcopal Churches — 
St. Paul's Episcopal Church — Baptist Churches — Catholic Churches — 
German Lutheran — German Evangelical — Church of Unity — Je%vish 
Temples — Young Men's Christian Association — Cemeteries, Etc. 



'HE first church organization effected 
l^§J in Evansville was that now know'n 
as the Walnut Street Presbyterian 
church, which was constituted in 182 1, by 
Rev. II. C. Banks, then pastor of the Pres- 
byterian church at Henderson, Ky. The 
following were the original members: 
Daniel Chute, James R. E. Goodlett, Will- 
iam Olmstead, i\bigail Fairchild, Julia Ann 
Harrison, Rebecca Wood, Mr.s. Chandler, 
Mr. Butler, Mrs. Smith, Eli Sherwood, 
Elizabeth Sherwood and Mary O. Warner. 
Daniel Chute and James R. E. Goodlett, 
were chosen as ruling elders. 

For more than ten years there was no 
church building in the town, and this con- 
gregation, as well as such others as w'ere 
afterward organized, met in private houses; 
sometimes in an old log school-house on the 
lower side of Locust street, midwa} between 
First and Second; and occasionally in an old 
log house which now stands on the premises 
of Mr. WilHam Dean. The old court-house 
on the south corner of Main and Third 
streets was a frequent place of meeting, 
when an occasional preacher visited or so- 
journed in the town. The court-house in 
those early days is described as " without 
iloors — ' puncheon ' seats were placed on 
the bare ground; the tire in winter was 
against the wall in a poorly framed fire- 
place; the smoke too often to the great in- 
convenience of worshippers, choosing to find 



its way up through the entire space of the 
building, and out by numerous accommodat- 
ing chinks and crannies." 

In the year 1831, under the influence of 
Rev. Calvin Butler, who was at that time 
settled at Princeton, Ind., a movement be- 
gan to secure a house of worship. When 
the movement was fully started Mr. Butler 
changed his residence to Evansville, and 
under his ministry and personal supervision 
the work went forward. The citizens who 
took the lead in the enterprise were Messrs. 
John Shanklin, Judge William Olmstead, 
Luke Wood, Major Alanson Warner and 
Amos Clark, Esq. 

The original subscription paper for the 
erection of the building is still in existence, 
among the church papers, and as an inter- 
esting scrap of the citvs history a copy is 
appended : 

" Original Subscript ion. — The under- 
signed, being desirous to have a Presbyte- 
rian Meeting House for Evansville and its 
vicinitv, promise to pay the sums severally 
annexed to our names, to Trustees hereafter 
to be appointed by the subscribers. Said 
house to be 30 by 50 feet, of brick, with 
walls rS feet in height, to have 8 windows, 
with forty lights in each, of glass 10 b}' 12, 
with two doors, and a floor jointed, not 
planed, and a good roof: John Shanklin, 
$100; A. Warner, $50; N. Rowley, $20; 
Calvin Butler, $75; Luke Wood, $25 cash, 

{269) 



2W 



RELIGIOUS HISTORY. 



labor, $50, $75; Wm. Olmstead, $25 cash, 
labor, $25, $50; Amos Clark, $50; David 
Negley, $25; James Lewis, $25; John 
Mitchell, $25; E. Hull, in labor, $5; Chas. 
Fullerton, $5; Silas Stephens, in saddlery, 
$25; Julius Harrison, $5; Richard Brown- 
injf, $10; Alexander Johnson, $10; Marcus 
Sherwood, $10; Archeppus Gillett, $10: 
Daniel Tool, in tailoring $5; John W. 
Duncan, in leather or cash, $20; Robert 
Barnes, $10; John W. LilHston, $3; 
John Ingle, $10; Levi Price, in labor, $10; 
M. D. Robertson, $2.50." 

In pursuance of the foregoing subscrip- 
tions, trustees were elected, of which the 
following is a copy of the official record : 

"At a meeting of the subscribers for build- 
ing a Presb3-terian Meeting House, in the 
town of Evansville, at the house of Alanson 
Warner, on the 23d of April, 1S31, for the 
purpose of electing Trustees, in pursuance 
of the subscription, at which meeting David 
Negley was elected Chairman and James 
Lewis, Secretarj', the following persons cho- 
sen Trustees : Amos Clark, Alanson Warner, 
Wm. Olmstead. 

" David Negi.ey, Chairman, 

"James Lewis, Secretarj'." 

To complete the house, however, it was 
found necessary to send Rev. Mr. Butler, 
the pastor, to the eastern states to solicit 
aid, and with the contributions obtained the 
trustees were enabled to complete the 
church in 1832. It was located on the 
ground where the Courier office now stands 
on a considerable elevation known as " the 
hill." The entire cost of the buildin<r did 
not exceed $1,300, and yet it was regarded 
at the time as a great advance in town arch- 
itecture. As descriptive of the building 
when completed, the following extract is 
made from the sermon of Rev. W. H. 
McCarer, preached on the occasion of the 
last religious service before destroying the 



building, February 26, i860, preparatorj^ to 
the erection of the edifice now occupied by 
the congregation : " The first set of seats 
were plain pine benches, without backs; a 
slight elevation upon which was placed a 
second-hand dr}' goods box, covered with 
green book-muslin or baize, was ' the desk ' 
from which the minister gave forth the 
Word of Life. Subsequently, and to keep 
up with the times, benches with backs were 
introduced; and an oblong pulpit of plain 
panel work painted white, which enclosed 
the preacher so completely that when he sat 
down he could scarcely be seen b}- the aud- 
ience, and when he rose to preach, it was as 
if from a strong frontier block-house he 
sent forth Gospel missiles." This building 
for many j'ears was the onty public house 
of worship in Evansville. It was several 
times refitted and once enlarged before its 
sale in 1859. 

The first regular pastor was the Rev. 
Calvin Butler, who remained with the church 
until 1834, when he removed to Washington, 
Ind. After this the church for some time 
enjoyed the ministr}^ of Rev. Mr. McAfee, 
who was at that time laboring in the Pres- 
byterian church at Henderson. 

In the year 1S37 Rev. Jeremiah R. Barnes 
took up his residence permanently in the 
place and was invited to become pastor of 
the church. During this year occurred the 
division of the Presbyterian denomination 
into the " Old School " and " New School." 
The Evansville church became a part of the 
" New School " body, transferring its con- 
nection from the presbytery of Vincennes to 
the presbN'tery of Salem, and so remained 
until the union of 1S70 made the denomin- 
ation one again. Mr. Barnes was installed 
as pastor of the church November 25, 1838. 
He continued his ministry until the autumn 
of 1845. 

In the spring of 1846 Rev. Samuel K. 



>^^^ 



*••*• 



■■s-fai 




X 





C/i/c s/] S J^^-^ 



PRESB YTERIA N CHUR CH. 



271 



Sneed began his ministn- to the church, and 
continued his labors until February, 1S48. 

On the first Sabbath of April, in the same 
year,, Rev. Charles E. Lord became a tem- 
porary supply for the church, and continued 
for one year. Duringhis ministry the church 
building underwent considerable repairs. 
The whole interior was changed. External 
changes were also made, including the addi- 
tion of a belfrv and bell. 

On the 2Sth of October, 1849, Rev. Will- 
iam H. McCarer began his ministry as pas- 
tor, and continued his labors in this capacity 
until April, 1868 — a period of more than 
eighteen years. Mr. McCarer's pastorate 
was the longest, and in man}- respects the 
most eventful in the history of the church. 
When he came to the church it consisted of 
about thirty members. During his 
ministry 272 members were added. 
The church enjo3'ed several seasons 
of marked religious awakening during these 
years. Growing up with the city and being 
identified with its people in every good work, 
not only as pastor of this church, but also 
afterward in the First Avenue church, his 
name became a household word in very many 
homes outside of his own church and all 
churches where his ministrv was felt and his 
consolations enjoyed in the time of trouble. 
His memory is cherished b}- all who knew 
him, as a good citizen and faithful minister of 
the gospel of Christ. During his ministry, 
and very largely under the inspiration of his 
faithful and untiring labors, the present 
church edifice was erected. The foundations 
were laid in the year 1859. The basement 
of the church was first occupied in February, 
1 86 1. There the services were held for two 
years. The completed church w'as formall}- 
dedicated on the first Sabbath of February, 
1863, Rev. Dr. Tuttle, president of Wabash 
College, preaching the sermon. This edifice, 
at the corner of Walnut and Second streets, 
16 



was designed by J. D. Bulton, of Philadel- 
phia, and is built in the Norman style of 
architecture, being characterized bj' great 
size, elevation, simplicity and strength, with 
the use of the semi-circular arch, massive col- 
umns, and a great \arietyof ornaments, and 
crowned with two spiral towers. The value 
of the structure was probabh' $60,000, and 
for general attractiveness, convenience of ar- 
rangements and neatness of finish, is very 
noteworthy. It is 125x80 feet large, and the 
auditorium 65x100 feet, and will seat 1,050 
persons. 

In this connection it may be proper to 
mention the fact that the church has a most 
beautiful and commodious parsonage prop- 
erty'. For this the congregation is indebted 
to the generosit}^ of Mr. James L. Orr and 
his sister, Mrs. Martha J. Bayard, who 
erected the parsonage as a memorial to their 
parents, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Orr — two of 
the beloved and honored dead who were so 
long identified with the church. Nearly ten 
thousand dollars worth of property was thus 
transferred to the ownership of the church 
as a perpetual contribution to the cause of 
Christ and the good of the community. Rev. 
J. P. E. Kumler, D. D., succeeded Mr. 
McCarer in the pastorate, commencing his 
ministr\' to the church July 5, 1868. His 
pastorate continued for three years, when he 
was called to the First Presbyterian church 
of Indianapolis. The church was greatly 
prospered under his ministry. One hundred 
and fifty-eight were added to the member- 
ship, and much was done in a systematic 
way for various forms of mission work at 
home and abroad. After the resignation of 
Dr. Kumler, Rev. Alexander Sterritt sup- 
plied the pulpit for some months. In July, 
1872, a call was extended Rev. Samuel Car- 
lisle, who commenced his labors with the 
church in the autumn of the same year. 
Mr. Carlisle's pastorate continued until 



272 



RELIGIOUS HISTORY. 



July, 1875. He was succceeded by Rev. 
Charles H. Foote, D. D., who began his 
services in November, 1876, and continued 
as pastor until September, 1878. After the 
resignation of Dr. Foote, Rev. J. Q. Adams 
was invited to become the stated supply of 
the church, and in October, 1879, was regu- 
larly called to the pastorate. His ministry 
with the church continued until September, 
1881, when he tendered his resignation, and 
accepted a call to labor in California. After 
the departure of Mr. Adams, Rev. S. M. 
Dodge was invited to supplv the pulpit, and 
began his connection with the church De- 
cember 25th, 1881. In March, 1S83, Mr. 
Dodge was called to the pastorate, but was 
never formally installed. He closed his 
ministry to the church in September, 1883, 
and, like his predecessor, entered a tield of 
labor in the state of California. On De- 
cember 23, 1883, a call was extended to 
Rev. L. M. Gilleland, who entered on his 
work February 10, 1884, was formally in- 
stalled May 18, and has continued as pastor 
of the church until the present time. The 
fruits of success have attended his labors. 
The membership now numbers 300, and the 
church is in a very prosperous condition. 
The Sunday-school is in a flourishing condi- 
tion; Mr. James L. Orr is its superintend- 
ent. Its membership, including that of a 
mission Sunday-school on Columbia street, 
is 350. During the summer of 1886 the 
church was extensively repaired and im- 
proved. 

Rev. Leland M. Gilleland was born in 
Butler county. Pa., June 7, 1843. Having 
graduated from Washington and Jefferson 
college, at Cannonsburg, Penn., in 1868, he 
entered the same year the theological sem- 
inary at Chicago, where he spent three 
years, graduating in 1871. In 1870 he was 
licensed to preach, and immediately upon 
leaving the seminary accepted a call to the 



church of White Pigeon, Mich., where he 
was ordained and installed in April, 1871. 
In August, 1877, he accepted a call to the 
church of Tidioute, Penn., where he remained 
until Januar}-, 1884, when he entered upon 
his pastoral work at the church whose his- 
tory is here recorded. In addition to his 
other labors, Mr. Gilleland has always taken 
special interest in educational matters, and 
for a time taught Latin and Greek in the 
high school of Tidioute, delivering also, at 
stated intervals, to the school a course of 
lectures upon special subjects. At present 
he is a member of the board of trustees of 
Hanover College, Hanover, Ind., one of the 
leading educational institutions of the state. 
During the summer of 1881 he spent sev- 
eral months in foreign travel, and his popu- 
lar lectures upon subjects suggested by his 
travels, have been received with great favor 
and appreciative interest. He has always 
been a tireless worker, a zealous preacher, 
full of life and enthusiasm, and withal a ten- 
der pastor and a prudent man of affairs. 

Grace Prcshyteria)i Church. — In the 3'ear 
1837, the Presbyterian church in the United 
States of America separated into two dis- 
tinct ecclesiastical bodies, known as the Old 
School and New School Presbyterian 
churches. The division was happily healed 
by the organic reunion of the two branches 
in 1869. As an incidental result of the gen- 
eral division, the church in this city was 
divided; the majority, composing the Wal- 
nut Street Presbyterian church, adhering to 
the new school assembly, while the minority 
instituted the Vine Street Presb3'terian 
church, in connection with the old school 
assembly. While these two churches have 
since maintained their distinct existence, 
their denominational separation ceased in the 
reunion of the two assemblies when both 
came under the same ecclesiastical control. 
Grace church was organized under the cor- 



1 



PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 



273 



porate name of "Evansville Presbyterian 
cliurch," in 183S, by Rev. Hugh H. Patten, 
of the presbytery of Vincennes, to which 
presbytery the church adhered after the di- 
vision of 1837. The original members were 
six: B. F. Dupuy, Mrs. Mary G. Dupuv, 
Miss Augusta Dupuy, Miss JuHa Dupuy, 
Boyd Bullock and Mrs. Anne Bullock. 
B. F. Dupu}' and Boyd Bullock were or- 
dained and installed elders. The first meet- 
intrs were held in the court-house at the 
corner of Third and Main streets. The first 
pastor of the church was Rev. J. V. Dodge, 
who was ordained and installed June 6, 
1841. It is a pleasing reminiscence of those 
early da^s that the ordination took place in 
St. Paul's Episcopal church, which was 
kindly tendered for the occasion. Mr. Dodge 
continued as pastor till 1850, the church 
enjoying two precious revivals under his 
ministry, as a result of which large num- 
bers were added to its memberships, and 
at the conclusion of his pastorate 120 
names were on the roll. He is still 
an habitual worshipper with the congre- 
gation and has always contributed to the 
welfare of the church by his v-alued counsel 
and cordial co-operation in every good work. 
Upon his resignation of the pastorate in 
1850, he was succeeded by Rev. J. N. 
Saunders, who, owing to ill health, held the 
charge for only one year. The next pastor 
was Rev. Alexander Sterret, who was in- 
stalled in 185 1, and continued till September 
14, 1865, a pastorate fruitful of much good, 
and precious to the memory of many who 
still remain. Rev. C. B. H. Martin was in- 
stalled as pastor May i, 1866, and was re- 
leased from the pastoral charge in the fall 
of 1 88 1. Dr. Martin was one of the most 
intellectual, scholarly and eloi^uent men in 
this part of the state, and during his fifteen 
years of service in this field, did much good 
in the upbuilding of the church. In the 



summer of 1882, Rev. James L. McNair 
was installed as pastor and continued in that 
relation till September, 1887. Mr. McNair 
was a faithful and efficient worker; during 
his pastorate the pleasant and commodious 
parsonage was erected, costing $7,051.00, 
and 133 names were added to the church 
roll, seventy-five of them on profession of 
faith. Rev. Edward F. Walker, the pres- 
ent pastor, was chosen December 21, 1887, 
and installed April 22, 1888. 

This distinguished clergyman was born at 
Steubenville, Ohio, January 20, 1852. His 
father, Benjamin F. Walker, a native of 
Pennsj'lvania, was a California pioneer, and 
served two years as a soldier in the First 
California Volunteer Infantry, being honor- 
ably discharged at Santa Fe in 1864. He 
died at San Francisco in 1876 at the age of 
forty-eight. His wife, Elizabeth J. Tread- 
way, died in Ohio three years previous, at 
the age of forty-five. The son Edward 
lived on the Pacific coast from 1864 to 1881, 
and was married at Santa Cruz, Cal., April 
7, 1875, to Miss Ehza A. Bennett, a native 
of Wisconsin. Their union has given to 
them six children, of whom the eldest, 
Francis A., died at the age of seven years. 
The names of those living are: Edith, Ed- 
ward B., Mabel, Bertha B. and John P. Mr. 
Walker began Hfe as a printer, serving his 
apprenticeship at Stockton, Cal., and then 
working as a journeyman for two years. 
He received his education at the University 
of the Pacific at San Jose, and pursued pri- 
vately his studies for the ministry. He was 
ordained by the presbytejy of San Fran- 
cisco, September 7, 1879, ^""^ then his min- 
isterial service began with the pastorate of 
the Third Congregational church at San 
Francisco for one year, followed by that of 
the First Presbyterian church, Virginia 
City, Nev., for one year. Then he came 
east, and after two years' attendance upon 



27A 



RELIGIOUS HISTORY. 



the Western Theological Seminary, during 
which time he was pastor of Glenfield and 
Long Island churches, he became pastor of 
the First Presbyterian Church of Martin's 
Ferry, Ohio, from 1S84 to 1888, and thence 
was called to Evansville. Since his ordi- 
nation, he has received at least four hundred 
members into the church, one hundred of 
whom were received the year before he 
came to this city. He is an eloquent and 
forcible speaker, and a devoted worker in 
the sacred cause to which he has devoted 
his life. 

The first house of worship owned and 
occupied by the church was erected in 1843 
at a cost of $2,108, at the corner of Vine 
and Second streets, and, because of its loca- 
tion, became popularly known as Vine Street 
church. During the long and fruitful min- 
istry of Rev. C. B. H. Martin, the present 
church edifice was built at a cost, including 
the lot, of $65,023, and dedicated Septem- 
ber 13, 1874. Its style of architecture is 
the castellated Gothic, its symmetrical pro- 
portions combining strength and beauty. 
Its interior is finished and furnished in the 
highest style of modern art; and the audi- 
torium has a seating capacity for 700 per- 
sons. The church building was erected 
and dedicated without the incurrence of a 
debt. Its architect was Robert Boyd; the 
building committee was composed of the 
following gentlemen : W. E. French, N. M. 
Goodlet, L. Ruffner, jr., S. M. Archer, C. 
Preston, and W. G. Brown. In the same 
year, 1874, the name of the organization 
was changed to " Grace Presbyterian 
church." During the past year there has 
been constructed a beautiful and convenient 
lecture room, at a cost of about $17,000, 
the munificent gift of Mrs. Carohne S. 
Mackey — in memory of her parents, Judge 
John and Sarah Law. The church is in a 
very properous condition, its membership 



now numbering 250. Its Sunday-school, 
with Mr. R. M. Millican as superintendent, 
has a membership of 150. At the present 
time its ruling elders are : Samuel M. Archer, 
clerk; William G. Brown, WiUiam D. 
Ewing, Erastus P. Huston, James T.Walker. 
J^i'rsi Aveime Presbyterian Church. — The 
Second Avenue Presbyterian church was 
organized in December, 1872, with a mem- 
bership of twentv-five, with Loring G. 
Johnson as elder. June i, 1873, John Sava- 
cool and Otto F. Jacobi were also made 
elders, and John B. Williams was made a 
deacon. The Second Avenue church was 
dissolved November 10, 1875, forty-six 
members withdrawing for the purpose of 
forming a new church to be called the First 
Avenue Presbyterian church, which was or- 
ganized November 11, 1S755 with Rev. W. 
H. McCarer as pastor; Otto F. Jacobi, W. 
H. Wood, and R. L. Brown, elders; J. B. 
WilHams, W. J. Harvey, and W. Z. Smith, 
deacons; O. F. Jacobi, Jacob Weintz, Nick 
Elles, John Greek, and W. J. Harvev, trus- 
tees. Immediately upon the organization of 
the new church steps were inaugurated for 
the building of a suitable house of worship. 
The work was rapidly pushed forward, and 
on April 2, 1876, the new building was 
dedicated to the service of God with appro- 
priate exercises conducted by Rev. W. H. 
McCarer. At that time the membership of 
the church was fifty-seven; about four years 
passed before it reached a hundred. That 
God has blessed and prospered it is shown 
by the fact that it now numbers 300. In the 
old church Rev. V. B. Van Arsdale was 
pastor until 1874, when Rev. W. H. Mc- 
Carer was installed. From that time until 
his death, in February, 1880, he served the 
congregation faithfulh- and with great devo- 
tion. His was a remarkable career. For 
nineteen years he was the pastor of the 
Walnut Street Presbyterian church, and foj- 



PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 



275 



six years pastor of the new charge. His 
character was full of loveliness and his life 
full of good works. His successors have 
been Rev. H. A. Dodge, Rev. Hutchinson, 
Rev. Linn, Rev. David Van Dyke, and Rev. 
Joseph S. Grimes, D. D., the present pastor. 
Dr. Grimes is an able, earnest and eloquent 
preacher. The Sabbath school has nearl}- 
200 members; William Lambert is superin- 
tendent. The present trustees of the church 
are: William A. Heilnian, jr., John Jordon, 
O. F. Jacobi, Jacob Weintz, WiUiam New- 
man, W. J. Harvey, and G. E. King. 

Cuiubcrlami Presbxtcrian Church. — The 
reliijious denomination known as the Cum- 
berland Presbyterian church was organized 
in Dixon count}-, Tenn., in 1810, with three 
members. So popular were its doctrines, 
tiiat the number rapidl}- increased, and many 
missionaries were sent out in various direc- 
tions, particularly in the south and south- 
west. As early as 1817 "circuit riders'' 
crossed the Ohio, and held camp meetings 
in various portions of southern Indiana. 
Many converts were made, and a large por- 
tion of them associated themselves with the 
new organization. Among the sturdy 
pioneer preachers of this church who are 
still held in precious remembrance b}' many 
of the people of Evansville and vicinity are: 
David Lowrv, William Lynn, James 
Ritchey, Hiram A. Hunter and William 
McLeskey. The congregation of Cumber- 
land Presbyterians as it now exists in Evans- 
ville was formally organized by Rev. William 
Lynn, with twenty members, in a log school- 
house in Knight township, January 31, 1841. 
The brief covenant under which they asso- 
ciated themselves together was as follows: 
" In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and 
by the authorit)* which He has given His 
church, wc, the undersigned, do, for each 
other's mutual help and comfort, agree to 
form ourselves into a society to be known 



by the name of the Evansville Society, and 
place ourselves under the care of the Indi- 
ana Presbytery, and agree to be governed 
by the discipline of the Cumberland Pres- 
byterian church." On the same day Will- 
iam Underwood, Stephen D. Hopkins and 
John C. Henson were elected elders, and 
Isaac Knight was elected deacon. Mr. 
Henson acted as clerk of the session for 
over twenty j-ears. As the number of 
members residing in Evansville gradually 
increased, the thought of erecting a house of 
worship in the city began to be seriously 
considered. At length, in 1851, a suitable 
edifice was erected at the corner of Second 
and Chestnut streets, where the Owen 
block now stands. This work was accom- 
plished principally by a few men and wo- 
men, who, though without great wealth, 
were too deeply interested in the work to ad- 
mit of failure. Among them were: Mr. 
and Mrs. John C. Henson, Mr. and Mrs. 
Marcus Sherwood, Mrs. Judge Foster and 
Mrs. Paulina McCallister. A few years 
after its completion, the church was almost 
totally destroyed by fire, but it was at once 
rebuilt. During the first five years of its 
history there was no regular pastor, but the 
congregation was served by missionaries or 
pastors from other churches, among whom 
were: Revs. William Lynn, H. A. Hunter, 
Benjamin Hall, E. Hall, and J. E. Bates. In 
1846, Rev. Samuel Darr commenced preach- 
ing with a view to regular pastoral labor. 
In 1852, after the erection of the first church 
building, Rev. James Ritchey was installed 
as pastor. He was followed by Rev. J. S. 
Jacobs in 1855, who remained but a short 
time. In 1858, Rev. Aaron Burrows was 
called to the pastorate. At the breaking 
out of the war Mr. Burrows entered the con- 
federate army, and was killed in battle. 
Rev. J. G. White became pastor July 17, 
i860, and was succeeded July 17, 1865, by 



^76 



RELIGIOUS HISTORY. 



Rev. J. C. Bowden, D. D., who resigned 
July 24, 1870, to assume the presidency of 
Lincoln University in Illinois. Dr. Bowden 
was a popular minister, one of the best of 
men, a cultured scholar and a true Chris- 
tian. He died in April, 1873. 

On January i, 1871, Rev. W. J. Darby, 
D. D., was elected to the pastorate, and a 
few weeks later assumed its duties. To the 
present time Dr. Darby continues to serve 
in that relation, and from the beginning of 
his work has wielded a large influence for 
good, reaching far beyond the circles of his 
own church. Tireless in every good and 
benevolent undertaking, ready and willing 
always to engage in any effort designed to 
uplift and elevate the communit}-, zealous 
and progressive, he has stamped his indi- 
viduality, not only upon the congregation 
in his charge, but also upon the community 
in which he lives. Of clear intellect, pleas- 
ing manners, superior tact, and executive 
ability, and indefatigable in church work, he 
has been eminently successful. Dr. Darby, 
a native of Kentucky, received his primary 
education at Princeton, in that state, entered 
the University of Michigan in 1S66, and 
graduated in 1869. Three years later the 
degree of Master of Arts was conferred upon 
him by the same institution. In January, 
1871, he graduated from the theological 
department of Cumberland University^, at 
Lebanon, Tenn., and soon thereafter came 
to this field of labor. 

The rapid growth of the congregation 
rendered the old church wholly inadequate, 
and in 1876 a new edifice, handsome in ap- 
pearance and commodious in its dimensions, 
was erected opposite the old church on the 
northeast corner of Second and Chestnut 
streets. Its dedication occurred September 
30, 1877. It is built of brick in the modern 
Gothic style of architecture, with a main 
auditorium 61x75 feet in size, with a seating 



capacity' for 700, pastor's study, parlors, etc. 
The property cost $50,000.00, of which 
amount Mr. Marcus Sherwood contributed 
$12,000.00. Tlie church membership has 
constantly increased for many years, 
especially during the administration of Dr. 
Darby, there being now, in round numbers, 
600 members, with thirty officers. The 
church has done a large amount of evangel- 
istic and benevolent work. The headquar- 
ters of two of the general benevolent 
enterprises of the Cumberland Presbyterian 
denomination are located in Evansville — the 
board of directors of each being made up 
from the officers or members of this congre- 
gation. They are the woman's board of 
foreign missions and the board of relief for 
disabled ministers and the widows and 
orphans of deceased ministers. Each re- 
ceives and distributes many thousands of 
dollars every year. The present trustees 
are: Wilham Hacker, S. B. Sansom, E. L. 
Cody, Charles S. Fendrick and Alvah John- 
son. 

In 1874 a mission Sunday-school was or- 
ganized in the upper portion of the city and 
for its accommodation a neat brick chapel 
was erected a few months later at a cost of 
$4,000. This mission has grown into a 
church, now called the Jefferson Avenue 
Cumberland Presbyterian church. On June 
ist, 1888, Rev. J. H. Miller was employed 
as assistant to Dr. Darby, his field of labor 
being chiefly connected with the Jefferson 
Avenue and Hebron (in Knight township) 
churches. ' Mr. Miller is now pastor of these 
charges. Large flourishing Sabbath schools 
are connected with the churches. That at the 
parent church has an average attendance of 
375, and is superintended by Dr. J. C. Mc- 
Clurkin; that at Jefferson Avenue church 
has an average attendance of 150, with Mr. 
J. H. Barrows as superintendent. 

Methodist Episcopal Church. — The history 



METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH 



277 



of Methodism in what is now Vanderbui-jrli 
county antedates the history o£ Evansville 
The first settlers had hardly raised their rude 
log cabins within the present boundaries of 
the county before the itinerant preachers be- 
gan to push their way into the wilderness 
and preach the word of God wherever a 
handful of men and women could be brought 
together. As early as 1811 the Patoka cir- 
cuit was formed embracing the whole 
country of the Wabash valley below Vin- 
cennes, and extending along the Ohio river 
nearly to the falls of the Ohio at Louisville. 
This circuit was in the Wabash district and 
western conference. The preachers appointed 
to the circuit visited this neighborhood, in 
their regular rounds, for thirteen or fourteen 
years before the permanent organization of 
a society was effected. The first rider of the 
circuit was Rev. Benjamin Edge, and the 
first presiding elder Rev. James Axley. The 
succeeding pioneer preachers were: Revs. 
John Smith, 1812, with the eccentric and en- 
ergetic Peter Cartwright as presiding elder; 
James Porter, 1813; John Scripps, 1814; 
Thomas A. King, 181 5; Daniel McHenry 
and Thomas Davis, 1S16; Thomas Davis, 
181 7; John Wallace and Daniel McHenry, 
i8i8;John Wallace, i8i9;Elias Stone, 1820; 
James L. Thompson, 1821; Ebenezer 
Z. Webster, 1822; William Medford, 1823; 
William H. Smith and George Randall, 
1824. The names of some of these early 
preachers became household words in the 
Christian homes of the new country. Burn- 
ing with zeal, the}- allowed no barrier to keep 
them from their work. In severe weather 
and at all times they braved every hardship, 
and traveled hundreds of miles on foot 
through the then wilderness, preaching the 
word and calling sinners to repentance. The 
organization of classes was everywhere 
vigorously prosecuted. In the cabins of the 
settlers, or in the open woods in all the settle- 



ments, preaching was held as fre<juently as 
possible and converts as well as those who 
had brought Methodism with them in their 
hearts from their old homes were brough 
together in classes. But there is no reliable 
evidence of the formation of a class int 
Vanderburgh county prior to that organized 
in Evansville in 1825. The year 1819 wit- 
nessed the settlement in southwestern Indiana 
of man}' men of intelligence and great 
moral worth. Many of these were Method- 
ists who came from across the sea to build new 
homes for themselves and their descendants 
in this land of liberty. Perhaps none were 
more closely identified with the firm establish, 
ment of Methodism in Evansville than Rob- 
ert Parrett and Joseph Wheeler, both pio- 
neer local ministers who did much in their 
day and generation to advance the cause of 
morals, education and religion in southern 

Indiana. 

Robert Parrett was born in England Feb- 
ruary 14, 1791. His early education and 
trainin<r were of a character suitable for his 
acceptance, at a proper age, of a living 
under the church of England. But his 
reading and associations inclined him to ac- 
cept the teachings and religious views ad- 
vanced b)- John Wesley. About the year 
1816 the family of Mr. Parrett emigrated to 
the United States, and here, in a new coun- 
tr}', his liberal views became more firmly 
fixed and resulted in his active participation 
in the advancement of the tenets of the 
Methodist faith. In 1819 he located in 
Posey county and spent the years of his 
early manhood in the business of farming. 
At the same time he put himself in com- 
munication with the pioneer Methodists of 
the day and contributed his full share 
toward the establishment of that branch of 
the Christian church in southwestern In- 
diana. 

In the same year the Rev. Joseph Wheeler 



27.? 



RELIGIOUS HISTORY. 



and an elder brother, the Rev. Richard 
Wheeler, both men of education and refine- 
ment and devoted to the propagation of the 
doctrines of Methodism, had reached Evans- 
ville from England and taken up their resi- 
dence in the blue grass settlement in the 
northern part of the county. These three 
men were brought together through the in- 
strumentality of the Rev. John Schrader, 
who had begun to preach within the Patoka 
circuit in 1814. 

In the double log warehouse of Hugh Mc- 
Garv, on Saturda)', December 12, 1819, the 
first INIethodist sermon in Evansville of which 
any account can be found, was preached by the 
Rev. John Schrader, the services being at- 
tended by Revs. Robert Parrett and Joseph 
Wheeler. It has been said by one having an ex- 
tensive acquaintance with pioneer preachers 
that " No name will ever possess a loftier, 
purer and sweeter ring among the descendants 
of the early pioneers than that of John 
Shrader." Evansville had already been 
fixed as a point in the Patoka circuit for 
stated preaching of the gospel, and had 
been taxed 56^ cents per quarter for the 
support of the ministry-. At the first Meth- 
odist meeting held in McGary's warehouse 
it was arranged that the Rev. Robert Par- 
rett and the two Wheeler brothers should 
conduct religious services regularly at that 
place, each of them once every six weeks, 
and the appointments w-ere so arranged 
that there was divine service at that ware- 
house every other Sunday, besides an occa- 
sional extra sermon by the circuit rider. 

Thus matters continued until the spring 
of 1 82 1, when the few Methodists in Evans- 
ville obtained permission from Dr. John W. 
Shaw to use the front room of his new resi- 
dence, then in process of erection, as a place 
of worship. The building was weather- 
boarded and lathed, but not plastered. This 
house stood on the present site of the Chand- 



ler block on First street between Locust 
and Walnut. The Shaw mansion continued 
to be occupied by the Methodists as their 
place of worship until the early part of 1824, 
when the congregation obtained use of a 
large room adjoining the Warner tavern, 
where the meetings were continued for the 
next three years. 

It occupied the space next to the opera- 
house near the corner of First and Locust 
streets, and was called the " den," for here 
the fast 3^oung men of the village congre- 
gated to play cards and drink, but the clever 
tavern-keeper, when it w-as time for the 
preacher to come around, had it vacated, 
swept and cleaned. Thus side by side, from 
the same vantage ground, vice and virtue 
began the struggle for the mastery in this 
communit}'. 

In the spring of 1825 Mr. Parrett took up 
his permanent residence in Evansville, and 
continued to reside in Vanderburgh count}^ 
until the day of his death. While there had 
been gospel preaching in the village by the 
Methodist clergyman with some degree of 
regularity during the preceding six years, it 
does not appear that there had been any 
church regularly organized. On, Sunday, 
the 19th day of May, 1825, Father Parrett 
organized the first regular class at this place, 
consisting of Robert Parrett, his wife, Mar- 
tha Parrett, Edward Hopkins, his wife, Mary 
Hopkins, Jane Lewis, Abraham P. Hutch- 
inson, Arthur McJohnson, his wife, Mary 
Mcjohnson, Hannah Robinson, Jane War- 
ner and Mrs. Seaman. With this class the 
Methodist church in Evansville may be said 
to have been firmly organized, and from 
that day forward it has grown and strength- 
ened with the growth and advancement 
of the city's population. Though the church 
was established upon an enduring basis, it 
yet had no stated place of worship. The 
membership being small, and as with all 



METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 



879 



pioneers, their resources limited, it was not 
possible to build a church edifice. The old 
court-house was partly finished, and in the 
winter of 1827, the services of the sanctuary 
were removed from the Warner tavern to 
the court room. The accommodations were 
of the poorest description. About this time 
a subscription was set on foot whicli re- 
sulted in the building of the "little brick 
school-house," that stood for many years on 
the northwest side of the old public square, 
being for a long time the only school-house in 
Evansville. In this little school-house or in 
the court-house, as convenience dictated, 
tha Methodists continued to worship until 
their number increased to an extent that en- 
abled them to undertake the erection of a 
regular church edifice. 

As previously indicated,\Villiam H. Smith 
and George Randle were on the circuit in 
1824. About this time Richard Hargrave 
filled out an unexpired term. In 1825 
James Garner and Joseph Tarkington rode 
the circuit. Their successors were: Asa 
D. West, 1826; Charles Slocum, 1827; 
Samuel Cooper, 1828; John Fox and A. 
Arrington, 1829; John Richey, 1830-1831; 
Enoch G. Wood, 1832; Enoch G. Wood 
and Cornelius Swank, 1833; John A. Brouse 
and M. Reeder, 1834; Isaac Owen, 1835; 
Isaac McElroy and Wm. Beharrell, 1836; 
Lemuel M. Reeves and Joseph S. Barwick, 
1837; John S. Bayless, 1838. 

Under Mr. Bayless this point in the cir- 
cuit considered itself of sufficient importance 
to mantain a preacher, and therefore became 
a station, with fifty-three names on the 
record, and immediately the building of a 
church was begun. It was completed and 
dedicated in 1839. I" size it was 40x60 
feet, and was erected at a cost of $5,350.00. 
This remained the house of worship until 1865 
when Trinity Methodist Episcopal church was 
built. The property was subsequently sold and 



is now owned by the count)- of Vanderburgh, 
the building having been converted into 
rooms for the accommodation of the Van- 
derburg superior court. In the erection of 
this church Rev. Robert Barrett acted a 
conspicuous part. Besides being a liberal 
donor toward the construction fund the brick 
for the building of the edifice were made 
upon his farm. His sons, John, Richard 
and WiHiam F., wrought diligently in mould- 
ing the brick for the kiln, and the two last 
named drove the teams that hauled the 
materiii! on the ground where the house was 
built. Here Father Parrett often preached 
in his happiest vein, and he continued his 
diligent labors in the church until called to 
his final rest. 

At this juncture a few words may be 
properly written touching the lives and char- 
acters of these two pioneer preachers. From 
the organization of the church until he was 
called home to his reward. Father Parrett 
never falter _'d in the good work which his 
hands and heart had willingly undertaken. 
While the church at Evansville was to him 
a special charge it must not be supposed 
that his ministerial labors were confined to 
his services in behalf of tliis church and in 
the immediate vicinit}- of his residence. He 
frequently spent weeks together at camp- 
meetings and other religious gatherings, al- 
ways willingly taking up his burden in the 
Master's cause, and testifying earnestly of 
his faith in the saving power of the grace 
of God. Methodists of the Indiana confer- 
ence regarded him as a shining light in their 
church organization. 

Intellectuallv he was a man of rare 
strength and judgment. His sermons evinced 
a mind of comprehensive power and com- 
manding logic. He was also at times ver\- 
eloquent in thought and expression. In the 
summer of 1827, he delivered an address at 
Princeton on the life, character and public 



280 



RELIGIOUS HISTORY. 



services of Adams and Jefferson, who died 
within a few hours of each other, upon the 
preceding Fourth of July, which was pro- 
nounced by such a man as the late Judge 
Samuel Hall as a masterpiece of truth and 
eloquence. The Westcni Sun, published at 
Vincennes by the venerable Elihu Stout, 
said: " This speech has not been excelled by 
any of the powerful orations delivered in 
the senate of our country. " 

In civil life he stood exceptionall}- high in 
the opinion of his fellow citizens. He was 
never an office-seeker, but in 1858, when 
there seemed to be a special demand for the 
best men of the county in the office of county 
commissioner, he consented to the use of his 
name in that connection. He was triumph- 
antly elected over several competitors, and 
was serving in the capacity of a commis- 
sioner at the time of his death. 

Father Parrett died January' 29, i860, at 
the age of sixty years, greatly lamented by all 
who knew him. In his death society lost a 
good citizen, the church a bright ornament, 
and his family a counselor whose worth 
was beyond estimate. But his noble ex- 
ample lives to be cherished and emulated 
through all the coming time. 

Rev. Joseph Wheeler was a native of 
Oxfordshire, England, born near Oxford, the 
great English seat of learning,about the year 
1778. His family was reared in the 
English church, but when a mere vouth 
the teachings of John Wesley took deep 
root in his mind, and in due time he 
embraced the faith and became a zealous 
adherent of the Methodist church. When 
seventeen years old he was licensed to 
preach, and, proceeding to London, entered 
actively into missionary work. He took a 
devoted interest in spreading the new faith 
among the people of that great metropolis 
and along the country lanes, forming classes 
wherever a handful could be erot tosrether. 



When about forty years old he migrated to 
this country, intending to proceed to Albion, 
111., but, reaching Evansville in August, 1819, 
was detained by sickness, and in a few days 
hearing of the English settlement in the 
blue grass region, set out to establish him- 
self there. He at once began his labor of 
love in breaking the bread of Hfe to the 
scattered denizens of the wilderness : he was 
a ready and willing helper of the circuit 
rider and scattered many seeds that ripened 
into good fruit. While alternating with 
Father Parrett in preaching at Evansville, 
he generally came on foot, staff in hand. 
Father Wheeler preached regularly in Blue 
Grass and attended all the early day camp 
meetings, and was one of the most success- 
ful preachers in camp meeting work. 
Later he preached at Mechanicsville and in 
all parts of that section. He became 
devotedly attached to the people of that 
settlement, and they with one accord loved 
and honored him as a father. He preached 
there thirty 3-ears and only ceased when in- 
creasing years and faiHng strength pre- 
vented his engaging in the work. For a 
time he supplied the pulpit of the Walnut 
Street Presbyterian church. His religious 
creed rose above sectarianism, and he looked 
upon all Christians as brothers in the spirit. 
Among his best and most devoted friends 
were some who looked to other altars as a 
place of worship. He was three times jus- 
tice of the peace, though never seeking 
worldly recognition. He was a superior 
farmer and earnestly industrious in everj^ 
walk of life. Exceedingly vigorous and 
robust, he always met his appointments on 
foot and had the reputation of being a great 
pedestrian. In 1864, at the ripe age of 
eighty-six years, after a life well spent and 
full of good work in his Master's service, 
Father Wheeler passed to his reward. 
After the building of the Locust Street 



METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURDH. 



281 



church, the following ministers succeeded 
each other at this station: John Daniels, 
1839; Anthony Robinson, 1S40; John 
Kearns, 1841 and 1842; Samuel Reed, 1843; 
F. C. Holliday, 1844; William M. Daily, 
1845; G. C. Beeks, 1846; W. V. Daniel, 
1847; Thomas A. Goodwin, 1848 and 1849; 
James H. Noble, 1850; James Hill, 
1852; C. B. Davidson, 1853 and 1854; 
E. H. Sabin, 1855 and 1856; Hiram Gil- 
more, 1857 and 1858; S. T. Gillett, 1859 
and i860; B. F. Rawlins, 1861 and 1862; 
Albion Fellows, 1863. Rev. Mr. Fellows 
died wiiile in this charge in February, 1865, 
and was succeeded, in April, 1865, by Rev. 
C. N. Sims, who ministered to the congre- 
gation until 1867. The year 1864 marks 
another epoch in the history of this congre- 
gation. In the winter of this year it was de- 
termined to build a new church at the 
corner of Third and Chestnut streets. The 
work was pushed forward with wonderful 
rapidity, and in the winter of 1865 the 
building was enclosed. In the spring of 
1866 it was dedicated to God's service by 
Rev. Thomas M. Eddy, D. D., assisted by 
Rev. L. Bowman, D. D. The church is 
built of brick, in the Florentine style of 
architecture, with an auditorium 65x90 feet 
in size, with a seating capacity for 800 per- 
sons; a lecture room, 40x70 feet large, and 
six additional apartments, devoted to pas- 
tor's study, organ and parlor purposes. 
The entire cost of the building was $100,- 
000; some $10,000 have been spent in 
church improvement since. 

Since those last mentioned the following 
ministers have been in charge of the work at 
the new church, known as Trinity : Reuben 
Andrus, D. D., 1867-9; -'-'• ^^- Carpenter, 
1870-73 (in the spring of 1S72 Mr. Car- 
penter exchanged pulpits with Rev. II. C. 
Westwood, of Wheeling, W. Va., Mr. West- 
wood remaining till the fall of 1873); Earl 



Cranston, D. D., 1874; Reuben Andrus, 
D. D., 1875-77; G. D. Watson, D. D., 1S78; 
B. F. Rawlins, 1879; F- C. Igleheart, 1880; 
J. L. Pitner, 1881-2; Frost Craft, 1883-5; 
J. S. Woods, D. D., 1886, and at present in 
charge. Trinity has always had in its pulpit 
the hisrhest order of talent. Each of the 
names mentioned in the list of its pastors is 
familiar to Methodists throughout the confer- 
ence, and in many instances throughout the 
state of Indiana. The present pastor, Dr. 
Woods, is a powerful and effective preacher, 
being Ijgical and convincing in argument, 
unique in his style of thought and manner of 
presentation, happ}' and strikinglj' original in 
the choice of illustrations, fervent and true in 
appeal and possessing a vast fund of infor- 
mation on which he draws, to the delight of 
his hearers, with the skill characteristic of a 
trained intellect. 

Dr. Woods was born in Morgan county, 
Ind., October 11, 1833, and is the son of 
William and Elizabeth (Shell) Woods. His 
father, a nati\e of Ireland, born about 1806, 
came with his parents to America when a 
child. His mother was born in East Ten- 
nessee about 1809. They came to Indiana 
about 1830 and settled as pioneers in Mor- 
gan count)^ They were pious Methodists, 
hved useful lives, and were respected by all. 
Dr. Woods was reared on the farm, attended 
the district schools, and learned the wagon- 
maker's trade with his father, which he fol- 
lowed for eight years. In 1855 he professed 
religion and joined the Methodist Episcopal 
church. He wasHcensedtopreachin 1856, and 
two years later was admitted to the Indiana 
conference. His first appointment was to the 
Williamsburg circuit, in 1S5S, and in 1S66 
he was appointed to his first station, at 
Princeton. Thereafter he labored at Mt. 
Vernon and New Albany in this state. In 
1876 he was appointed presiding elder of 
the Indianapolis district, and after four years 



^82 



heligious history. 



returned to New Albany, whence he went 
to Vincennes. In 1884 he was appointed 
presiding elder of the Evansville district, 
and after three years was appointed pastor 
of Trinity Methodist Episcopal church. In 
1S81 the degree of D. D. was conferred on 
him bv Asbury, now DePauw, University. 

The church is in a very prosperous con- 
dition, now having 540 members. Trinity 
is one of the largest and most influential 
Methodist churches in the state. She is 
powerful in any spiritual task she under- 
takes, and has been the inspiration of man}- 
of the revivals of religion that have blessed 
the city. The first Methodist Sunday-school 
in the city was organized in May, 1837, in 
the little school-house on Main street. Rev. 
William M. Elliott being the superintendent, 
and twenty-two scholars being enrolled the 
first day. The work of this Sunday-school 
in the advancement of religion and the bet- 
terment of society, is beyond human reck- 
oning. Rev. William M. ElHott remained 
superintendent seven years. His successors 
have been: John Ingle, jr., nineteen 3'ears; 
W. T. Iglehart, six years; John F. Glover, 
three years; F. M. Thayer, eight years; 
Charles E. Scoville, two years; William B. 
Jaquess, two years; A. W. Emerj', three 
years; and J. W. Barbour, now serving. 
The average attendance is 325. The pres- 
ent trustees are: Joseph P. Elliott, J.E. Igle- 
hart, William F. Parrett, George Lant, Lee 
Howell, L. S. Clarke, R. Ruston, Geo. P. 
Heilman, James Scantlin. 

7iio/e Street Methodist Episcopal 
Church. — The Methodists of the old 
Locust Street church estabished a mis- 
sion which in 1S51, was organized 
into Ingle Street church with twenty- 
five members under the charge of Rev. 
Daniel Cloud. The pastors in succession 
have been: Revs. W. McK. Hester, W. F. 
Mason, J. H. Ketcham, M. M. C. Hobbs, 



Jesse Walker, L. M, Walters, A. Turner, 
Hayden Hays, J. B. Likely., James Hill, 
J. H. Clippenger, William E. Davis, J. W. 
Webb, E. Hawes, J. A. Scammahorn, 
William Telfer, J. V. R. Miller, John Walls, 
Morris S. Woods and C. E. Asbury, tlie 
pastor now in charge. Mr. Asbury was 
born in Owen county, Ind., thirty-one years 
ago and was graduated at DePauw Univer- 
sity, at Greencastle, in 1881. He at once 
began his ministerial work and soon gave 
abundant evidence of his fitness as a laborer 
in the Master's vineyard. Of generous im- 
pulses, strong convictions, and great force of 
character, he wields a large influence for 
good. In 1852 this congregation built its 
first house of worship, which was continued 
in use until it became wholly inadequate for 
the comfortable accommodation of the grow- 
ing congregation. About 1874 a handsome 
new structure was erected on Ingle street 
between Seventh and Eighth. It is built of 
brick in modern Gothic style, 40x70 feet in 
dimensions, the main auditorium seating 
250 comfortably, and the prayer-meeting 
room seating 100. During the past year, 
the church has been much improved 
and beautified at a cost of $3,000. From 
its foundation this church has manifested 
great zeal in revival work. The member- 
ship has at times grown to large propor- 
tions. hX present it numbers 180. The 
Sabbath-school — George L. Daum, sr., su- 
perintendent, has an average attendance 
of 175. 

Kiiii^-slcv Methodist Episcopal Church. — 
As a mission of Trinity Methodist Episcopal 
church, Kingsley was organized in 1868 
and placed in charge of Rev. Edwin 
Mcjohnston, a local minister, one of the 
early settlers of Vanderburgh county, and 
a true Christian. For some time the society 
worshipped in Mr. Mcjohnston's wareroom, 
on the corner of Eighth and Canal streets, 



METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 



28S 



but efforts were very early made to provide 
a suitable house for the worship of God. A 
frame building, costing about $2,500 and of 
sufficient size to comfortably seat 400, was 
erected at the corner of Eighth and Gum 
streets, and in 1869 was dedicated, Rev. 
Reuben Andrus, D. D., then pastor of 
Trinit}', officiating. The following pastors 
followed Rev. Edwin Mcjohnston in the 
work, at this station: Revs. John Poucher, 
Francis Walker, W. W. Rundell, R. B. 
Martin, James Dixon, W. H. Grim, J. W. 
McCormick, I. N. Thompson, M. S. Heav- 
enridge, John W. Payne, Samuel Reed and 
G. W. Fanchler, the present pastor, who 
has recently entered upon the first year of 
his work at this place. The church now 
has about 200 members. From its organi- 
zation the Sunday-school at Kingsley has 
been a bright spot in the results of church 
work. Its first superintendent was Mr. John 
F. Glover, who exercised great zeal and in- 
telligence in the work of caring for the 
moral welfare of the children. The school 
has been blessed and prospered by God at 
all times. There are now in its classes 17S 
children. Mr. Edward Blackman is at 
present the superintendent. 

Simpson C/iapcl Mcthodht Episcofal 
Church. — In the . fall of 1859, the 
conference made an appropriation for 
the establishment of a mission at Evans- 
ville, and appointed Rev. E. H. Sabin 
missionar)', who, upon coming to his 
work, organized at Ingle street the first 
quarterly conference, and selected a site for 
a church on Pennsylvania street, between 
Eighth and Ninth avenues. The work of 
construction was soon commenced, and the 
building was completed in Februar\-, 1861. 
This church was then known as the 
Pennsylvania Street Methodist Episcopal 
church, but later the building was sold, 
and the present edifice at the corner 



of Illinois street and Eleventh avenue 
was erected at a cost of about $3,000. 
With appropriate ceremonies the chapel 
was dedicated in April, 1884. The follow- 
ing is a list of the pastors who have served 
the church since its organization: Revs. 
E. H. Sabin, E. Hawes, H. B. Cassavant, J. 
Waring, John W. Webb, M. Wood, John 
Maddox, Edwin Mcjohnston, John Poucher, 
W. E. Robbins, J. W. Culmer, Levi S. 
Knotts, John Allen, Dr. James Dixon, J. 
Burr,, J. B. Holloway, William Telfer, S. O. 
Dorse}', J. F. McGregor, W. E. Davis, 
G. C. Cooper, George E. Piatt, Paul C. 
Curnick, W. S. Biddle, John B. Smith and 
T. P. Walter, the present pastor. The 
church is in a very prosperous condition, the 
membership numbering 128. The Sabbath 
school has an average attendance of 
about 300. 

First German J^Iclhudist Episcopal 
Church. — Organized in 1842, this was the 
(irst church formed by the German Metho- 
dists of the cit}'. After four years the con- 
gregation had become able to build a house 
of worship costing $1,263, which was de- 
voted to this use twenty-two years, when it 
was replaced at a cost of $34,621.00, bv a 
commodious brick structure now in use and 
standing at the corner of Fourth and Vine 
streets, on the very spot where was located 
the first gra^■eyard used by the early citi- 
zens of Evansville. When dedicated, this 
church was said to be one of the largest and 
finest German Methodist churches in the 
United States. The following pastors have 
served the charge: Peter Schumaker, 11. 
Koeneke, M. Mulfinger, John Hoppen, 
Christian Wittenback, Fr. Heller, John Bier, 
Charles Schelper, Henry Lich, Fr. Becker, 
John Reimer, John Hoppen, G. A. Breuriig, 
John II. Lukemyer, John Reimer, Gottloeb 
Trefz, P. F. Schneider, Fr. Schimmelpfennig, 
C. Bozenhard, John C. Weidman, John W. 



28i 



RELIGIOUS HISTORY. 



Roecker, G. Nachtrieb, J. H. Lich, and E. 
F. Wunderlich, the present pastor, who took 
up the work here in 1887. Under the 
efficient labors of its pastors the church has 
maintained a steady growth, its present 
membership numbering 300. An interest- 
ing Sunda3--schooI with an average attend- 
ance of 200, witli Frank Weil as superin- 
tendent, is connected with the church. The 
members of the tirst quarterly conference 
were : Conrad Herchelmann, William Elliott, 
Jacob Kehrt, Peter Knauz, John Jugle, John 
Muth, Andreas Roth, Charles Kellar, John 
Kappler, and Carl Wiewel; and those of the 
present quarterly conference are : E. Weber, 
A. K. Stork, John Habbe, Jacob Meyer, 
Mike Meyer, A.P. HoeIcher,Jacob Schwam- 
bach, J. D. Becker, George Roessner, J. C. 
Muth, William Mull, Fred Tosettel, G. 
Herth, Phillip Gourdan, L. Roth, R. Blem- 
ker, E. Holtkamp and M. Manger. The 
present pastor is an able executive as well 
as a good preacher. The church is out of 
debt and in a prosperous condition both tem- 
porally and spiritually. 

Second German Methodist episcopal 
Church, on south side of Indiana street, be- 
tween Eleventh and Twelfth avenues, was 
established as a mission in 18S7, and the 
church building, a small, neat frame struc- 
ture, costing $1,403.00, was dedicated by 
Rev. E. F. Wunderlich on the 23d of Octo- 
ber in that year. Rev. John C. Speckmann 
was the first pastor, his successor being 
Rev. John Bockstahler. The church now 
has 25 members and a small but growing 
Sunday-school. Two charges in the coun- 
try are also attended by the pastor. 

African Zion Methodist Episcopal Church. 
— This society first worshipped in an old frame 
building on East Tennessee street, but now has 
a neat frame church located atNo. i704Fulton 
avenue. Among the pastors who have had 
charge were Revs. Hardin, Temple and 



Ervin. The present pastor is Rev. An- 
thony Bunch, whose earnestness and zeal in 
the work is fast building up a large congre- 
gation. 

Fifth Methodist Episcopal Church ( colored") . 
— This church has a very small membership 
and holds its services in a rented room, north- 
east corner Garfield avenue and Illinois 
street. Rev. Stephen Anderson is the 
pastor. 

AfricanMethodist Episcopal Church. — This 
society was organized in 1843 in a log cabin 
near the river, by Rev. George Johnson, its 
first pastor. The present church building on 
Fifth street near Walnut street is 70x40 
feet in size, and cost $5,000.00. The fol- 
lowing pastors have ministered to the con- 
gregation: Revs. George Johnson, William 
Curtis, Elisha Weaver, Daniel Winslow, 
Levi Bass, Charles Rollins, H. Green, A. 
Brooks, A. T. Hall, B. McCarry, Henry 
Brown, W. S. Sankford, J. H. Alexander, 
Johnson Mitchem, M. Lewis, Dr. D. P. 
Roberts, James Simpson, D. S. Bentley, H. 
H. Thompson, and Jesse Bass, the present 
able pastor. The church is one of the 
strongest in the city, its present membership 
numbering 325. 

Eree Methodist Church. — This branch of 
the Methodist church clings to the original 
and simple faith of the primitive members, 
having organized as a distinctive branch at 
Pekin, N. Y., in i860. They believe in 
simplicity in everything, in dress, houses of 
worship and manner of fife. Their require- 
ments and discipline of members are very 
risrid. The denomination has made some 
progress and cherishes the hope of re\'iving 
the spirit of primitive Methodism. The work 
of the church has been among the poor and 
humble, from whence chiefly their earnest 
ministers have been taken. The church in 
this city was established largely under the 
labors of J. W. Vickery, a local preacher. 



EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 



285 



The church, a neat frame building worth 
$2,000, IS situated at No. 1321 Wahiut 
street, with a comfortable parsonage at- 
tached, and was dedicated by Bishop B. T. 
Roberts, in 1S72. Among the pastors have 
been John Hardin, M. C Belem, J. Lewis, 
and Thomas W. Thornburg, the present 
pastor, who has had charge for two years. 
Through Mr. Thornburg's earnestness in 
his work the church has prospered, now hav- 
ing twenty-five members. The conference 
of this year has transferred Mr. Thornburg 
to Danville, 111., and appointed as his suc- 
cessor here, Rev. A. F. Niswanger. A well 
attended Sunday-school is superintended by 
Mr. Louis Habenicht. 

SL PauPs Episcopal Church. — Existing 
records do not show that any clergyman of 
this church ever officiated in Evansville until 
the year 1835. ^" December, of this year, 
Right Rev. Jackson Kemper, Bishop of the 
Northwest, came to Evansville and preached 
to the people. Rev. A. H. Lamon was 
probably here at that time. On January 9, 
1836, a meeting was held in the store of 
Messrs. Goodsell & Lyon, and there a Pro- 
testant Episcopal church to be known 
as St. Paul's church, was organized. 
At that meeting William Town was chair- 
man, and James Lockhart, secretary. Fred- 
erick E. Goodsell and John Mitchell were 
elected wardens, and John M. Dunham, Ira 
French, James Lockhart, Joseph Wheeler, 
jr., and William Town were elected vestry- 
men. January 17, following. Rev. A. H. 
Lamon was invited to take pastoral charge 
of the new church. He accepted, and meet- 
ings were held in the old court-house. Here 
they remained until 1840, but the place was 
unavoidabl}- distasteful to cliurchmen. Be- 
fore tiie parish was a year old the subject of 
a church building was earnestly discussed. 
At lengtli the rector and vestry were em- 
powered to obtain an eligible lot on which to 



erect a temple to God. A building com- 
mittee was appointed January 7, 1839, con- 
sisting of John Mitchell, William B. Butler, 
F. E. Goodsell, Nathan Rowley, and Joseph 
Wheeler, jr. Soon thereafter ground was 
broken and earnest work on the new edilice 
was commenced. The energetic rector was 
so deeply interested in it that he even car- 
ried brick for the walls. On January 12, 
1840, it was solemnly set apart for the ser- 
vice of God, by Right Rev. Jackson Kemper. 
For forty-three years the conjrrerfation 
worshipped in this house, which was of brick, 
40x70 feet, with a ceiling 20 feet high. It 
was a comfortable and commodious house, 
and architecturally considerably in advance 
of the ordinary church structures of those 
days. 

Mr. Lamon served as rector until 1844, 
when he resigned. He was indefatigable in 
his efforts to build up the church, and his 
Christian character was admired by all. 
While caring for and nursing yellow fever 
sufferers in Louisiana he contracted the 
disease and died. His heroism was un- 
doubted and his consecration entire. In 1845 
Rev. N. A. Okeson took charge of the par- 
ish and resigned in the following year. For 
a time Rev. W. Vaux held occasional ser- 
vices. November 5, 1847, Rev. Charles A. 
Foster was elected rector. Mr. Foster was 
finely educated and his attainments were of 
a high order. He was an eloquent and a 
forcible speaker. In June, 1856, he was 
succeeded b}- Rev. Anthony Ten Broeck, a 
man of culture and sound churchmanship, 
and tenacious of the rubrics, but, on account 
of the austerity of his manners, he was not 
popular with many of his parishioners. 
From November, 1857, to January, i860, 
Rev. Sidney Wilbur, a young, energetic and 
zealous man, served as rector. Rev. Elias 
Birdsall was next called to the rectorship. 
He remained five years; his pastorate was a 



286 



RELIGIOUS HISTORY. 



happy and successful one; he was beloved, 
honored and respected by all who knew 
him. Rev. Henry Spalding assumed charge 
of the parish in January, iS66. His pastor- 
ate was crowded with noble, energetic and 
zealous work in all the avenues of church 
activit}'. The old church was much beau- 
tified, and aggressive Christian missionary 
and Sunday-school work was carried on. 
Rev. Mr. Strong followed Mr. Spaulding, 
remaining but four months. The next rec- 
tor was Rev. Wl H. Van Antwerp, a cul- 
tured scholar and Christian gentleman, who 
had the respect and confidence of all. From 
the fall of 1874 to November, 1879, Rev. 
W. N. Webb was in charge of the parish. 
He was succeeded by Rev. T. J. Holcombe, 
who remained only eighteen months. In 
November, 1882, Rev. Charles Morris, the 
present rector, was called to the pastorate. 
Mr. Morris was born in Lynchburg, Va., 
about thirty-five years ago. When he was 
ten years of age his father removed to New 
York, and there he received his rudimentary 
training. In 1867 he entered William and 
Mary College, and upon his graduation, 
took up the study of law at Richmond Col- 
lege, Va., receiving the degree of LL. B. 
He practiced law for two years, then went 
to New York, whence he soon returned to 
Virginia with the intention of entering the 
Virginia Theological Seminar}'. He was 
graduated from this mstitution, and then en- 
tered the ministry. His first parish was 
Ashland, Va., whence he went to Hopkins- 
ville, Kv. As a preacher he is plain, earn- 
est, direct, forcible, practical. As a pastor 
he is affable, kind-hearted and pleasing. He 
combines the quahties of a good pastor and 
and a good preacher. Services were 
held for the last time in the old 
church on April 15, 1SS3. On his 
arrival Mr. Morris began agitating the 
question of erecting a new church, and his 



efforts bore early fruit. In the spring of 
1883 it was determined to build. Messrs. 
Charles Viele, M. J. Bray, jr., and A. H. 
Lemcke were appointed a building commit- 
tee. Mr. Viele gave the use of Viele Hall 
to the church as a temporary place of wor- 
ship; the old church was dismantled and 
torn down, and the work of erecting the 
new building went forward steadily, under 
the wise direction of the committee. On 
March 2, 1886, the congregation assembled 
in the new house for the purpose of dedi- 
cating it to the service of God. The Bishops 
of Indiana and Illinois and twelve other min- 
isters were present, to assist in the cere- 
monies, which, from first to last, were solemn, 
impressive and long to be remembered. 
The building cost upward of $50,000. 
Its foundation lies in the form of a cross; its 
style is exquisitely Gothic; its proportions 
are nicely adjusted; the abutments and win- 
dows are judiciously placed; the colors of 
the materials are harmoniously blended; the 
tower and spire rise 124 feet heavenward; 
and the whole is crowned by a large gilded 
cross, which towers high over all, drawing 
the eyes of men toward it from all parts of 
the city, and emphasizing the words of 
Christ: "If I be hfted up, I shall draw all 
men unto me." The entire structure is an 
architectural triumph, and a lasting monu- 
ment to those who erected it. In 1865, 
a parsonage was built at a cost of $5,582.30, 
the greater portion of which was contrib- 
uted by Mrs. Charles Viele, by whose mu- 
nificence the church is being constantly 
blessed. In 18S5, for $7,000, Mr. Charles 
Viele bought the large brick residence of 
the late Hon. John S. Hopkins, and recently 
remodeled and repaired it for use as a rec- 
tory. It is now a beautiful, modern dwell- 
ing. The present membership of St. Paul's 
is 320. The Sabbath school has an average 
attendance of 150; the rector is superiq- 





^Ci^^^r^^JUO iM>, ^^.c^^aJA 



EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 



289 



tendent, and E. N. Viele is assistant. The 
present vestrymen are: H. A. Cook, M.J. 
Bray, S. W. Douglass, S. S. Scantlin, E. N. 
Viele, A. S. Green, C. F. Artes, George 
W. Newman and F. B. Emer\-. 

Church of the Holy ] n)iocc)its. — This church 
was organized in 1868, and the same year 
the propert}', corner of Ninth and Division 
streets, was presented to the diocese by Mrs. 
Charles Viele. At a cost of about $25,000.00 
the church building was also erected by 
Mrs. Viele, and dedicated on March 3, 
1869, by Right Rev. Bishop J. C. Talbot. 
Two little children had been taken from 
Mrs. Viele b\' death, and she built this mon- 
ument with a finger pointing to another life, 
and here the tender love of motherhood, 
sympathy for fellow-creatures and devotion 
to the cross, have a comel\- personation for 
all time to come. The following rectors 
have had charge of the church: Rev. 
Spruile Burford, 1868-1870; Richard T. 
Kerfoot, 1870-1875; R. C. Talbott, jr., 
1876-1879; A. O. Stanley, 1879-1881; John 
K. Karcher, March to October, 18S1; John 
A. Dooris, 1S81-1885; L. F. Cole, 1885 to 
November ist, 1888, when he resigned. 
The present officers of the church are: 
W. \V. Flagler and John Ficthner, 
wardens; Charles Viele, John L. A\ery, 
Levi D. Lockyear, William R. Carroll and 
John Constance, vestrymen. There are now 
120 communicants. The Sabbath school is 
in a prosperous condition, having an average 
attendance of 125. 

Chapel of the Good Shepherd. — This 
church, which is a mission under the care of 
St. Paul's Episcopal church, was established 
in 1874. 'T'^'^ chapel is on the corner of 
Michigan street and Third avenue. Rev. 
Jesse R. Bicknell was the first pastor, and 
was succeeded by Rev. C. P. Jones, who 
remained in charge until 1879. For some 
time the church was without a pastor, the 
17 



services being read by Mr. W. H. Boniface. 
At present the parish is in charge of Rev. 
Charles Morris, of St. Paul's. The church 
is in a prosperous condition and has an in- 
teresting Sunday-school. 

First Baptist Church. — The Baptists 
were among the earliest of the pioneer 
Christian workers. Thej' labored with great 
zeal and made many converts. Elder 
Ezekiel Saunders and Elder John B. Stinson 
were leaders of the two schools that held 
sway in early times. Churches were es- 
tablished in various parts of the county and 
camp meetings were annually held. In 
Evansville the first church building was 
erected by the followers of Ezekiel Saunders. 
It was built of hewn logs, and stands to this 
day as one of the lingering land-marks of 
olden times, being now used as a stable by 
Mr. William Dean, a well-known citizen. 
The oldest Baptist church organization now 
existing in Evansville, was effected July 4, 
1847, when, agreeable to previous notice, 
several brethren and sisters belonging to 
Baptist churches met in the hall of the 
Neptune engine-house, above Main street, 
chose Rev. N. V. Steadman as moderator, 
and organized the church. There were 
present Rev. N. V. Steadman, Rev. E. D. 
Ow-en and wife, of Indianapolis, J. P. 
Matthews, Alvira D. Stoddard and S. Z. 
Millard, of Henderson, Ky., Elizabeth Bees- 
ley, of Cranfield, England, and Merriam 
Wilcox. 

At subsequent meetings quite a number 
of additions were made, and on July 31st, 
the church held its first communion service. 
November 7, 1847, Sister Sarah Kazar 
(now Mrs. Judge Foster), was received into 
the church by baptism, and on November 
nth. Sister Elizabeth Turnock was re- 
ceived by letter. These two sisters are yet 
alive, are still members of the church and 
residents of Evansville; verily they are 



290 



RELIGIOUS HISTORY. 



mothers in Israel, zealous in the cause of 
Christ and the welfare of their church. On 
the 27th of November, 1848, a committee 
was appointed to select a lot preparatory to 
the erection of a church building and to so- 
licit subscriptions. The committee was 
Rev. Steadman and Brother Millard, Sisters 
Kazar, Turner and Beesley. About 185 1 
a lot was purchased on the corner of Second 
and Clark streets, and on the ist day of 
February, 1S52, the first meeting was held 
in the basement and in November, 1853, 
the building was completed at a cost of 
$3,000. The membership at that time was 
only thirty-nine. After the removal of the 
E. & T. H. railroad depots from that por- 
tion of the city in which the church building 
was located, indications were plainly seen 
that the central portion of the city would be 
further eastward and it was decided by 
the members of the church to sell the build- 
ing and purchase a lot in a more desirable 
locahty. Judge M. W. Foster proposed to 
sell the lot on the corner of Third and Cherry 
streets for the sum of $Soo. The locality 
and price being satisfactory the purchase 
was made. Judge Foster then donated lib- 
erally toward its purchase. In 1863 the 
old building was sold to Maj. Jesse W. 
Walker, and Marble Hall on Main street 
was rented and here the church held ser- 
vices for some time, but this arrangement 
was unsatisfactor}^ and efforts were put forth 
toward obtaining the means to build a new 
church edifice. In due time work was com- 
menced, the corner stone being placed in 
position by Sisters Sarah K. Foster and 
Elizabeth Turnock, and on March iS, 1868, 
the building was dedicated to the 
service of God by the church and the pas- 
tor, the Rev. Dr. Samuel Baker. It cost 
about $25,000, is of brick and has a seating 
capacity for about 500 persons. 

The rnembership is novy about 200. The 



pastors of the church have been: Rev. 
N. V. Steadman, 1847; Rev. Joseph A. 
Dixon, 1850; Rev. H. Robb, 1855; Rev. 
F. D. Bland, 1S56; Rev. H. A. Cook, 1859; 
Rev. T. E. Veach 1861; Rev. Isaac, 
Bloomer, 1865; Rev. George F. Pentacost, 
1866; Rev. Samuel Raker, 1868; Rev. 
A. C. Caperton, 1870; Rev. S. F. Thomp- 
son, 1871; Rev. H. D. D. Straton, 1874; 
Rev. A. B. Miller, 1S78; Rev. Ira D. Hall, 
1885; Rev. F.J. Cather, 1887; and Rev. 
D. Heagle, D. D., the present pastor. The 
trustees have been: Asa Marsh, N. V. 
Steadman, William Felsted, Charles Morri- 
son and Eben Bray, 1S50; Asa Marsh, 
Eben Bray, T. W. Simpson, Alfred White, 
Judge M. W. Foster, 1856; Alfred White, 
T. W. Simpson, R. S. Cobb, J. D. Wilcox, 
Judge M. W. Foster, i860; Joseph Turnock, 
F. C. Gale, Alfred White, T. W. Simpson, 
Judge M. W. Foster, 1862. In 1863, a va- 
cancy occurred by the death of Judge Fos- 
ter, and, b}' a unanimous vote, Dr. I. Haas 
was elected to fill the vacancy. In 1871, 
F. C. Gale, having removed from the city, 
John J. Roach was elected to fill his place. 
Thus in twenty-six years only two changes 
have been made. The clerks have been: 
J. P. Matthews, N. V. Steadman, A. L. 
Robinson, William C. Turnock. Perhaps 
the most marked instance of devotion shown 
by a true and genuine Baptist belie\-er is 
that of Mother Elizabeth Turnock, who took 
her letter from the Philadelphia church, 
March 30, 1837, and removed to the west, 
settling within fourteen miles of Evansville, 
then a little town, and the nearest point to 
her containing a church of her faith and or- 
der. This distance she often walked to at- 
tend divine service. Father Joseph Turnock 
joined the Baptist church in 1853. This 
aged couple still live, enjoying good health, 
and the respect of all, and remaining stead- 
fast to the faith of their earlier years. 



BAPTIST CHURCH. 



291 



Since the organization of the First Baptist 
church, several missions liave been formed, 
or, it may be said, additional churches have 
been organized, which have taken some of 
the membership of the First church. 

On April 6, 1S56, the German church 
was organized, and held its first meeting in 
the basement of the First Baptist church. 
In March, 1H57, a southern Baptist church 
was organized by the Rev. John Brjxe and 
Rev. Jacob Cole, of Henderson, Ky. Meet- 
ings were held in the old Cumberland 
Presbyterian church on Chestnut street. It 
did not become a permanency. In i860, 
the Robinson Baptist church was formed. 
It had an existence for about three years, 
after which nearly all the membership re- 
turned to the First church. In 1885, the 
Unity Baptist church was organized by the 
Rev. D. B. Miller, and prospered for about 
two years, and then ceased to hold meet- 
ings. In 188S, about fifteen or twenty 
members of the First church withdrew, and 
organized the present Baptist Calvary 
church. The congregation holds its meet- 
ings in the upper rooiTi of the engine-house, 
on Third street, near Walnut. The Rev. 
Fleming, of Boonville, preaches twice a 
month. 

General Baptist Church. — This church 
was organized in this city in July, 1866. 
Elders Benoni Stinson, Alvah Parker, and 
George W. Moore being appointed by the 
General Baptist church in Perry township 
to constitute the church. A year after the 
organization was effected the society built a 
house of worship on Indiana street, between 
Wabash and Tenth avenues, which was 
afterward removed to the present site, cor- 
ner Indiana street and Twelfth avenue. The 
church is a neat frame edifice built at a cost 
of $1,260.00, including the ground. Rev. 
George W. Moore was the first pastor, 
serving for fourteen years, and what growth 



the church has enjoyed has been due largely 
to his leadership. Rev. J. Blackburn suc- 
ceeded Mr. Moore. Rev. William II. Ivey, 
the present pastor, has had charge for two 
years. He is an efficient worker and is 
much respected. At the commencement 
there were but twenty-eight members, but 
before the building was completed the mem- 
bership grew to nearly 100. At this time 
the number remains about the same. Eze- 
kiel Burdette is superintendent of the Sun- 
day-school, which numbers about sixty. 
The members of this church worship ac- 
cording to the belief and doctrine promul- 
gated in early days by Elder Benoni Stin- 
son. They are a body of ver\' earnest and 
benevolent Christian workers. 

The Old Baptist Church. — Ahoxxt 1835, 
the followers of Elder Ezekiel Saunders, a 
pioneer preacher, organized this church, and 
for a time it prospered, but of late has be- 
come verj' weak. The association has no 
regular pastor, but meetings are held occa- 
sionally. It has a small brick church on 
Mary street between Michigan and Virginia 
streets. 

First German Baptist Churc/i. — This 
congregation was organized April 6, 1856, 
and has always been small in numbers. The 
building is situated on the corner of Edgar 
and Franklin streets, and is a beautiful frame 
structure, $1,100 having been spent in im- 
proving it during the past year. The society 
is out of debt and owns church property 
valued at $5,000.00. It has seventy mem- 
bers and is rapidly growing. The Sunday- 
school has an attendance of over 100; Henry 
Ashley, superintendent. The pastor also 
preaches at a church in German township. 
The following pastors have ministered to 
this congregation: Rev. Woertner, Charles 
Tecklenburg, A. Tranchel, and William 
Lipphardt, the present pastor. 

Liberty Baptist Chiireh (^colored). — This 



292 



RELIGIOUS HISTORY. 



church was organized in March, 1865, by 
Col. Woods, a white man, whose devotion 
and earnestness in the cause among the 
colored people deserves much commenda- 
tion. He remained their pastor for the first 
3'ear, during which period meetings were held 
in a small brick dwelling house on Chest- 
nut street. In 1866 a frame church 40x65 
feet was erected on the corner of Seventh 
and Oak streets, the present site of the 
church building. This was torn down in 
1880, when the erection of a large brick 
church was commenced and completed, but 
not without a severe trial, for on June 9, 
1886, a terrible- cyclone passed over the 
city, doing much damage, wholly destroy- 
ing the new and handsome church, then 
practically finished, occasioning a loss of 
upward of $7,000. This calamity, it 
seems, was only a test of the zeal and de- 
votion to God's work of this people, for, 
undaunted, with the aid of subscriptions 
and some help from outside sources, they 
at once proceeded to clear away the 
debris and commenced building the beauti- 
ful structure now in use. It is built of 
brick, is 60x85 feet, has a seating capacity 
for 900, and cost $6,500. Rev. Green 
McFarland became pastor in 1866, and re- 
mained until his death, which occurred July 
9, 1881. Rev. Dennis Rouse, the present 
pastor, took charge in October, 1881, and 
under his faithful ministry the church is 
growing steadily. During his ministry over 
300 members have been received. The 
membership now numbers 780. The 
Sunday-school has an average attendance of 
175, with Mr. C. H. Lancaster superin- 
tendent. 

Missionary Baptist Church {colored). — 
This church was organized in 1870, with a 
membership of seventy-five. The congre- 
gation first worshiped in a small frame 
church on the present site of the nevy 



building, which is located on the northwest 
corner of Virginia street and Twelfth 
avenue. It is a neat frame church, cost 
about $1,200, and was built in 1883. The 
pastors have been Revs. Grant Clay, 
Dennis Rouse, Jordan Barnett, Henry 
Beecher, D. T. Carraway and George 
Dorsey, who is the present pastor. There 
are 125 members and a good Sunda\--school 
of 50. 

McFarland Chapel [Colored). — This 
church, named in honor of Rev. Green Mc- 
Farland, was organized October 15, 18S2, 
by about 100 members who withdrew from 
the " Liberty Baptist church," and called 
Rev. W. H. Anderson to the pastorate, who 
still remains. Its first meetings were held 
at the superior court room, on Locust s'.reet, 
and later in a building on the corner of Fifth 
and Cherry streets until their new building 
was finished. The new chapel is of moder- 
ate size, built of brick and together with the 
ground cost $6,000. It was finished and 
dedicated in 1887. The membership num- 
bers over 300 and the Sunday-school has an 
attendance of eighty, with A. G. Smith, su- 
perintendent. Rev. W. H. Anderson, a 
learned gentleman, greatly beloved by his 
congregation, in his labors here is meeting 
with deserved success. Previous to coming 
here, he was pastor of the Third Baptist 
church, Terre Haute, for ten years. 

JVew Bethel Baptist Church {Colored).— 
This branch was organized several years 
ago. The small congregation of about 
twent}' members worship in a rented room 
on Campbell street. Rev. H. T. Green is 
the pastor. 

Catholic Churches. — It was a noticeable 
feature of the Cathohc priesthood in the 
pioneer days that wherever they found a 
community, no matter how small or how 
widely scattered, wherein they could estab- 
lish a mission, there the cross was erected 



CATHOLIC CHURCH. 



293 



and the protecting care of the church spread 
over the inliabitants. No hardship was 
accounted too severe and no sacrifice too 
great to stand in the way of the propagation 
of a religion which the)- beheved to declare 
the voice and will of God. The first infor- 
mation of any Catholics residing in the vicin- 
ity of Evansville, was communicated in the 
fall of 1S36, to the Right Rev. Gabriel Brute, 
first bishop of Vincennes, by Rev. Father 
Bateux, and the companions of his journey, 
who lodged on their arrival here, at the 
Mansion House, then kept by Francis Linck, 
a citizen well remembered to this day and 
esteemed by all the older inhabitants of the 
city. Mr. Linck, born in 1774, was a native 
of Stockheim, in Wurtemburg, and in 1836 
was the only Catholic in Evansville, except 
perhaps the late John Walsh. In March, 
1837, Very Rev. Father De la Ilielandiere, 
vicar-general of the Rev. Bishop, accompa- 
nied by Rev. Father Shawe, visited Evans- 
ville with a view of establishing a mission, 
and on the 3rd day of May, following. Rev. 
Father Anthon}- De'ydier was dispatched to 
take charge of the mission. 

Father Deydier was born in France, 
April 30, 1788, and was ordained a priest 
at the cathedral of Vincennes, March 25, 
1837. Very few knew that he had reached 
the full strength of his manhood when he 
took upon himself holy orders, and was 
placed in charge of the mission in this city. 
While here he lived a blameless and well 
spent life, unobtrusive in his deportment, but 
with a kind word for all. After almost a 
year's residence at the house of Mr. Linck, 
in January, 183S, he built a lodge room, 
10x15 ^^'^^ ™ svic, at the corner of Fifth and 
Chestnut streets. Here he made his abode, 
using his little room as a dwelling and for 
chapel purposes for about three years. For 
Sabbath day services larger rooms at the 
homes of Catholics were occasionally used. 



He labored heroically among his people, 
did much missionary work in the country 
adjacent to Evansville, and in 1838 made 
a successful trip to the east to raise funds 
for the erection of a church building. The 
histor}' of Catholicism in Evansville since that 
time is the history of a wonderful growth. 
The worthy priest who stood by the church 
in its infancy, lived to see it become rich and 
powerful with a numerous priesthood within 
the territory where he once labored alone — 
lived to see a sturdy oak grown from the 
acorn planted by his hands. When old age 
and increasing inhrmities had impaired his 
usefulness, he retired from the active minis- 
try and, returning to Vincennes, passed the 
evening of his life in comparative rest, 
greatly beloved by all who knew him. His 
death occurred February 11, 1864. 

T/ic Assioiipfi'oii Pan's/i. — The Assump- 
tion parish was the first Catholic congrega- 
tion organized south of Vincennes, and 
remained the sole church until 1851, when 
the Holy Trinity parish was organized for 
German-speaking Catholics. 

In 1839 a lot on Second street upon which 
to build Assumption church was secured for 
the sum of $1,200. In 1840, August 5, the 
corner-stone was laid by the French Bishop 
of Nancy, Monseigneur Forbin Jeanson, 
who was then on a visit to the diocese of 
Vincennes. Rev. Stephen Badin, the first 
priest ordained in the United States, 
preached the sermon on the occasion. In 
that year Rev. Roman Weinzoepfel, just 
ordained at Vincennes, was sent as assistant 
to Father Deydier. In 1849 Rev. Patrick 
McDermott became the assistant priest of As- 
sumption parish; he celebrated his first mass 
in Evansville, Christmas da}', 1849, and be- 
came pastor in 1859. The church property 
on Second street, through the instrumental- 
ity of Capt. F. P. Carson, was sold for 
$50,000, of which $5,000 was due the 



m 



RELIGIOUS HISTORY. 



bishop and paid to him; and in April, 187 1, 
the present site of Assumption church, 
corner of Seventh and Vine streets, was 
purchased. Work on the present church 
began in 1872, and on the 7th da}' of July of 
that year the corner-stone was laid b}' 
Bishop de St. Palais. Very Rev. Bede 
O'Connor was the orator. Father McDer- 
mott built the church on the grand scale in 
which it is now seen. He labored with zeal and 
saintly ardor until 1879, when, much to the 
regret of his parishioners, he was appointed 
pastor of St. Patrick's church, Indianapolis, 
where he died September 13, 1882. From 
the date of removal of Father McDermott 
until the appointment of the present Very 
Rev. pastor, about five months. Rev. John 
Gueguen, then chaplain of St. Mary's Hos- 
pital, had charge of Assumption church. 
Verv Rev. Eugene F. McBarron took 
charge November 7, 1879. Under his ad- 
ministration many additions and improve- 
ments to the parish grounds and buildings 
have been made. Among these are a fine 
hall and school building, a pastoral residence, 
repairing and frescoing the church and the 
purchase of twenty feet of additional 
ground. These represent an outlay of 
nearly $20,000. 

The parish grounds extend 200 feet on 
Seventh street and 150 feet on Vine street. 
All the buildings front on the former street. 
On the corner stands the pastoral residence, 
a tastefully constructed and happily arranged 
house, costing upward of ^4,000. About 
the center of the grounds stands the stately 
and massive Assumption church, which cost 
$73,000. The next building is the Sister's 
house, representing $2,000; and lastl}' the 
Assumption Hall and school building which 
is worth over $7,000. These buildings, 
improvements, grounds, furniture and other 
parish property are worth the large sum of 
$123,000. The debt is only $13,000. 



Assumption Church is cruciform and of 
Romanesque style of architecture, 60x90 
feet in the transept, 52 feet to ceiling and 
149 feet long. It is built of brick, with stone 
trimmings, and is reputed one of the most 
substantial and beautiful church edifices in 
the west. 

The Assumption schools consist of four 
rooms, three of which are taught by the 
Sisters of Providence, who live in the 
adjoining residence, and one, the higher 
grade in the male department, by Mr. John 
F. Boyle. He has held the position since 
1885, and succeeded Mr. T. A. Crosson, 
who taught from 18S2 until that time. 
There are 225 children in attendance. The 
building erected in 1 881, is of brick, 44x84 
feet, two stories, with the upper floor in use 
as the Assumption Hall. The parish now 
has 200 families, and the trustees are John 
McDonagh, C. J. Murphy, Eugene McGrath, 
M. Gorman, Charles McCarthy, and J. J. 
Nolan. 

Very Rev. Eugene F. McBarron, dean, 
member of the bishop's council and immov- 
able pastor of the church of the Assump- 
tion, was born near New Albany, Floyd 
county, Ind., June 18, 1844. He pursued 
his studies at St. Thomas' Seminary, near 
Bardstown, Ky., at Notre Dame University, 
at St. Meinrad's Benedictine Abbey, and 
finally at the Grand Seminary of St. Sulpice, 
Montreal, Canada, where he finished theol- 
ogy and learned the French language. He 
was ordained priest at Vincennes, June 8, 
1871, by Bishop de St. Palais. His first 
mission was at St. Mary's of the Woods, 
Vigo count}', where he remained eight 
}ears, maintaining and improving the high 
moral status of his congregation. In 1879 
Bishop Chatard appointed him pastor of the 
Church of the Assumption. By his learn- 
ing, business capacity and financial abilit}', 
he is admirabh' fitted for his responsible 



CATHOLIC CHURCH. 



295 



position. He adds to his knowledge a spirit 
of retirement, and to bis zeal an excellent 
judgment. His preaching is plain and for- 
cible, while Iiis methods of teaching youth 
adn expounding the Christian doctrine are 
xevy happy, making frequent use of com- 
parisons, and often employing odd words 
and phrases to impress a special point upon 
his auditors. He is immovably firm, just in 
his decisions, zealous in his labors, and not 
above taking advice. In the management 
of the financial and business interests of his 
conirreiiation he has been signally success- 
ful. In consequence of these characteristics 
there are few priests more worthy, better 
appreciated or more loved than Very Rev. 
Father McBarron. 

Rev. Patrick H. Rowan, assistant pastor 
of the church, was born March 14, 1859, 
studied at St.'Meinrad's Benedictine Abbey 
from 1874 to 1878, and thereafter for over 
two years in the American college at Rome. 
His health failing, he returned to the United 
States, and was ordained priest at Baltimore 
by Cardinal Archbishop Gibbons, May 13, 
1885, and on the 7th of June following cele- 
brated his first mass. On June 20, 1885, 
he arrived at Evansville, commissioned by 
Rt. Rev. Dr. Chatard for his present posi- 
tion in Assumption parish. Father Rowan 
knows the German and Italian languages 
well, is possessed of an excellent education 
and many charming qualities of mind and 
heart. 

//('/)' Trinllx Par'nh was not regarded 
as a separate congregation until 185 1, when 
the new church of that name was solemnly 
blessed in the presence of the right reverend 
bishop, and thereafter used exclusively by 
the German-speaking Catholics. Previously 
Catholics of all nationalities attended the 
Assumption church. For several years 
separate services continued to be held there 
for the Germans, and Rev. Fathers Charles 



Oppermann, Martin Stahl, Conrad Schnied- 
erjans and Roman Weinzoepfel succeeded 
each other in charge of the Germans and as 
assistants to Father Deydier. The first 
resident pastor for the Germans was Rev. 
Francis X. Kutassy, who arrived in 1848. 
It was he who organized Holy Trinity par- 
ish and built the church. 

In the work of building the new church 
he was ably assisted by the following gentle- 
men, who composed his first building com- 
mittee: B. Nurre, H. Ahlering, H. Her- 
mann, M. Nies, Fr. Ziegenhagen, and H. 
Rechtin. In 1849 the corner-stone was 
laid by Bishop de St. Palais, but on account 
of the ravages of the cholera the work was 
not completed until 1851. In 1855 a par- 
sonage was built at a cost of $1,500. In 
1866 Rev. J. Ferd. Viefhaus was sent as 
assistant to Father Kutassy. Stained glass 
windows were put in in 1867, at a cost of 
$2,700. In 1868 two large vestry rooms 
were built as an addition to the church, at a 
cost of $3,000. In 1873 the front of the 
church was newly built, and a grand tower 
and spire erected. The edifice was then of 
these dimensions-. Length, 147 feet; width, 
70 feet; height to ceiling, 35 feet. The 
spire stands 202 feet. In the tower is a 
chime of nine bells, which cost $5,000. In 
1872 Rev. Charles Loescher became the 
assistant priest, Rev. Father Viefhaus hav- 
ing undertaken the work of building up St. 
Mary's parish. In 1873 Rev. James Merckl 
became assistant. On the nth of October 
1874, the golden jubilee of the noble pastor, 
Rev. F. X. Kutassy, was celebrated with 
pomp, and as a sort of finish to his labors, 
for he died on the 27th of that month, as- 
sisted in his last iiours by his dear friend, 
Father McDermott, who administered to 
him the last sacraments. He was buried in 
the new St. Joseph's cemetery, the first 
priest there interred, and a grand monument 



396 



RELIGIOUS HISTORY. 



was erected to his memory in 1875. Rev. 
Father Merckl was in charge for seven 
months, or until the arrival of Rev. P. J. J. 
Duddenhausen as pastor, May 19, 1875, to 
whom was given Rev. A. Oster as his as- 
sistant in July of that year. Father Dud- 
denhausen began many reforms in the 
congregation, adopted business methods, 
and celebrated the public service of the 
church with pomp and solemnity. He was 
given Rev. William Bultmann as his assist- 
ant, July, 1877, and in 1880 Father F. B. 
Luebberman became his assistant, taking 
Father Bultmann's place, that reverend gen- 
tleman having undertaken the work of 
organizing St. Boniface's parish. 

Attention was paid to the matter of edu- 
cation as early as 185 1, when, with the 
organization of Holy Trinity parish, its first 
little brick school-house was built. In 1853 
the Sisters of Providence came to teach the 
children of the parish. In i860 a school 
was built especially for female children, and 
in 1863 a residence was built for the sisters. 
A clearing out of all the old buildings took 
place in 1869, when the present school 
building was erected. It is 58x105 feet, 
three stories, with the upper floor used as a 
hall. Mr. Blaes, of Piqua, Ohio, teaches the 
higher school. St. Joseph's Academy, owned 
by the Sisters of Providence, is a separate 
institution, situated on Division street. It is 
three stories in height and has se\eral 
boarding scholars and daj- pupils. Rev. 
Father Duddenhausen died in 1886, and 
was buried in St. Joseph's cemetery. His zeal 
and labors were great, and he was mourned 
by his congregation. He was born in Prus- 
sia, June 15, 1842, emigrated to the United 
States, September 20, 1863, and was or- 
dained priest December 23, 1865. He was 
pastor at Lawrenceburg from October, 
1870, until Maj', 1S75, when he became 
pastor of Holy Trinity parish, Evansville. 



He was succeeded a little over a year ago 
by Rev. H.John Diestel, who, for nearly a 
quarter of a century, had been the pastor of 
St. Philip's, in Posey county. He was born 
in Hanover, German}', October 7, 1838. 
Having pursued his preparatory studies, he 
emigrated to the United States in 1857, and 
entered St. Charles' Seminar\- at Vincennes, 
where he was ordained priest by Bishop de 
St. Palais, December 21, 1864. Father 
Diestel is a portly man, of soldierly bearing. 
In the pulpit he is of great force, and is 
known as an eloquent and earnest preacher. 

His assistant is Rev. Francis Siepen, a 
native of Evansville, a young man of much 
promise. He studied in Austria, and was 
ordained June 26, 1887, by Bishop Chatard. 
He is a zealous, useful man. The congre- 
gation, even after giving up 200 families to 
the new St. Anthony's parish, is yet the 
largest in Evansville, having over 400 fam- 
ilies, or nearly 3,000 souls in all. 

The recent frescoing of the church cost 
$3,200. The parish grounds are at the 
corner of Third and Vine streets, and are 
150x225 feet. The parish debt is $16,650.55, 
and the value of the property is over $125,- 
000. There are over 400 children attend- 
ing the parish schools. 

The present trustees are: F. Harnish- 
feger, Joseph Hoffman, Joseph Sabee, Val- 
entine Schmitz, sr., J. Pierre and John 
Erthal. 

SL Mary's Pan's//.— St. Mary's is the 
third of the Catholic congregations formed 
in Evansville, and dates back to 1866, the 
year of the appointment of its present pas- 
tor by Bishop de Saint Palais. The first 
work done bjr the pastor, Rev. John Ferdi- 
nand Viefhaus, after the purchase of the 
present site of the parish buildings, was the 
erection of a two-story brick school-house 
at a cost of $5,000. This building is at the 
southeast corner of Cherry and Upper Sixth 



CATHOLIC CHURCH. 



397 



streets, where, on the former street, the 
parish grounds extend 240 feet, by 145 feet 
on the hitter. Tlie next of the parish build- 
ings is the church, a brick structure of im- 
posing architecture and dimensions. The 
corner-stone was laid by Bishop de St. 
Palais, October 28, 1866. Sixteen priests 
were present, together with a vast concourse 
of people. Very Rev. Bede O'Connor and 
others preached on the occasion. It was 
finished and dedicated by Bishop de St. 
Palais in 1S67, and was used for the tu-st 
time January i, 1S68. It is Gothic in style, 
and its dimensions are 66x140 feet, its cen- 
ter ceiling being fifty feet high. The fres- 
coing is tasteful, the altars elegant and in 
keeping with the style of architecture. The 
spire, surmounted by a golden cross, stands 
175 feet, and in the tower is a chime of three 
bells, noted for size and sweetness of tone. 
St. Marj-'s church has cost $60,000. 

The pastoral residence, a commodious 
two-story brick structure, which cost 
$6,200, was built in 1881. The girls' school 
and sisters' house, a three-story brick edi- 
fice, 45x80, cost $14,000, and was erected 
in 1 87 1. It accommodates the female por- 
tion of the 309 children of the parish who 
attend their own Cathohc schools. The Sis- 
ters of St. Francis are in charge, while the 
boys' school is under the direction of Prof. 
Fred. Schonlan. 

From a report made to Bishop Chatard 
in 1880 by the reverend pastor, it appears 
that during the thirteen years from 1867 to 
1880, St. Mary's congregation paid out for 
improvements, interest, salaries, etc., the 
very large sum of $152,000. This mani- 
fests the accord with which priest and peo- 
ple labor for the common good and the 
advancement of religion and education. 
The debt is onl}- $18,000. There is a mem- 
bership of 255 families, representing 1,500. 
Rev. John Ferdinand Viefhaus is a 



native of German}-, born at Essen, Janu- 
ary 5, 1838; pursued his studies at the 
Universities of Munster, Tubingen and Bonn; 
was ordained by Bishop Baudri, April 27, 
1862; emigrated to the United States in 
1865, and the following year was sent by 
Bishop de St. Palais to Evansville, as assist- 
ant to Rev. Father Kutassy, then pastor of 
Holy Trinity parish. In that year (1866), 
St. Mar3'"s parish was created, and he was 
appointed its pastor. He is a learned and 
zealous priest, and enjoys the reputation of 
being an eloquent and forceful speaker. 

Sf. Boniface's Parish was organized on 
January, 1880. The first move in the crea- 
tion of St. Boniface's parish, was a meeting 
of prominent Catholic Germans at the resi- 
dence of Mr. Charles Schulte, on Wabash 
avenue, October 20, 1878. Besides Mr. 
Schulte, there were present at the meeting 
Messrs. Henry Reitman, Adam Helfrich, 
John T. Rechtin and August Rosenberger. 
A letter setting forth tiie facts was sent to 
the bishop, and block sixtj-three on Wabash 
avenue, 400x250 feet, worth $10,000, w^as 
purchased for $5,000, as the site of the 
parish buildings. On January 4, 1880, 
Bishop Chatard visited Evansville, received 
the deed to the property from the gentlemen 
named, created the St. Boniface's parish, and 
appointed as its pastor Rev. William Bult- 
mann, who had been assistant priest at Holy 
Trinity church. At the meeting of inter- 
ested Catholics where these things were 
done, $10,000 were promptly pledged in 
support of the new parish. Work was be- 
gun on the temporary frame church Febru- 
ary I, of that year, and on the following 
Sunday, February 6, high mass and vespers 
were sunc in the same. After two months 
an addition had to be made to accommodate 
the people, and tliis wooden structure, less 
than a year later, had to give way to the 
present grand edifice. The corner-stone of 



298 



RELIGIOUS HISTORY. 



the present St. Boniface's church was laid 
with imposing ceremonies, September 4, 
18S1, bv Rev. Roman Weinzoepfel. 
Father Duddenhausen preached. All 
the Catholics of Evansville were out 
in their thousands, and the day was a mem- 
orable one. The work on the new church 
was pushed so rapidl}- that the sacred edi- 
fice was dedicated by the Rt. Rev. Bishop 
April 27 of the following year. Rev. J. 
Ferdinand Viefhaus, pastor of St. Mar3''s 
church, delivered the dedicator^' sermon. 
The church presents a grand and imposing 
front view, is 70x147 feet and its two spires 
stand 202 feet. In its towers are three bells, 
weighing 3,700 pounds. In 1885 a splendid 
school building was erected by the parish at 
a cost of $10,000. The first frame school 
was built by Mr. Adam Helfrich, and its use 
donated by him for a year. In the begin- 
ning the number of school children did not 
exceed fifty, but 220 are now in attendance. 
The school accommodations have been en- 
larged and improved, by the erection of 
a beautiful school building with six rooms, 
each 24x36 feet, spacious halls and an im- 
posing exterior. The Ursuline Sisters, from 
Louisville, are in charge. Bishop Chatard 
dedicated the school building December, 
18S5. The number of families in the parish 
is 210, and the number of souls is about 
1,400. Not including a pastoral residence, 
which will soon be undertaken, the value of 
improvements and grounds of St. Boniface's 
parish is nearly $100,000. The people are 
generous, and take a just pride in their 
parish and its institutions, while their pastor 
is devoted, laborious and lovable. 

Rev. William Bultmann was the assist- 
ant at Holy Trinity church from July 17, 
1877, to January 6, 18S1, when he was ap- 
pointed to his present charge. In the great 
work of building up the St. Boniface's con- 
gregation, and presiding over the erection 



of its elegant church and school, Father 
Bultmann showed his talent for directinsj 
temporalities. His correct judgment and 
easy methods are quite notable. He is popu- 
lar both with his people and with non-Cath- 
olics; is unassuming but zealous, and his de- 
votion to his charge is great. He was born 
at Vincennes, February 2, 1854, ^^'^^^ edu- 
cated at St. Meinrad's Benedictine Abbey 
and at Indianapolis, where the Diocesan 
seminar}' was then, was ordained at St. 
Meinrad's, May 28, 1877, by Bishop de 
St. Palais and almost immediately entered 
the vineyard to satisfy his cherished desires 
of saving souls and preserving and spread- 
ing the faith. 

Sacred Heart Parish. — The Sacred 
Heart Parish is the fifth organized in Evans- 
ville. Within its present limits there were 
found fifty families in 1885, for whom it was 
a great hardship to attend the Assuniption 
chui-ch, more than a mile distant. On learn- 
ing the facts the right reverend bishop con- 
sented to the building of a church for these 
people, which would be, for a time, a sort 
of chapel of ease to Assumption church. 
Very Rev. E. F. McBarron and Rev. P. H. 
Rowan, pastors of Assumption parish, began 
the good work in June, 1885. During their 
tour collecting funds for the new church 
they were cordially received by all the peo- 
ple, who r)ianifested a very generous spirit. 
Mr. John A. Reitz, a prominent, wealthy 
citizen of another parish, donated not onl}- 
the ground, 75-^'i5o feet, but also the church 
building, 32x85 feet, the construction of 
which he personally superintended. He has 
recently made another donation of ground 
for the proposed Sacred Heart school, in- 
structing the pastor, Rev. P. R. Fitzpatrick, 
to go on with the work and call upon him 
for the money. 

Rev. P. R. Fitzpatrick took charge of 
the Sacred Heart parish December 4, 1887, 



CATHOLIC CHURCH. 



^99 



and its independence dates from that time. 
The church was dedicated November 15, 
1S85. There are now over sixtj- families 
in the parish and about forty school children. 
There is not a cent of debt, and the busi- 
ness of the congregation goes on very 
smoothly. 

Rev. P. R. Fitzpatrick was born in the 
County Carlow, Ireland, in 1843. He be- 
gan his studies for the priesthood in his 
native country, emigrated to the United 
States when quite a youth, and was ordained 
priest at Vincennes, December 21, 1864, by 
Rt. Rev. Maurice de St. Palais. He has 
rendered effective service in the priesthood 
at Madison, Vevay, and Indianapolis. He 
has a warm nature, a generous heart and a 
bright, well-stored mind. Because of his 
honesty of purpose and outspokenness he is 
admired and much beloved bv the thousands 
who know him. 

St. Ant/iony's Parish has been recently 
created. Its first pastor. Rev. Joseph Schuck, 
was appointed March 10, 1888. It is in- 
tended to erect a school building, which, for 
the present, is to answer the purpose of a 
church also. It is to cost $10,000, and will 
be 44x100 feet, forty feet high. The site 
of St. Anthony's church is at the corner of 
First and Second avenues and Columbia 
street. It is 150x250 feet, and is the gift 
of Mrs. Magdalene Reis, a wealthy and 
charitable lady. The parish has upward of 
200 families. 

Rev. Joseph Schuck, a native of Ger- 
manv, born July 27, 1850, emigrated to the 
United States in 1869, and after studying for 
this diocese was ordained priest at Vin- 
cennes by Bishop de St. Palais, November 
2, 1873. He has had charge of St. Joseph's 
church, Vanderburgh county, and during the 
past two jears has been at Millhousen. His 
appointment to his new charge is an earnest 
of its success, as he is not only practical in 



business affairs, but is a worker and a man 
of zeal. 

GcniHin hutlicraii Trinity Church. — 
Among the Germans who came to this city 
on the tide of immigration that poured in 
about 1845, there were many who had been 
taught to worship God in accordance with 
the teachings of Martin Luther. A leader 
of these Christians was Rev. Andrew Sau- 
pert, who enjoys the proud distinction of 
being the oldest Christian minister in contin- 
uous service in Evansville. He has served 
his contrretration with (jreat zeal and devo- 
tion for more than fort}' years. The church 
in his charge was organized in 1847, since 
which time it has been blessed and pros- 
pered to such an extent that its membership 
now numbers about 1,000, including the 
children, comprising many of the leading 
citizens of the cit}'. In 1871 the congrega- 
tion erected the handsome church edifice 
now in use and standing on Illinois street, 
between Third and Fourth avenues, at a 
cost of $25,000. It is 90x45 feet in size, 
built in Gothic style, seats 700 persons, has 
a steeple 145 feet high, the brick tow'er ris- 
ing 82 feet heavenward. 

Gcrmui Lutheran St. E nianucl" i Church. 
— The congregation which established the 
church of this name was a part of that 
brought together by Rev. Andrew Saupert. 
Because of differences of doctrinal belief 
among the members a schism was created 
in the church, which led to the foundation 
of this societ}' in 1854, in which year a 
commodious brick church was built on the 
corner of First avenue and Franklin street, 
which is continued in use. At first the 
church was connected with the Evangelical 
Synod of North America, but is at this time 
connected with the Missouri Synod. The 
pastors who have served this church suc- 
cessively, have been Rev. Risch, J. Dirk- 
sen, who died while in charge of the church ; 



300 



RELIGIOUS HISTORY. 



Chr. Young, J. A. Reidenbach, J. Bank, 
Henry Koenig, who served about twelve 
years, and George Bachmann, the present 
efficient and beloved pastor. Rev. Bach- 
mann came to this field of labor November 
24, 1876, from Cincinnati and Reading, 
Ohio, and under his zealous work there has 
been a stead}' growth until now the mem- 
bership numbers 600. A successful day 
school is maintained by the church, where 
about seventy-five children receive instruc- 
tion. . The list of members comprises many 
prominent families, and the trustees are R. 
Muenstermann, Henry Koerber and Will- 
iam Bussv- In Perrv township there is a 
filial of this church, which is in charge of 
Rev. Bachmann. On Virginia street, be- 
tween Heidelbach and Elsas avenues, a 
neat brick church or school building was 
erected in 1887 by St. Paul's Evangelical 
Lutheran church. This church was organ- 
ized August 19, 18S7, and has been minis- 
tered to by Rev. Bachmann. The present 
building is designed to be used as a school, 
and the present purpose is to erect a church 
edifice on the corner of Elsas avenue and 
Virginia street. It is agreeable to note that 
between Trinity and St. Emanuel's church 
there is now great unity, and the two con- 
gregations, with their pastors, work harmo- 
niously in building up their Master's 
kingdom. 

German Jivaiio-eliral Associafioii (^Salciii). 
— In 1844, Mr. Butz, a Pennsylvanian by 
birth, who had been a member of the Evan- 
gelical Association in his native state, came 
to Evansville and began to labor for the 
church of his choice, his efforts being 
blessed with signal success. But ow^ng to 
some difficulties the work was abandoned 
until a few years later, when an old church 
pioneer b}' the name of Rev. Jacob Trome- 
ter, took up the work again by preaching 
in the house of Mr. Butz. Rev. Trometer's 



successor was Rev. Philip Bretsch, who at 
the close of his pastorate reported six fami- 
lies as members. Because of discourage- 
ment the work was again entirely 
abandoned, until 1852, when a new class 
was organized through the labors of Revs. 
Wiethaup and Schermaier, who traveled in 
the counties adjoining Evansville, doing 
missionarj^ work. At the annual conference 
in 1853, a mission was established at Evans- 
ville, and Rev. George Messner was ap- 
pointed as first missionarv. He refused to 
accept the appointment and the mission was 
served during the year by ministers travel- 
ing in Gibson and Warrick counties. During 
this year initiator}- steps were taken toward 
the erection of a church, for which purpose 
a lot was bought on the corner of Division 
and Eighth streets, for $360. 

In 1854 Rev. Frederick Wiethaup was 
stationed here. During this year the 
church was built, and dedicated on the 2nd 
day of April, Rev. Christ Glaus presiding 
elder, officiating. In 1855 Rev. Joseph 
Fischer was pastor; under his administration 
a parsonage was built. Subsequent pastors 
have been: Revs. M. Hoehn, 1856-57; 
Jacob Drometer, 1858; Henry Kramer, 
1859; ^■^^ ^- Schafer, 1860-61; John Fuchs, 
1862-63 ;M. Mayer, 1864-65; H. L. Fischer, 
1866-67; C. F. Mathies, 1868; Frederick 
Wiethaup and J. A. Maier. 

In 1872 Rev. H. L. Fischer assumed the 
charge; during his administration the church 
was rebuilt to the present size. Later pas- 
tors have been: Revs. M. Hoehn, M. 
Mayer, H. Haas, Jacob Mode, William G. 
Braechly, C. Stier, E. Bohlander, and N. J. 
Platz, the present pastor. 

At its organization the members of the 
church were Jacob Blauth and wife, Bar- 
bara Blauth, Henry Kraft and Catherine 
Kraft; in 1857 there were 33 members; by 
1863 the number had grown to 70; and at 



GERMAN CHURCHES. 



SOI 



present there are 105 in full connection. 
The Sunday-school has ninety-five scholars 
and officers. The value of church property 
is $5,000. 

Z/oii's Germtin Ev.ingclical Church. — On 
New Year's day, 1849, with thirty-five 
members, this church organization began 
its life. Rev. Henry Toelke, a devout man, 
and ever faithful in the work of building up 
God's kingdom, was iirst called to the pas- 
torate, and continued to serve the congrega- 
tion in that capacity for four years, during 
wiiich time he accomplished great good in 
la\ing strong foundations for a large con- 
gregation. The society is composed of 
citizens native to German}' or of German 
descent, and has been so prospered that its 
membership now numbers 250; or, counting 
all men, women and children who regularly 
worship at its altar, about 600 souls niay be 
said to belon<r to it. In its faith and form of 
government it approaches those pertaining 
in the Presbyterian church. The regular 
pastors who followed Rev. Toelke were 
Rev. H. Jumpe, who served in that relation 
but one year, Rev. H. Mangert, who re- 
mained but six months. Rev. F. Linschaw, 
who remained four }'ears, accomplishing 
much for the welfare of the church, and 
Rev. Christian Schrenck, a successful min- 
ister devoted to the cause of Christ and be- 
loved by all, who for twenty-six years 
expounded the word, reaping a rich harvest 
by his zealous and untiring effort, and 
bringing a large measure of prosperit}- to 
the church. The present pastor is Rev. 
John Frick, who has been in charge during 
the past six years. His ability as a scholar 
and his worth as a man ha\e given him a 
strong hold upon the affections of the peo- 
ple. The present church building, attractive 
in appearance and commodious in dimen- 
sions, on Fifth street, between Ingle and 
Bond, was erected in 1S55 at a cost of 



$5,000.00. The Sabbath school numbers 
200. The followinfT named fjentlemen are 
the present trustees of the church: J. II. 
Roelker, William Rahm, sr., William Suhr- 
heinrich, John Greiss, and Adolph Goeke. 

St. yohii's German Evangelical Church. — 
In 1850 eighty-nine families congregated 
themselves together, and organized a church 
under the name of the German United 
Evangelical St. John's church. This organ- 
ization adopted a liberal faith and the con- 
stitution was made to recognize two classes 
of members, actual and nominal, the former 
including those who rendered assistance at 
the founding or building of the church, or 
paid the sum of $25.00 after its establish- 
ment, and the latter, those who pay a 3'early 
sum for current expenses. The first services 
of worship were held in the old court-house, 
under the direction of Rev. H. C. Straeter. 
Preparations for the building of a church 
edifice were at once commenced and on the 
1st da}' of June, 1S51, the corner stone of 
the handsome and commodious structure, at 
the corner of Third and Ingle streets, now 
in use, was laid. The church was completed 
in the following year, and with appropriate 
ceremonies was dedicated on the 2Sth day of 
November, 1852. At that time Rev. Theo- 
dore Kilingsohr was pastor. From Novem- 
ber, 1853, to June, 1S54, Mr. Rudolph Kehr 
conducted services. His successor, in 
August, 1S54, "^"^^ Rev. William Schmitt, 
who retained the pastorate until the close of 
the year 1858. Out of the meagre records 
of that time, it is ascertained that the mem- 
bership numbered 152 in 1857. From 1859, 
to May, 1864, Rev. Carl Kretzschmar was 
the pa ;tor, and under his wise and zealous 
administration the membership grew to 340. 

In Mav, 1864, the p.-^sent pastor. Rev. 
C. L. Chr. Runck, assumed the charge, 
and at once new life and spirit were breathed 
Into the church, a rapid improvement in its 



S02 



RELiaiOUS HISTORY. 



spiritual and temporal welfare resulting 
from his efficient labors. At that time the 
church was burdened with a debt of more 
than $4,000, the payment of which was soon 
provided for. In 1)565, ^^e lots forming the 
present site of the parsonage and school- 
house were purchased; in 1866, a beautiful 
parsonage was built, and two years later, a 
commodious school-house for the use of the 
church, was erected. In 1866, a new organ 
was placed in the church, and in 1872, a gal- 
lery-, new altar and other appurtenances were 
added to the church interior. Up to this time 
the walls had been bare, but now they were 
frescoed and the entire interior generally 
adorned and beautified. Ten j'ears later the 
church interior was again renovated and re- 
paired at a cost of $ir,ooo, b}' which it was 
made one of the most beautiful churches in 
the state of Indiana. These improvements 
were made possible by the wise business 
management of the pastor, a constant growth 
in the membership and through the efforts 
of two church societies established in 1867, 
one composed of the young ladies and the 
other of the elderly ladies of the church. 
By his power of organization the present 
pastor has gathered about him a large flock, 
numbering 650 families, and probably not 
less than 3,000 souls, all respectable mem- 
bers of the community, of high standing 
The Sabbath-school has an average attend- 
ance of 350 children. 

Pastor Runck is a man of large mental 
attainments and ranks among the best pulpit 
orators in southern Indiana. He is a pro- 
found thinker, a good reasoner, logical and 
eloquent in the presentation of his sermons. 
He goes to the pulpit without manuscript or 
notes, but his utterances show deep and 
thorough study. When setting out to e.\- 
pound a doctrine he continues until the sub- 
ject has been exhaustivel_y considered and so 
clearly elucidated that all ma}' understand. 



Frequent and apt quotations from works of 
science, art, poetry, and general literature 
as well as from the Bible adorn his sermons. 
The German Inaguage is used exclusively 
in his pulpit work. The largeness of his 
congregation is an eloquent testimonial of 
his power and popularitv. For almost a 
quarter of a centur}' he has occupied this 
field of labor and all who know him love 
him and delight to do him honor. 

C. L. Chr. Runck, minister of the gos- 
pel and preacher at the German United 
Evangelical St. John's church in Evansville, 
Ind., is the son of a teacher and sur- 
veyor, born on the 2 2d of April, 1836, at 
Nuenschweiler, in the Bavarian Rheinpfalz. 
He had his preparatory education in the 
gymnasium (college) at Zweibruecken, 
Rheinpfalz, and made his academical 
studies at the University of Utrecht, Hol- 
land. Coming to this countrj- in i860, he 
made his pastoral debut at Black Creek, 
Welland county, Canada West; after two 
years he was called by a congregation of 
North Buffalo, the twelfth ward of Buffalo, 
N. Y., where he for two years did pastoral 
work to the same satisfaction of all as in his 
first place. In Mav, 18 64, he came to 
Evansville, Ind., where he has built up the 
St. John's congregation to the largest of the 
city. As a man and citizen he stands in high 
esteem, respected by all denominations for 
his religious tolerance, and loved b}- all his 
parishioners. According to his science and 
high scholarship, he is a very eloquent 
speaker and powerful orator, besides that 
his name is favorably known over the 
whole United States as the author of 
" Polyhymnia," a collection of church cho- 
ruses for mixed voices with text by him- 
self. He looks on a great success in the 
past, and it is to be hoped that he may do 
more blessed work in the future. He was 
married at Erie, Penn., September 9, 1861, 



GERMAN CHURCHES. 



303 



to Miss Catharine Blass, who was born in 
German}- July 17, 1843. She is a woman 
of extended education ; has written several 
Sunday-school books, among wliich is 
" Lost Princes," that has proved a great 
help in Sabbath school work. For many 
years she was president of the ladies' soci- 
ety of St. John's church, and her life has 
been devoted to Christianity. 

Gcniiaii RcfoDiicd C/iitrc/i, located on 
the east side of Elsas avenue, betwei.-n Indi- 
ana and Illinois streets, and organized in 
1871, this church is a mission aided by the 
church organization. It has had many trials 
and losses chiefly through the removal of 
its members, and at one time came very near 
being abandoned, but at the present is gain- 
ing in membership, and the interest is grow- 
ing. The congregation owns a neat frame 
church building of ample size and a small 
parsonage. The church propert}- is valued 
at $3,000. Rev. C. T. Martin dedicated 
the church in 1871, and remained its pastor 
until 1873. The subsequent pastors have 
been: Rev. N. Weirs, 1873-75; K-^v. J.J. 
Janett, 1875-81; Rev. J. G. Schmid, Rev 
Landau, Rev. Sheller and Rev. J. Wernley, 
the present pastor, who came here from 
Chicago, and has had charge but a short 
time. There are about sevent\'-ti\-e mem- 
bers, and the Sunday-school numbers 
seventy-hve, with Mr. F. A. Riehl as super- 
intendent. During Rev. J. J. Janett's min- 
istry the church was in especially good con- 
dition, he being a very earnest worker and 
powerful man. 

T/ic C/iurr/i of the L'nilx. — In 1851 or 
1852 the first I_Initarian service was held in 
Evansville. During 1857 and 185S there 
was occasional preaching by Revs. J. H. 
Heywood, J. K. Ilosmer, J. G. Formati, 
H. F. Bond, M. Staples and others. The 
first Liberal Christian church was organized 
February 4, 1866. Rev. D. II. Clark 



preached ten months, services being held in 
the court-house. The Church of the Unity 
was organized the first Sunday in Novem- 
ber, 1875, and services were held in a hall 
on Main street, corner of Fifth. Mrs. Ann 
Maidlow, a charitable lad}', and a member 
of the society, gave enough to build a 
church, in consequence of which the edilice 
at the corner of Seventh and Walnut streets 
was erected. Its corner stone was laid Oc- 
tober 30, 1875, and it was completed April 
1st, 1877. Rev. George Chainey was called 
to pastorate, and for a time built up 
the congregation, but because of his ex- 
tremely liberal teachings, dissensions arose, 
and the church organization was aban- 
doned. 

Disciples of C/irist, the followers of the 
celebrated Alexander Campbell, distinctively 
known as Christians, began to hold meet- 
ings in this city, in 1S68, and in Janu- 
ary of the following year, Rev. George 
Flower came to the city, preached and or- 
ganized a church. His success was great, 
and he was succeeded in the pastorate by- 
Rev. Carter, and he by Rev. Alfred Flower, 
father of the former pastor. On account of 
deaths, removals from the neighborhood, 
and other causes, the society afterward be- 
came so reduced that the organization was 
practically abandoned. But on November 
15, 1885, it was re-organized, chiefly through 
the instrumentality of Messrs. W. W. 
Ireland, Joseph Jutton, F. W. Gibbs, Louis 
Carter, J. R. Furguson, B. R. Beecher, J. L. 
Yockey, Albert Mace, Dr. Floyd Williams 
and others. The members in this city wor- 
shiped for many years at the corner of 
Second and Clark streets. The first minis- 
ter in charge after the re-organization was 
Re\-. George Piatt, wh.o served the congre- 
gation until March, 1886, when he was suc- 
ceeded by Rev. Neil MacLeod, the present 
pastor. The church has exhibited wonder- 



SOI 



RELIGIOUS HISTORY. 



ful vitality from tlie first establishment 
and it shows a steady and substantial 
growth. In the past year the congregation 
purchased the Unitarian church, which was 
built by that congregation in 1876, at a cost 
of $6,000. The price paid was $4,000. It 
is a very neat structure, 36x60 feet, and 
capable of comfortably seating 300 people. 
The present membership of the Christian 
church is 125, which is being steadily aug- 
mented. The Sunday-school, of which J. R. 
Furguson is superintendent, numbers 100 
scholars. The present trustees of the church 
are: Floyd Williams, Joseph L. Stubbs and 
W. W. Ireland. 

Jewish Temples. — The congregation B'nai 
Israel was organized in 1857. Seven years 
later the society built the temple, corner 
Sixth and Division streets, at a cost of 
$45,000.00. The style of ai^chitecture is 
Moorish Saracenic, and the building is very 
handsome. The main auditorium is 45x70 
and seats 600. The following pastors have 
served the congregation : WiUiam Wechsler, 
M. Delbanco, B. L. Fould, S. Hecht, Dr. 
E. B. M. Browne, Dr. Isaac Schwab, Dr. 
Falk Vidaver, Dr. Meyer Elkin, and Dr. J. 
H. M. Chumaceiro, the present incumbent, 
who has been in charge since February i, 
18S8. There are now about 100 families in 
the congregation, and the Sabbath-school 
very large and flourishing. The present 
officers are: Dr. J. H. M. Chumaceiro, 
rabbi; Abe Strouse, president; I. Heimann, 
vice-president; A. Loe\venthal,sr., secretary; 
S. I. Loewenstein, treasurer; Isaac Rieser, 
sexton; Prof. C. Mathias, organist; N. Gross, 
A. Brentano, Louis Roser, Solomon Kahn, 
and A. Gugenheim, trustees. The society' 
is wealthy and intelligent, and contains some 
of the best citizens in the community. 

The congregation B'nai Moshe, was or- 
ganized in 1870, but until about ten years ago 
it was without a minister and had but few 



members. The first rabbi was Rev. Abr. 
Lane, who remained three years. His suc- 
cessor was Dr. Jacob Jacobsohn, who served 
four years. Those following were Rev. 
Leven, Rev. Wolpart, and Rev. H. Fein- 
schreiber, the present incumbent. The soci- 
et\' now has twenty-five families in its mem- 
bership, and maintains a Hebrew day school 
with twenty pupils, taught by Rev. H. Fein- 
schreiber. In 1880 a church was built on 
Ingle street, between Sixth and Seventh, at 
acost of about $2,500. It is a frame structure 
and seats about 200. The present officers are : 
Rev. H. Feinschreiber, rabbi, A. Morris, 
president ; Robert Paul, vice-president ; Louis 
Newman, secretary; Isaac Ringolsky, 
treasurer; Samuel Newman, Israel Green- 
berg and M. Fischer, trustees. 

Yoting Afeii's Christian Association. — 
By this agency, organized April 15, 1S67, 
much good has been accomplished through 
its efforts to lead to Christ the young men 
of the city. The association has met every 
obstacle that sin could throw in its way, but 
never yielding, has pushed forward, until the 
degree of prosperity attained is highly satis- 
factory. The good done in many hundred 
individual hearts can never be measured by 
statisticians, and God alone knows the great 
number of souls saved through seed scat- 
tered by its work. Regular meetings are 
held, and a free reading-room maintained, 
where all the leading newspapers and 
periodicals can be found. The present of- 
ficers are: L. M. Rice, president; Gen. 
J. M. Shackelford and A. W. Emery, vice- 
presidents; J. W. Gleichman, recording 
secretary; Ira D. McCoy, treasurer; J. F. 
Habbee, general secretary. The member- 
ship, averaging about 300, comprises many 
of the most intelligent and progressive 
young men in the city. Efficient assistants 
in the prosecution of the work undertaken 
by this association are the members of tht^ 



CEMETERIES. 



305 



Ladies' Auxiliary, the present oftkers of 
which are: Mrs. John Hubbard, jM-esident; 
Mrs. Samuel Bayard, vice-president; Mrs. 
C. L. Wedding, treasurer, and Mrs. J. E. 
Wheeler, secretary. 

Ccniclcries. — In early days little attention 
was paid to the adornment of places of sep- 
ulture. When Hugh McGary proposed to 
donate a portion of his lands to the then 
new county of Vanderburgh to secure the 
choice of his town as the permanent seat of 
justice, he was careful to reserve one acre 
of land the title to which he refused to di- 
vest himself of. This acre of land com- 
menced at the tombstone of Amanda F. 
McGary and ran an equal distance in each 
direction parallel with the streets of the 
town. It was selected by Col. McGary in 
the presence of the board of commissioners 
in February, i82i.The tombstone of Aman- 
da McGary stood near the center of the 
space now covered by the German Metho- 
dist church at the corner of Fourth and Vine 
streets. That locality was used as a public 
burying ground even before the original 
town was laid out, and for several years 
thereafter. It was in the woods and suf- 
ficiently remote from the village on the 
river bank. Indians and white settlers are 
supposed to have shared together this final 
resting place. Its limits were not at first 
contracted or defined with certainty, inter- 
ments being made in all parts of the woods 
near there. It was a neglected spot, for 
even as late as 1836, says an old settler: 
" It was no light task to cut the way into it, 
such a thicket of brushwood and briers 
covered the ground. " Many are yet living 
who remember the broken tombstones and 
neglected graves of this early "burying 
ground. " 

As the town grew in size what is now called 
the " old graveyard " on Mulberry street 
became the " silent city of the dead." The 
18 



period of its degeneration and neglect com- 
menced with the establishment of the now 
beautiful Oak Hill. At present, within con- 
venient reach of the city there are several 
cemeteries, the natural beauties of each 
adorned by the artistic hand of man, and 
constituting with the solemnity of silence 
and the impressiveness of solitude appro- 
priate homes for the cherished dead, where 

The heart, half desolate and broken, 
Far from the city's pomp its vigils may keep, 

And wreathe with fairest flowers, affections' tokens. 
The pale, cold marble, where its loved ones sleep. 

Oak Hill Cemetery is located one and a 
half miles northeast of the cit3^ It was 
purchased about i860, and originally con- 
tained eighty acres, but through subsequent 
additions it has been much enlarged. The 
cemetery grounds include a lovel}- hillock, 
and from the summit in the center a fine 
prospect of the surrounding country is ob- 
tained. It has been vastly improved by 
gravel walks, drives, etc., and highly orna- 
mented with trees and shrubbery, while 
manv a shaft of chiseled stone, ma<rnificent 
tombs, and stately sepulchral monuments 
rear their heads in the midst of the never- 
varying and perennial greenery. The cem- 
etery is under the control and management 
of a board of trustees appointed by the city 
council. John S. Goodge for many years 
has been a thoughtful and efficient super- 
intendent. 

..SV. Joseph^ s Cemetery. — In 1872 the 
Catholics of E\ansville found themselves 
with very poor burial facilities, largely on 
account of the growth of the cit}', and its 
encroachments upon their cemetery, unsuit- 
ing it for further occupation as such. The 
necessity for the present cemetery arrange- 
ments forced all the congregations to act, 
and they did act wisely and well. A com- 
mittee so instructed purchased seventy acres 
of pleasantly situated land one and one-fourth 



S06 



RELIGIOUS HISTORY. 



miles west of the city limits, on the old 
Cynthiana road, in Perry township, and 
reachable also by the New Harmon)- road. 
Later purchases have increased the number 
of acres to ii6, and strict and wholesome 
rules govern the association using and con- 
ducting the cemetery. Any Catholic in 
Evansville can become a member of the St. 
Joseph's Catholic Cemetery association by 
purchasing one lot in the same. All the 
Catholic pastors of the city are ex-officio 
members of the board of directors. The 
present officers are : Very Rev. E. F. Mc- 
Barron, president; B. Enneking, secretary; 
H. Hermann, treasurer; John Streite, 
sexton. 

The cemetery has been laid out most 
beautifully, and is adorned with many ele- 
gant monuments. The great figure of the 
recording angel, standing near the entrance, 
is the gift of Mrs. Robert Fergus, while the 
central figure of the crucifixion, an imported 
work, occupies the circle or central 
part reserved for the burial of priests. Al- 
ready there are four interred in this holy 
spot — Father Kutassj', Father McDermott, 
Father Duddenhausen and Father Kline, 
O. S. B. 

Locust Hill Cemetery. — This place of 
burial, owned by the city, was opened 
more than fifteen years ago and in its 



arrangement and adornments is quite at- 
tractive. It is on the Princeton road, two 
and a half miles north of the city. 

Lutheran Cemetery. — Tastefully planned 
in all its details, and well-kept, this is truly 
a place of beauty. The grounds were pur- 
chased and consecrated to the use of the be- 
loved dead many years ago, by Trinity 
cliurch, one of the strongest religious organi- 
zations in the city. It is two miles northeast 
of the city, is controlled by the Lutheran 
churches, and for many years has been care- 
fully looked after by its custodian and super- 
intendent, Mr. John A. Saupert. 

Roiehill Jewish Cemetery, located on the 
Stringtown road, three miles from the city, 
was dedicated b}^ Rabbi Falk Vidaver, in 
1879, since which time it has been improved 
and beautified, until now it is a veritable 
spot of beaut}'. It is under the control of a 
board of governors, consisting of N. Gross, 
president; A. Strouse, vice-president; A. 
Brentano, secretary; Henr}' Joseph and 
Jacob Eichel. George Betsch, superintend- 
ent. 

Mt. Sinai yezi'is/i Cemetery, on Baby- 
town road, was dedicated in 1876, by Rabbi 
Rabinowitz. The board of directors is com- 
posed of Samuel Newman, Israel Green- 
berg, Robert Paul, Isaac Ringolsky and M. 
Fisher. Isaac Friedman, superintendent. 



CHAPTER IX. 

By J. W. DAVIDSON, A. M. 

Schools — First Teachers — Early Schools — Township Schools — Public 
Schools of Ev'ansville — School Examiners and County Superintendents. 



With all thy getting, get understanding. 

— Solomon. 

'N that remarkable production of the pen 
of Dr. Manassah Cutler, the " Ord- 
inance of 1787/' these words are 
found; "Religion, morality and knowledge, 
being necessary to good government and 
the happiness of mankind, schools and the 
means of education shall forever be encour- 
aged." 

Our forefathers of the continental congress 
'in passing the memorable ordinance " built 
wiser than they know." 

In accordance with the spirit of the above 
quoted language, the constitution of Indiana 
reads as follows: 

" Knowledge and learning generally dif- 
fused throughout a community, being essen- 
tial to the preservation of a free government, 
it shall be the duty of the general assembly 
to encourage, by all suitable means, moral, 
intellectual, scientific, and agricultural im- 
provement, and to provide by law for a gen- 
eral and uniform system of common schools, 
wherein tuition shall be without charge and 
equally open to all." 

The state of Indiana has so carefully hus- 
banded her educational finances that the per- 
manent fund has reached the enormous sum 
of $10,000,000, a greater fund than that 
of any other state in the Union. A part of 
this is loaned to the state. The rest is ap- 
portioned to the several counties and placed 
in charge of the county auditors, to be 



loaned to the people at six per cent per 
annum in advance. 

All loans must be secured by first mort- 
gage on real estate valued b}- appraisers ap- 
pointed on the part of the state, and onh' 
one-half of the amount of appraisement can 
be secured as a loan. Improvements are not 
considered in the appraisement. No person 
can borrow more than $2,000. Xo part of 
the expense of making loans or collecting 
interest is borne by the school fund. And 
if on foreclosure of mortgage the sum loaned 
shall not be realized, then the county becomes 
responsible for having accepted an insecure 
loan, and must make up the deficit both in 
principal and interest. The several counties 
are also held responsible for interest on prin- 
cipal allowed to remain idle. Thus the 
reader will observe that the school fund of 
Indiana is carefully guarded, and is very ap- 
propriately called the " Permanent Fund." 
With the revenue from liquor hcenses, dog 
fund surplus, local taxation and interest on 
the permanent fund, the state expends an- 
nually $5,000,000 for the education of its 
youth. 

Perry township has the honor of having 
had the first school in the county. It was 
taught by Thomas Trueman in 1819, on the 
present site of the County Orphan Asylutn, 
below the city. The house was built of un- 
hewn logs, and had a dirt floor. The 
cracks in the walls were not chinked. 
Trueman VV43 3 sailor of the revolutionary 

{307) 



308 



SCHOOLS. 



war, well advanced in years when he 
opened his first school in Vanderburgh 
county. At this time there being no school 
in the town of Evansville, the bo3s from 
town went to Trueman's school, which was 
then about two miles in the country. 
Trueman was a rude, eccentric individual, 
who lived alone, and gained a sustenance by 
hunting, trapping and trading. He taught 
in different parts of the county for about 
fifteen years. He died in German township, 
and specially requested his friends to cre- 
mate his body in a log heap after death. 
His request seemed so strange to his simple- 
minded frontier friends, that they took it 
for granted that it was the result of a freak 
"Si insanity, and he was not cremated. He 
was, perhaps, the first cremationist of In- 
diana. 

Among other teachers who taught in 
Perry township in early times was George 
Thompson, in 1824. The school-house was 
located on what is now the farm of Wash- 
ington Stinchfield. Later came Grimes, 
Foster and Campbell. Of the trustees who 
did good service for the township may be 
mentioned:}. B. Cox, James S. Wills, David 
Stephens, Simon Waterman, Philip Koch, 
Henry Lauer, L. Schmadel, Fred W. 
Buente, Herman Klamer and Theodore 
Hartig, present incumbent. Enumeration 
of school children in township for 1888, 840. 
Length of school term, nine months. 

In Armstrong township the first school 
was taught by Andrew Erskine, in 1826. 
The house stood near the present home of 
Mr. Leroy Calvert. It was built of round 
logs, with puncheon floor, clapboard roof. 
One log was cut out and greased paper put 
in to admit light. In each end was a large 
"stick and mud " fire place; one for the 
boys and one for the girls. Among the 
pioneer teachers of the township were 
James Cury, Mr. Elliott, Daniel B. Crad- 



dock, Cadwallader and others. These 
early schools were, of course, private, and 
the products of the farm were legal tender 
for tuition. 

At the expiration of tlie three months' 
term the teacher would collect the tuition 
in wheat, corn, pork or furs and take a 
wagon load of his salary to the nearest 
market and exchange it for such articles as 
he needed. Ver}' little tuition was paid in 
cash. Among the trustees who did efiicient 
service for the township are Leroy Calvert, 
John F. Pruitt, Caswell Calvert, Henry 
Hilderbrandt, James C. Calvert, the present 
trustee. School enumeration last year, 
503; school term, eight months. 

The first school in Scott township was 
taught by Daniel B. Craddock, in 1835, on 
the " Staser farm." The other early teach- 
ers, as far as can be ascertained were : Mrs. 
Barker, Abiah Foster, Joel Mulby, Har- 
rison Jones, James Perry, John Arbin, 
Mr. Taylor, Alexander McCutchan. Later 
came William Hennesse, William Atchison, 
Arad McCutchan, James Vickery, Miss 
Kate Headen, James Henr}', Hannah 
Fisher, Thomas Peck, John Runcie, Dr. John 
L. Dow, and Cawson Potts. The first 
trustee was Andrew Erskine, and others 
who served with credit are : Joseph Berridge, 
John G. Potts, John W. Peck, Henry Bosse; 
present incumbent, William Schomberg. 
Enumeration of school children, 544; term 
of school, si.x months. 

The first school in Center township was 
taught by William Morgan, in 1830, fol- 
lowed by William Grimes and Thomas 
Trueman. The school was held in a little 
cabin on what is now known as the " Hopkins 
farm." In the schools the boys wore buckskin 
breeches and the girls wore buckskin aprons. 
As Trueman's method of punishment was to 
use the rod across the knees as the pupil 
sat on the puncheon benches, the buckskin 



EARLY SCHOOLS. 



309 



aprons served to mitigate the severity of the 
"ancient mariner's" blows. Grimes em- 
ployed his time between recitations by crack- 
ing hickory nuts, on one of the puncheon 
benches, with a bench leg, which he would 
slip out of the bench, and then replace it 
when the next class was ready to recite. 
Among the pioneer teachers of the town- 
ship may be mentioned: Andrew Erskine, 
Alex McCutchan, Taylor and Foster. 
Later teachers are: Thomas Conyngton, 
Levi Erskine, William T. Iglehart, Joel 
Mulby, Charles G. Olmstead, William At- 
chison, Hester M. Wood, Anna Headen, 
R. P. Hooker, Louis F. Guire. In 1859 
there was a select (jraded school organized 
at McCutchanville, under charge of S. R. 
Hornbrook, afterward colonel of the"Sixty- 
fifth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry. 
This school exerted a salutary influence on 
the whole section of Vanderburgh county, 
known as "blue grass" region. In this 
school Col. Hornbrook sowed good seed, 
which has borne abundant fruit. 

Center township has the honor of having 
had the first free school in the county. On 
the south slope of Locust cemetery hill, 
about two miles from the city, there stands 
a little brick house, almost hidden from 
view in an apple orchard of a half century's 
growth. In this little house J. Kilblock 
opened a free school for the benefit of any 
children who wished to attend, and kept his 
school open three or four months in the 
year, until the public school system was es- 
tablished. Father Kilblock was a pious, 
philanthrophic individual, and made his liv- 
ing chiefly as an itinerant clock tinker. The 
old gentleman is still living and lias the re- 
spect and esteem of all his acquaintances. 
The trustees have been : Andrew Erskine, D. 
Lingsley, Charles Broughton, Levi Erskine, 
Samuel Gibson, George W. Hornb}-, Will- 
iam Wood and John W. Laubscher. Pres- 



ent incumbent Christ Kratz; school enumer- 
ation, 787, term seven months. All the 
school-houses are brick and of modern de- 
sign, with one graded high-school at 
McCutchanville. 

The first school in German township was 
taught on the " Nightingale farm," now 
owned by William Seibert. The first 
teacher was William Lacy, in 1832. The 
next school was built near St. Joseph and 
was taught b}- Trueman the sailor. The 
school-house was a mere hut with one log 
left out to admit light, no paper or glass be- 
ing used. The pioneer teachers were : 
Grimes, Efliott, Adrian Young, James 
Patten, Samuel Grant, Amanda Foster, 
Joseph Shaw. The teachers of later years are 
John F. Pruitt, Henry B. Wood, Don 
Emerson, Samuel Broaddus, S. S. Lovejoy, 
A. J. Angermeier, John F. Boyle, Louis F. 
Guire, Fannie Goldsmith, Amelia Christ 
and Daniel W. Farquher. Trustees, Adam 
Wolf, William Umbach, George Naab, 
Charles Gantner, Simon Hartig, Fred Werk- 
man and A. J. Angermeier, the present in- 
cumbent. School enumeration, 704; term 
eiffht months. The buildings are nearlv all 
built of brick and are of the latest design. 

In Knight township the first school, as 
well as can now be determined, was opened 
in 1832, near the site of what is now known 
as the Terry school. The teacher's name 
was J. Combs. In 1836 James Craddock 
taught in the same old-fashioned log house; 
Rufus Dresser, in 1838. In 1837, William 
Olmstead opened a school on the river road 
on the old Garrett farm. About the year 
1835, a well-educated eastern teacher whose 
name cannot now be ascertained, introduced 
into the Terry school a blackboard, which 
was considered by the patrons as a device to 
enable the teacher to escape labor, and their 
indignation was aroused to a degree of bit- 
terness. One morning when the teacher, 



SIO 



SCHOOLS. 



accompanied by some pupils, opened the 
clapboard door of the school, there was 
found written on the board, in a bold hand, 
the following: 

Any man of common sense, 

Would throw the blackboard over the fence. 

At the end of the term the teacher and the 
blackboard " had to go." Teachers of later 
years were : John Hall, Alex Lewis, America 
Stanfield, Elizabeth Knight, Lee Ewing, 
George Warren. The more recent teachers 
are: Edna Street, Lillian Brooks, Fannie 
Kelsey, Robert L. Cowan, Louis F. Guise, 
and Barney Blackburn. Trustees in earlier 
years were : William Knight, Orville Kelsey, 
Wilson Collins; in later years Ira Grainger, 
A. Knight, Samuel Gramger, Henry B. 
Smith, Henry Barnett and J. J. Byrnes. 
The township has eight good brick school- 
houses and two frame houses. School 
enumeration, 5S1; school term, ten months. 

In Union township the first school was 
taught in 1830 by William Hazelwood. 
Later came: Campbell Willard, Eliza 
Hardin, James Dennison, Henry Simmons, 
A. T. Everett, S. C. Rogers, Adrian Young, 
George W. Moore, Paul Slaughter, Hannah 
Fisher, Don Emerson, Winnie Hooker 
(Enslie). Early trustees were: Simeon 
Long and William McDowell. Later trus- 
tees : William Martin, Joseph Parrett, Sam- 
uel Barker,James King, James F. Saunders, 
Albert Kamp, John Neal and R. W. King. 
School enumeration, 277. The south part 
of Union township, better known as Con- 
gressional township 8, is the fortunate pos- 
sessor of 300 acres of unsold school land, 
which rents for an annual rental of $10 to 
$12 per acre, and produces enough revenue 
to keep the schools in session all the year 
without a tuition levy. 

But little can be said concerning the 
schools of Pigeon township, because of the 
fact that the city of Evansville includes with- 



in its corporate limits nearly the whole of 
Pigeon township. Nearly all the suburban 
residents are transferred to Evansville for 
school purposes. The township proper has 
but one school, which has been taught for a 
number of years by Mr. George S. Prit- 
chett; the enumeration is ninety-three; the 
present township trustee is PhiHp Spiegel. 
The pioneer teacher of the city of Evans- 
ville was George Thompson, who taught in 
a little log cabin situated near the corner of 
First and Vine streets, in the year 1821. 
Soon after this, William Price taught school 
in the old Baptist church near Mulberry and 
First streets. It was a log dwelling house 
at first, but was purchased by the Baptist 
society and used as a church and school- 
house. The old building is yet standing 
and doing service as a stable. It is now the 
property of William Dean, Esq., and is the 
oldest landmark of the pioneer times of 
Evansville. In 1821 the citizens of Evans- 
ville raised a sufficient amount of money to 
build a brick school-house, and they em- 
ployed Daniel Chute as teacher at a salary 
of $300 per year. The house was built on 
the court-house square near the corner of 
Third and Main streets. This school-house 
had a large fire-place in each end, so large, 
in fact, that more light came through the 
fire-place than through the two small 
windows in the front. For thirty years did 
Mr. Chute labor to educate the youth of 
Evansville. He was a graduate of Dart- 
mouth College and a fine scholar. He was 
a truly pious man, but believed in " watch- 
ing " as well as " praying." At opening 
exercises he prayed standing with his eyes 
open, and a long fishing cane in one hand, 
and when he caught a boy- in mischief dur- 
ing prayer he would stop short and call out, 
" Woe be to you, John," and strike him 
over the shoulder with the long cane, then 
resume and finish the prayer. The writer 



PIONEER TEACHERS. 



Sll 



recollects him as a teacher of girls in the 
old Park school, and would judge from Mr. 
Chute's genial countenance that there was 
anything in his nature but "woe" for any- 
body. 

Among the pioneer teachers who deserve 
to be remembered are Miss Philura French, 
whose first work in this community as a 
teacher began in 1832, and who subse- 
quently became the wife of Mr. John Shank- 
lin and mother of J. G. Shanklin, George 
W. Shanklin and Mrs. John M. Harlan, all 
well known to the general public; Miss 
Evans who taught in 1834; Miss Slocum in 
1836; Miss Seldon and Miss Burgess as- 
sisted by Miss Mary Wilson, now the vener- 
able mother of Mr. J. S. Reilly, of the 
Evansville Courier company, and Miss 
Edith Reill}', now one of the members of 
the High school corps. The writer is in- 
debted to the courtesy and fine memorj' of 
Mrs. Reilly for many items of this sketch. 
As well as can now be ascertained Miss Julia 
Barnes came to Evansville and opened a 
school in 183S. Then came the Misses 
Morton, sisters of Vice-President Morton. 
The Draper sisters taught in the old Ma- 
ghee homestead, corner Third and Chestnut 
streets. Then came Mr. Safford and wife, 
followed by Mr. Green, Miss Dean, Miss 
Abbott, Mr. Thompson and Miss Conyng- 
ton. These schools were, of course, all 
private. After the inauguration of the pub- 
lic schools, the private schools graduallv 
disappeared. Miss Lura Jacobs and Mrs. 
Mary Jacobs Maghee were emplo\'ed in the 
first public school of Evansville. Mrs. Ma- 
ghee is still living in the citv and is well 
known as the wife of J. B. Maghee, Esq., 
and mother of Dr. W. H. Maghee, a well 
known physician of the city. Ne.\t to Mr. 
Chute in length of service as a teacher in 
Evansville stands J. W. Knight. His work 
was confined chiefly to the upper part 



of the city, and to boys only, as in his time 
the sexes were separated in the schools. 
His methods, while not very agreeable to 
the sensibilities, as the writer can testify 
from personal experience, were excellent in 
developing memory, reason and will power. 
And there are many people who believe he 
has never been equaled in Evansville as a 
teacher of boys. 

Tlie following is a roll of teachers who 
have taught in the public schools of the city 
for a period of fifteen years or more: Mr. 
J. W. Knight, Mrs. V. C. Read, Mrs. L. J. 
Plummer, Mrs. Lucy McFarland, Mrs. 
Mary O'B. Miller, Mrs. Sarah C. Ander- 
son, Mrs. Margaret Findley, Miss Eva K. 
Froelick, Miss Maria Bisbee, Miss Edith 
Reilly, Miss Mary E. White, Miss Hulda 
Ratim, Miss L. M. Ashley, Miss JuHa Bier- 
bower, Miss Hattie Bierbower, Miss MoUie 
Stembridge, Miss Anna S. Farrell, Miss 
Lou E. Wyttenbach, Miss Laura Brooks, 
Miss Jennie Brown, Miss Hattie Durham, 
Miss Anna L. Forsythe, Miss Clara Rey- 
nolds, Mr. M. Z. tinker, Mr. Robert P. 
Hooker, Mr. Z. M. Anderson, Mr. A. J. 
McCutchan. The first board of school 
trustees was composed of H. Q. Wheeler, 
Christian Decker and William Hughes, Mr. 
Wheeler serving as superintendent. The 
succeeding superintendents were as follows: 
William Baker, E.J. Rice, C. H. Butterfield, 
A. M. Gow, John M. Bloss, John Cooper, 
and J. W. Layne, the present incumbent. 
The school enumeration of the city for the 
last year is 16,448, with a school enrollment 
of over 6,000. Length of term, ten months. 
The citv has twelve commodious buildintjs 
of modern design and finish, valued with the 
real estate at more than $600,000. The 
corps of teachers number 165. The public 
schools are the pride of the city. They 
have been kept remarkably free from the 
influence of politics, sectarianism and rings, 



312 



SCHOOLS. 



and it is the determination of the school 
board and the wish of the people that they 
shall ever remain so. The members of the 
present school board are Samuel G. Evans, 
J. E. Inglehart and J. W. Roelker. The differ- 
ent school examiners of the county were as 
follows: Daniel Chute, Dr. Negley, Dr. 
G. B. Walker, Thomas E. Garvin, Dr. Rey- 



nolds, n. Q. Wheeler, S. K. Lavitt, J. W. 
Knight and T. W. Peck. In 1873 the office 
of school examiner was abolished, and that of 
county school superintendent created, and 
Mr. Robert P. Hooker appointed to till the 
newly created office. His successors were 
F. P. Conn, Ernst D. McAvoy and J. W. 
Davidson. 




Western S.oqt Pub Cn 




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CHAPTER X. 

Libraries — Life of Willard Carpenter — The Carpenter Homestead — The 
City Library — History of the Wii-lard Library — Catholic Library — 
Vanderburgh County Library. 




^j,;^-lLLARD CARPENTER, an en- 
terprising pioneer, citizen and bene- 
factor of Evansville, was born in 
Strafford, Orange county, Vt., on the 
15th of March, 1803. His father, Willard 
Carpenter, sr., was born April 3, 1767, and 
died at Strafford, November 14, 1854. He 
was married at Woodstock, Conn., Febru- 
ary 23, 1791, to Polly Bacon, who was born 
March 15, 1769, and died March 4, i860, 
also at Strafford. All the children, twelve 
in number, were born and reared on the 
same farm. Mrs. Carpenter lived to see 
twelve children, fifty-two grand-children, 
fifty-three great-grand-children, and one 
great-great-grand-child; in all, 118 lineal 
descendants. There was much of the re- 
markable in the life of Willard Carpenter 
the younger, whose name, even at this time 
in southern Indiana, is a sj-nonym for skill 
and sagacity. When a young man, he re- 
ceived the sobriquet of " Old Willard." 
The leading feature of his career was his 
zeal for public interests, and it is readily 
conceded that the general prosperity of the 
district in which he lived was largely due to 
his individual efforts. As a typical Yankee, 
he possessed sturdy independence and 
tenacity of purpose to an unusual degree. 
Always thrift}- and energetic, with 
great powers of physical endurance, pluck 
and perseverance, a strong and comprehen- 
sive mind, and great business ability, it is 
not strange that he rose from the hardest 
poverty to great wealth. When a boy he 



spent his da3'S on a farm, in the manner 
common to pioneer lads, for his father was 
one of the first settlers of Orange county, 
building his cabin in the forests, and v^'ith 
the help of his boys making a clearing and 
conducting his farm. School privileges 
were meagre. To read, write and cipher 
was regarded as the nltima thnle of a 
school education; and three months a year 
for four or five winters, in the primitive log 
school-house, was considered sufficient time 
for him to spend upon his early mental 
training. He remained at home with his 
father until he was eighteen years old. Now 
and then, b,- doing odd jobs, he turned a 
penny. His first twenty-five cents was 
made by digging snake-root and selling it 
to his uncle. This money was immediately 
put out at six per cent interest, and in pro- 
cess of time, through additions made to it, 
he found himself in possession of seven dol- 
lars. He then determined to go west. 
With a pack on his back he made his way 
to the Mohawk, and passed through Troy 
about the time of the great fire in 1822. Up- 
on reaching Albany he turned his capital of 
seven dollars into a stock of Yankee notions, 
and from there sturdily tramped up the val- 
ley of the Mohawk, on his way to Buffalo. 
He then went down the lake shore, and into 
Ohio as far as Salem, where, having disposed 
of his wares, he rested, while visiting an 
uncle, who had moved to this place some j'^ears 
previous. Not content with being idle, he 
went to work in the woods with two other 



sie 



LIBRARIES. 



men, and in the summer and autumn of that 
year — 1822 — they cleared eight)' acres of 
forest land, for which they received five dol- 
lars an acre. Owing to the scarcity of 
money he was paid in notes of hand, payable 
in grain. These he disposed of and went to 
teaching a district school. His salary in the 
spring amounted to $140, which was also 
paid in grain notes. He then concluded to 
learn tanning and shoemaking, but became 
dissatisfied after a six months' trial and gave 
it up. He was now about twenty years old 
and ready to begin life in earnest. Disposing 
of all his effects, he bought a horse and a 
watch, and with about sixteen dollars in 
his pocket turned his face eastward 
to find a wider held in New York state. On 
his way to Buffalo he was taken in by some 
sharpers on the " little joker," who won his 
watch and all his money but one dollar. 
They returned him four dollars, and with 
this he was glad to mount and get away. 
Before reaching Buffalo he was attacked 
with a severe illness, but continued his jour- 
ney, passing through Buffalo to Manlius, a 
town lying some miles east, where he found 
an old schoolmate with whom, on account 
of his illness and the depleted condition of 
his purse, he was glad to remain for a week 
or so. In a short time he engaged to assist 
in floating a raft down the Mohawk to 
Schenectady. He was to receive sixteen 
dollars a month for his services, but upon 
reaching his destination the raft was at- 
tached for debt, and he received nothing. 
He walked back to Manlius for his horse, 
which had been left with his friend, when, 
to his disma}', he found that the animal had 
died in his absence. He next engaged to 
work with pick and shovel on the Erie canal 
with a company of about 1,000 Irishmen 
and Ben Wade, of Ohio. Here the work 
and wages were fair, but the accom- 
modations were so unendurable that after a 



short time he sought other emplovment. 
While at Glenfield Corners he was offered 
the position of teacher in the school at that 
place. The school had been a troublesome 
one, the last teacher had been unceremon- 
iously ejected b\' the larger boys, and in a 
few days a conspiracy was formed against 
the new pedagogue; but being determined 
to rule, he managed to subdue the ring- 
leader, older and larger than himself, by the 
union of stratagem and force, and had no 
further trouble. In 1824, his father, to in- 
duce his return home, presented him with a 
farm, and later offered him $600, but these 
he refused, determining to make his way 
through life unaided. Two years after, he 
visited his father and returned with his 
brother John to Troy, where the}- engaged 
in merchandising. Mr. Carpenter prosecuted 
his business interests with vigor and at one 
time with such boldness as to dismay his 
brother, and a dissolution followed. Ephriam, 
another brother similar in character to Wil- 
lard, succeeded John, and they continued 
in Troy ten years. In 1837 Wil- 
lard came to Evansville at the 
solicitation of A. B. Carpenter, whom 
he joined in the wholesale dry goods 
and notion business. They began under fav- 
orable auspices, but suffered in the wide- 
spread financial crash of 1837. Upon his 
arrival here, after a trip to Troy, where he 
had gone to settle his business there, he 
found the business of the firm in a deplora- 
ble state. Owing to the crash, their county 
correspondents were in a precarious condi- 
tion and sharp work was necessarv to realize 
anything out of their accounts. Mr. Car- 
penter, however, was equal to the emer- 
gency. He reached here on Sunday and at 
once took in the situation. Learning that a 
company of merchants was to leave for the 
upper country, by the way of Vincennes and 
Terre Haute, he saw that his only chance 



WILLARD CARPENTER. 



317 



was to outstrip them. lie left here at nine 
o'clock that night; at Vincennes employed 
Judge Law to take charge of his business 
there; pushed on to Terre Haute; emploj-ed 
Judge Farrington there, and by Tuesday 
morning, at daybreak, was closeted in Dan- 
ville, 111., with an attorney of that place. He 
then started home, and by Wednesday noon 
met the other merchants on their outward 
journey, between Vincennes and Terre 
Haute. The result was that the Carpenters 
received their claims in full, while the others 
hardly realized ten cents on the dollar. This 
feat practically introduced Mr. Carpenter to 
Evansville, and the energetic spirit shown in 
it characterized his subsequent conduct. 
In February following, he was married to 
Miss Lucina Burcalow, of Saratoga county, 
N. Y. 

When the state of Indiana found herself 
almost hopelessly in debt, after the failure 
of the internal improvement system, Mr. 
Carpenter violently opposed everv sugges- 
tion of repudiation, and took a prominent 
part in providing means of an honorable sat- 
isfaction of all obligations. At a public 
meeting held in this cit}- in 1842, it was 
resolved to ask an appropriation of lands to 
aid in the completion of the Wabash and 
Erie canal. Mr. Carpenter circulated the 
petitions for this purpose in seventeen dif- 
ferent states and through live different 
legislatures, defraying his expenses out of 
his own pocket. The bill, after much oppo- 
sition, passed both houses of congress, to be 
ratified, however, by the legislature of Indi- 
ana. Here there was great opposition, and 
again Mr. Carpenter made himself useful in 
advancing the public good. In 1849 he ^^'^^ 
one of the principal movers in the Evans- 
ville and Terre Haute Railroad enterprise, 
subscribing largely, and taking more stock 
than any other two men in the county. It 
was intended that this road should run up 



the White River valley to Indianapolis; but 
in 1853 Mr. Carpenter resigned as a director, 
and with ex-Senator O. H. Smith entered 
into an agreement to build a railroad from 
Evansville to Indianapolis, later known as 
the " Straight Line." Mr. Carpenter threw 
his whole intellectual vigor into this work. 
Over $900,000 were procured on the line — 
Mr. Carpenter himself having subscribed 
$65,000 — the work of grading progressed 
rapidly, the road-bed was completed for 
fifty-five miles, and Mr. Carpenter went to 
Europe to purchase the rails. At this 
juncture opposition sprang up, a pamphlet 
containing many misrepresentations was 
published and distributed among the banks 
and rail-makers in London, Paris and Wales, 
and when the negotiations were completed 
excepting the details, he was thwarted in 
the great undertaking. He then called 
upon Vorse, Perkins & Co., who had a 
house in London and also one in New 
York, doing a commission business for 
railroad companies in America, and after 
much negotiation, made a contract with that 
firm, agreeing to pay them $12,000 of mort- 
gage bonds per mile upon the road-bed, 
$100,000 worth of real estate bonds, and 
$100,000 of Evansville cit\- bonds, which 
the city had subscribed, but not then deliv- 
ered. All excepting the Evans\-ille bonds 
he had with him; and these latter were to 
be handed over, in Jul}- of the same year, to 
the commission-house of Vorse, Perkins & 
Co. in New York city. Mr. Carpenter now 
wrote in full to the vice-president, Mr. 
H. D. Allis, urging him to call the city 
council together immediately and ask them 
to deliver the $100,000 bonds to Vorse, 
Perkins & Co. in New York. The ene- 
mies of the road were now at work in his 
own city, and the council refused. Mr. 
Carpenter then offered, if they would con- 
sent, to secure them by mortgaging all tht 



S18 



LIBRARIES. 



real estate he held in the city and county, 
which was extensive, indemnifying the 
city, so that the road should be 
built and cars should be running over 
the first fifty-five miles — to the Ohio and 
Mississippi crossing — b}- the next Decem- 
ber, 1859. This the council very unwisely 
refused to do, owing to the selfishness of the 
opposition part}'. This caused the failure 
of the Straight Line railroad — a great detri- 
ment to Evansville and a great mortification 
to Mr. Carpenter, who had spent five years 
of his time, had been once to Europe and 
fourteen times to New York, all at his own 
expense. This was thirty years ago. Since 
that time the business citizens of Evansville 
have had time to reflect on the mistake the}' 
made, and have rectified the same, so far as 
possible, by at last building the road. In 
1865, through Mr. Carpenter's donations, the 
Christian Home was founded. It consisted 
of grounds and a large new house of twelve 
rooms. This act of charity was for the 
reform of homeless girls who had gone 
astray. His donations in this behalf 
amounted to about $10,000.00. To the 
various churches of Evansville he gave 
over $14,000.00. In 1840 he erected 
a building upon his own land and 
established the poor house system, 
whereby the paupers were kept at a 
great saving to the county. This was ac- 
complished during his five years' service as 
county commissioner. He also advanced 
liberally of his own means for repairing and 
corduroying roads, and as an evidence of 
the appreciation of his worth in this particu- 
lar, he was elected the second term to his 
office over his own protest. In 1851 he 
was elected a member of the legislature, and 
served during the long term of the session 
of 185 1-2. While here he was active in 
getting through several important measures, 
among them bills for the equalization of 



taxation; for lowering the salaries of coun- 
ty officers, and for raising those of state of- 
ficers. The Willard library is an example 
of munificence seldom witnessed. The his- 
tory of this benefaction is elsewhere 
recorded in these pages. The endowment 
of this institution was the crowning success 
of the noble life-work of this unpretending 
and unassuming man. 

Foremost in all enterprises intended for 
the general good, taking an active part in 
all questions of state and county policy, he 
invariably threw his influence in favor of 
what was right and advantageous for all the 
community. The latter years of his life 
were devoted almost entirely to philanthropic 
purposes. He died November 6, 1883, full 
of years and full of honor. His wife, who 
was to him a helpmeet in all that the word 
implies, died June 30, 1884. Five children 
were born to them, of whom only two sur- 
vive, Louisa and Albert W. 

One of the prominent landmarks of the 
city of Evansville is the Carpenter home- 
stead, situated on the street bearing his name. 
Mr. Carpenter began its construction in 
1848, and completed the building in the fol- 
lowing year. At the time it was probably 
the most imposing edifice in this section of 
the state, and it is said that people came 
many miles to view it. It greatly resembles 
the southern style of architecture and is at 
this time perhaps the most substantial build- 
ing in the city. Through the center is a 
broad hall, while extensive piazzas and 
porches form part of its distinguishing 
features. Its solidity is in keeping with the 
character of its builder, and with all his 
undertakings. AU the material excepting 
the brick was shipped from Lawrenceburg, 
Ind. After its completion j\Ir. and Mrs. 
Carpenter went to New York and there 
purchased the furniture for the new home 
which was shipped to Evansville via New 



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4 



CITY LIBRARY. 



321 



Orleans. This homestead was occupied by 
Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter until their deaths, 
and is now owned and occupied by their 
son, Albert W. Carpenter. 

CV/r Library.— On the 29th of July, 1855, 
a notice appeared in the Evansville Dally 
Juunial and the Evansville Daily Enquirer 
appeahng to the citizens who were interested 
in establishing a library and reading room, 
to meet and adopt measures for the organ- 
ization of an association for that purpose. 
Pursuant to this call, a meeting was held at 
the Crescent City Hall on Monday, July 
•^oth, at 8 a. m. An association was formed, 
composed of thirty-six members, known as 
the Evansville Library Association, and in- 
corporated under the laws of the state of 
Indiana, August 10, 1855, its expressed 
purpose being to promote the diffusion of 
useful knowledge. On the 18th of August, 
1855, the first election of officers was held, 
resulting as follows: For president, John 
Ingle, sr.; vice-president, Conrad Baker; 
recording secretary, George Foster; corre- 
sponding secretary, James Harlan, jr.; treas- 
urer, Samuel Bayard; directors, G. W. 
Rathbone, J. E. Blythe, G. Copeland, W. 
E. Hollingsworth, Wilham Heilman. 

To defray the expenses of the association 
this plan was adopted: A capital stock of 
$30,000 was to be divided into 1,000 shares 
of $30 each, to be paid in installments often 
per cent annually. The stockholders were 
to be entitled to all the privileges of the cor- 
poration. Rooms were selected in the sec- 
ond story of Judge Foster's building, corner 
First and Main streets, and a committee ap- 
pointed for selecting and purchasing books. 
Four hundred dollars worth of books were 
purchased; and Mr. John F. Crisp being 
elected librarian, the library was opened to 
subscribers on December i, 1855. In 1874, 
very little interest was manifested in the li- 
brary; the stockholders who paid up 



promptly were few; consequently, citizens 
did not desire to subscribe to a library which 
contained no late edidons. A meeting of 
the officers and stockholders was held to 
discuss the (juestion as to the best method of 
disposing of the property of the association. 
It was finally agreed to donate it to the city 
on conditions. Accordingly, a meeting of 
the stockholders, for the purpose of trans- 
ferring all books, paper and property of the 
association, was held August 11, 1874, Mr. 
Rahm, representing the city council, and 
Prof. A. M. Govv, representing the school 
board, accepting the donation on behalf of 
the city. 

This was the beginning of a new era in 
the history of the library. Immediately the 
common council placed the trust in the 
hands of the school board, consisting then 
of Dr. H. W. Cloud, J. H. Polsdorfer and 
Luke Wood. These gentlemen took a 
deep interest in their work, and as soon 
thereafter as possible a building on the 
corner of Seventh and Vine streets was re- 
fitted and furnished as a home for the new 
library. 

Immediately some 400 additional volumes 
were ordered, and by June i, 1875, the 
more important of these having arrived, the 
library was for the first time thrown open 
to the public for the registration of names. 
On this occasion appropriate addresses were 
made by James ]VL Shackleford, Blythe 
Hynes and Luke Wood. June 14, 1875, 
books were first loaned to the people. 

The library contained about 9,600 vol- 
umes, and was known as the Evansville 
city library. Its books were subsequently 
transferred by action of the school board to 
the alcoves of the Willard library. 

Wlllard Library.— yir. Willard Carpen- 
ter was a man of great natural ability, untir- 
ing- energy, and intensely interested in the 
growth and prosperity of a city whose 



322 



LIBRARIES. 



development from a village he had wit- 
nessed and aided. In all the progressive 
steps of early da\-s the public records, the 
public press, and the testimony of yet living 
witnesses, show that he was always in the j 
forefront. His knowledge of men and 
affairs taught him that the life of a republic 
in which every man is a sovereign depends 
on the education of the masses. lie was j 
intensely practical in his benevolence, as in 
all other things, and seeing the need of a 
library to which citizens of all classes might 
have access, he endowed an institution which 
is a monument to his memory more lasting 
and more suggestive than any column of 
marble or any statue of bronze. The com- 
plete scheme of Mr. Carpenter's magnificent 
benefaction, as stated in the general portion 
of his letter to the trustees of the institution, 
which were first named bj- him, is here 
presented : 

"EVANSVILLE, August 23, 1876. 

" Gentlemen : I have intended for many 
vears to devote to some public use, a por- 
tion of the property and means which I have 
acquired by a long life of labor. I have, at 
various times, endeavored to benefit the 
community in which my life has been mostly 
spent, by inaugurating various enterprises. 
Legal difficulties, and other obstacles, have 
intervened to render inoperative, schemes 
for the public good, which I have at various 
times undertaken to put in operation. 

"After consultation with many gentlemen 
of this city, I have concluded without fur- 
ther dela}^ to establish and endow a public 
library, to be located in a public park, on 
land owned by me, situate in the city of 
Evansville. I am induced to do this in the 
well-grounded hope that such an institution 
may become useful toward the improvement 
of the moral and intellectual culture of the 
inhabitants of Evansville, and collaterally to 
those of the state of Indiana; and also 



toward the enlargement and diffusion of a 
taste for the fine arts. 

"The city of Evansville has reached in 
population and commercial importance a 
period in which such a scheme should, and I 
have no doubt will, meet with the hearty 
approval and assistance of the municipal au- 
thorities and all private citizens. 

" In presenting to you the object I propose, 
I wish you to understand that the details 
proper to its organization and government, 
and its future control and conduct, are to be 
left to your judgment and discretion, and the 
perpetuity of that control I confide to you 
and your successors, to be appointed in the 
manner prescribed in this letter. 

" But I desire to present m}' views in 
general of the object and purposes of the 
proposed institution, in order that by no 
possibility shall the propert}- hereby donated 
ever be diverted to any other purpose; and 
that the result of much thought and labor on 
my part, shall be commensurate with the 
high objects to be attained; and as a guide, 
and, as it were, an organic law for you, in 
the discharge of your duties. 

" I have directed skilled attornej-s to pre- 
pare a deed convcN'ing to you the property 
therein described, estimated by me to be 
worth the sum of $400,000* the said deed to 
be signed and executed by my wife and my- 
self. The property thereby conveyed lies 
in the limits of Evansville or contiguous 
thereto. 

"I desire and direct that the building for 
the public library hereby proposed shall be 
located on that portion of the property 
designated in said deed which is generally 
known as Carpenter's field. The remainder 
of said tract of land known as Carpenter's 
field shall be forever kept as a public park. 
It shall be, at the discretion of the trustees, 
enclosed bv a neat fence; and fountains, 
flowers, trees, grass-plats, and all the usual 



WILLARD LIBRARY. 



S23 



accessories of a park, shall be provided and 
kept in order, so as to make the park a re- 
sort for the people for all time to come. 

" I desire that the co-operation of the city 
in this scheme of a public park shall be 
secured, so that the S(juare now owned by 
the city adjoining this tract of land shall be 
made subsidiarj- to the general purpose of 
promoting public health and popular recrea- 
tion. The control of the said public park 
under proper municipal regulations, shall 
remain with the trustees hereby appointed. 
You and your successors will constitute 
forever, a board of trustees, seven in num- 
ber, to be maintained in perpetual succession 
for the accomplishment, preservation, and 
supervision of the purposes for which the 
librar}^ and park are to be established. To 
you and your successors, therefore, by 
virtue of the said deed and this instrument, 
I give full and exclusive power to take, re- 
ceive and hold in fee simple, the said real 
estate in said deed particularlv described, 
and to sell and convev in fee simple, at such 
times and for such prices as may be deemed 
advisable, all the said real estate except that 
which is particularly set apart for the said 
library and park, and out of the pro- 
ceeds of such sale to erect a suitable 
building to improve, ornament and adorn 
said park, and to purchase books, maps and 
works of art for the use of the people of all 
classes, races and sexes, free of charge, 
forever. A permanent fund shall be created 
out of the proceeds of such sale for the sup- 
port of the institution." 

These words, with a more particular state- 
ment as to the details of management, bv 
which a suitable building should be erected, 
books and works of art provided, and the 
perpetuity of the library maintained, were 
directed to Thomas E. Garvin, Alexander 
Gilchrist, Henry F. Blount, John Laval, 
Matthew Henning and_ Charles H. Butter- 



field, citizens whose names were selected 
because of Mr. Carpenter's personal knowl- 
edge of their " fitness for the important 
trust." The trust was accepted by the 
gendemen named, and on the 23d day of 
August, 1876, the deed convej-ing the large 
amount of property set apart from Mr. Car- 
penter's estate for the purposes of the library, 
was executed and soon thereafter placed on 
record. Yielding to a general expression 
of the public desire, Mr. Carpenter con- 
sented that the name of the institution should 
be " The Willard Library," and the name 
of the park should be " The Willard Park." 
In his younger days Mr. Carpenter had 
thrown himself, heart and soul, into 
the prosecution of manj- public enter- 
prises designed to push forward the 
development of Evansville's magnificence, 
but never did he take a ffreater in- 
terest nor exhibit greater energy and zeal 
than in the practical achievement of the 
plan provided for wholh" by the results of 
his past individual effort. He desired in his 
own lifetime to see the library in successful 
operation, " to embellish our city, to instruct 
and elevate the people, and to promote the 
growth of virtue and knowledge," and at 
once commenced, in connection with the 
trustees, the performance of the laborious 
duties incident to the plan. Reed Bros., 
architects, planned a building, which in its 
appearance, its completeness and adaptabil- 
ity to the purposes named, is a triumph in 
architecture, an adornment to the city, and 
an enduring monument to the wisdom of its 
projectors and builders. Its cost was about 
$80,000, and it was erected under the per- 
sonal supervision and direction of Mr. 
Carpenter, who, notwithstanding his ad- 
vanced years, visited the building constantly, 
and within two months of his death 
climbed to the very top of its walls. 
The building was not erected by 



3^4- 



LIBRARIES. 



contract, and there was not a portion of it 
slighted in construction. 

The death of Mr. Carpenter occurred 
November 6, 1883, before the hbrary was 
opened to the public, but not until the build- 
ing was substantially completed. After his 
death the trustees finished the building, im- 
proved the grounds, and with appropriate 
ceremonies opened the doors of the institu- 
tion to the people. In the board of trustees 
some changes have occurred by reason of 
resignations and removals from the city. 
At present it is composed of the following 
well-known citizens: H, F. Blount, Charles 
H. Butterfield, J. A. Lemcke, Alexander 
Gilchrist, S. G. Evans, O. F. Jacobi, and 
Thomas E. Garvin. About 15,000 volumes 
of the best works on all subjects and some 
valuable art treasures are nowon its shelves. 
The efficient librarians are Misses Lou 
Scantlin and Tillie Goslee, who have been in 
the institution since its opening. 



Evansville Catholic Library Association. — 
This association was organized in March, 
1869, its purposes being to disseminate use- 
ful knowledge that would aid in the 
strengthening and upbuilding of the church. 
Its rooms are at the Church of the Assump- 
tion, corner Seventh and Vine streets. It 
contains about 1,000 volumes and is under 
the control of a board of trustees, with 
Eugene McGrath, president; E. C. Carson, 
secretary and librarian. 

The Vanderburgh County Library, in the 
county auditor's office, and the Pigeon 
Township Library, in the trustee's office, 
have a large collection of useful books, 
probably more than 5,000 volumes, acces- 
sible to the general public, but recent publi- 
cations are slowly added to these libraries, 
and because of better facilities afforded by 
the Willard hbrary, are frequented but little 
by the students. 




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i^X'' 



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CHAPTER XI. 



Bench and Bar — Circuit Court — Early Terms — First Officers Early 

Judges — John J. Audubon in Court — Trial and Execution of John Harvey 
— Character OF Early Trials — Later Circuit Judges — Changes Under the 

New Constitution — Court Seals — Probate Court — Common Pleas 

Criminal Circuit Court — Superior Court - - The Bar, Past and Present. 




ROM the time when, amid grand and 
fearful demonstrations of power, tlie 
decalogue was given to the world, 
tit and suitable times and places for the ex- 
pounding and enforcement of the laws have 
been indispensable in the history of every 
civilized people; the rigid maintenance of 
the substantial framework of the laws being 
the palladium of safety, harmony and order, 
and the only reliable and sure preventative 
of confusion, oppression and relaxation into 
anarchy and barbarism. The importance of 
law courts, then, cannot well be over-esti- 
mated. The law, without adequate means 
for its enforcement, would be a dead letter. 
The church, notwithstanding its high and 
holy mission, but for human laws would be 
powerless, and that such laws are, or ought 
to be, inspired by divine law, is not dis- 
puted; but whether so inspired or not, they 
must be executed b}' the courts. The 
judge, the clerk, the sheriff and attorneys are 
each and all officers and integrals of the 
court, and in order that justice ma}- be ad- 
ministered, the officers, from the highest to 
the lowest, ought to be men of known integ- 
rity, and peculiar fitness for their positions. 

The construction of the various public 
buildings devoted to the administration of 
justice, and for the punishment of offenders 
against the law, the formation of the various 
corporate bodies whose seats of justice have 
19 



been Evansville, and some facts concerning 
courts held here before the organization of 
Vanderburgh county in 1818, are recorded 
in another chapter. 

In this state the circuit court has always 
been a court of general jurisdiction, and 
other courts have been aids or relief for that 
court; therefore, this chapter will be devoted 
mainly to the circuit court. From the time 
of its first organization to the adoption of the 
code of 1852, the circuit court was presided 
over by a president judge, a man " learned 
in the law," and two associate judges in 
each county elected by the people. The 
associate judges presided in the absence of 
the president judge, and sat with him when 
present, with the power, but rarely exercised, 
to o\'errule the president judge. The cir- 
cuit court, from time to time in Vanderbur^-h 
county, has had limitations placed on its 
jurisdiction by the formation of other courts, 
as hereinafter adverted to. By the acts of 
1852 associate judges were dispensed with. 

The following is a substantial account of 
the transactions of the circuit court at its first 
terms, the records being quoted at some 
length : 

" February Term, iSiS: At a circuit court 
called and held at the house of Hu<>-h 
McGary, in the town of Evansville, in the 
county of Vanderburgh, on Mondav, the 
tvventy-thiru day of February, one thousand 

[327) 



S28 



BENCH AXD BAR. 



eight hundred and e4ghteen, the day 
appointed by an act of the general assembly 
of the state of Indiana, for holding the first 
circuit court in and for the said county of Van- 
derburgh, when present the Honorable 
Dayid Hart, president judge of the fourth 
judicial circuit court in the state of Indiana: 

" Ordered by the court that Hugh McGary 
be, and he is hereby appointed clerk of the 
circuit court for the county of Vanderburgh, 
until a clerk be commissioned and qualified, 
who thereupon appeared in court and took 
the oath to support the constitution of the 
United States, the state of Indiana, and the 
oath of office. 

" The sheriff, John B. Stinson, returned a 
panel of grand jurors, who being called, 
appeared as follows, to-wit : John Patterson, 
foreman; Andrew Sullivant, John Beach, 
John Slow, George W. Jacobs, James John- 
ston, William Wagnon, George Sircles, Jesse 
McCallister, Nathan Young, Lewis Tackett, 
Luke Wood, and John Xeal, thirteen good 
and lawful men, who, being tried and sworn 
receiyed their charge and retired to consult 
upon presentments, etc. 

"On application of Jacob Call, and it appear- 
ing to the court that the said Jacob Call, 
Charles Dewey, Richard Daniel, John Law 
and William Prince, haye been duly licensed, 
ordered that they be admitted to practice 
law in this court as attorneys and counsel- 
lors at la\y." 

The court appointed John Law as prose- 
cuting attorney for the term, and added three 
men, Patrick Calvert, John Armstrong and 
Ezekiel Saunders to the grand jury, the 
law then retjuiring that jury to be composed 
of sixteen men. 

With the dispatch usually characterizing 
grand juries of that period, two indictments 
were returned that same day, both for adul- 
tery, one against Daniel Robertson, and the 
other against Mary Tindal. The ordering 



of a capias for each of the indicted parties 
returnable instanter, completed the business 
of the court for that day. On the following 
day the grand jury returned bills against 
Matthew McClair and Daniel Robinson for 
assault and battery, also one endorsed not a 
true bill, against William and James John- 
son for larceny. But little more business of 
consequence was transacted, and the court 
adjourned "until court in course," having 
been in session two days. The record for 
the last day is not signed, and the term was 
held by the president judge alone, his asso- 
ciates not having been elected. 

The second term of the circuit court be- 
gan on the 25th day of Ma\-, 181S, at the 
house of Hugh McGary. In addition to 
David Hart, the president judge, there ap- 
peared at that time John McCrary and 
William Wagnon as his associates. John 
Law was again appointed prosecuting attor- 
ney. On the first day of this term occurred 
the first trial by jury in the new count)'. 
This was in the case of the state of Indiana 
against Matthew McClain for assault and 
batter}'. That jury was composed of the 
following men : William R. McGary, George 
Linxweiler, Levi Warren, Edward Hill, John 
Neal, Peter Linxweiler, Luke Wood, John 
Beach, John Slow, Peter Vandeventer, John 
T'.ler, and Andrew Sullivant. The jury 
found the " defendant not guilty in manner 
and form as he stands charged in the indict- 
ment." The first civil cause tried by the court 
appears in the records of that dav and was 
an action for debt, entitled Joseph A. Pat- 
terson and others zrrsiis Harrison Johnson. 
During this term John B. Stinson was al- 
lowed $30 for his services as sheriff for the 
year, and John Law, $100 for his year's 
services as prosecutor. The adoption of a 
seal, the trial of Jesse McGary and other 
matters of interest occurring at this time are 
mentioned in other connections. 



PERSONNEL OF THE COURT. 



329 



David Hart, the first president judge, 
was an able lawyer who came to Vander- 
burgh county from Kentucky, and for a 
lime practiced as an attorney in the district 
to which the new count}- of Vanderburgh 
was attached. His home was in the town 
of Evansville, and in later 3'ears he was one 
of the proprietors of the Upper enlarge- 
ment. His ability as a man of affairs and his 
wide acquaintance with the prominent men of 
his day in many parts of the state gave him 
considerable influence and enabled him to 
stamp his individuahty upon the legislation 
of the state. His family returned to Ken- 
tucky, where his descendants became hon- 
ored citizens. His successor, Richard Dan- 
iel, was a most peculiar character, his 
eccentricities of thought and action always 
attracting attention. But little is known of 
his personal career. Both before and after 
beinff on the bench he was a successful 
practitioner and rode the circuit through all 
the counties of southwestern Indiana. The 
records in this and neighboring counties in- 
dicate that he was connected with much 
important litigation, and tradition says that 
he was an able lawyer and a good judge. 
Associate judges were residents of 
the country and were not required to be 
" learned in the law." No citizen is sup- 
posed to be ignorant of the law, but the 
manifest ignorance of some associate judges 
caused the courts, as formerly constituted, 
to be called facetiously, courts of 100 — 
one judge and two naughts. However, in 
Vanderburgh county some of the best citi- 
zens sat on the bench as associate judges. 
The first of these, elected in 1818, were 
John McCrary and William Wagnon. John 
McCrary was a native of North Carolina, 
born in 1771, and came to Indiana territory 
when forty years of age, locating near the 
northwest corner of what is now \'ander- 
burgh county. When he came the country 



was new and Indians, were troublesome. In 
1813 he was on the spot where Evansville 
now is; a rude cabin covered with deerskins 
and buckhorns, occupied by Hugh McGary, 
was the only house in the vicinity. He was 
a minister of the gospel and a very devout 
man. Following his settlement in Indiana 
he purchased extensivelv through the Wa- 
bash valley, and later was instrumental in 
establishing the Christian order in this sec- 
tion. He was reared in a Presbjterian 
home, was educated in that faith, and in 
Tennessee, where he lived before coming 
northward, was a prominent revival preacher. 
He lived in Indiana twenty-six years and in 
1835 moved to Illinois. He had become far 
advanced in life; his children were all mar- 
ried; and two j-ears later he followed some 
of them to Iowa territory, where he 
lived until his earthly career was 
ended, in 1859. In 1824, he was 
chosen to represent Vanderburgh and 
Warrick counties in the state legislature. 
Politically, he was a whig, and later a re- 
publican. He retained his political zeal to 
the last. On the bench he was upright and 
just. Hon. George W. McCrary, of Iowa, 
in later 3-ears secretary of war, and United 
States judge, was his grandson. 

WiUiam Wagnon represented a different 
t)'pe of the pioneer. He early settled on 
section 33, in what is now Perry township, 
and subsequently removed to the northwest 
corner of the township, where he died when 
about ninety years of age. He was a rough 
character, unscrupulous, and of a low grade, 
mentally and morally. He wielded consid- 
erable influence in his da\-, however, and 
served for some time as a justice of the 
peace after leaving the bench. He sold 
whiskey to the Indians unlawfully, so itis reli- 
ably stated, and thus put the lives of the 
settlers in danger. He was several times 
prosecuted in the courts for adultery, and 



BENCH AND BAR. 



was divorced from his wife because he aban- 
doned her and hved with another woman. 
There was an indictment against George 
Wagnon, a son of the associate judge, and 
himself a rough character, to be tried at the 
March term of the court, in 1820. The 
president judge, James R. E. G oodlett, did 
not- arrive until the Thursday after the court 
met. On Tuesday morning, Richard Dan- 
iel, the attorney for George, moved the court 
to quash the indictment, and briefly argued 
the motion, when John Law, prosecuting 
attorne}-, suggested that as one member of 
the court was the father of the defendant, 
and as both must concur in order to render 
a decision, the court might feel a delicacy 
in passing upon the motion before the arrival 
of the president judge. The judges took 
the indictment and whispered together a few 
minutes, when Judge Wagnon responded 
that the court did not feel any delicacy about 
the matter, and that the indictment was bad 
and must be quashed, and that his son 
George should go hence without daj- or 
date. This is verified by the record. 

At the second term of the circuit court, 
held in May, 1818, the first indictment for 
murder was returned by the grand jury. It 
was drawn by John Law, prosecuting attor- 
ney, and charged Jesse McGary with killing 
his wife Catharine. McGary was one of 
the roucfh and uncouth backwoodsmen, and 
resided in what is now Scott township, near 
the Gibson county line. When arraigned 
he pleaded not guilty, and his trial was 
deferred until the next term of court. His 
bond was fixed in the sum of $10,000, and 
was signed by John B. Stinson, Hugh 
McGary, WiUiam R. McGary, Daniel 
Miller, Richard Carlisle, Robert McGary, 
David Whetstone, Andrew Sullivan'i:,William 
Elevens, George Linxweiler, Zadock 
McNew and David Brumfield. He was 
put on his trial at the March term, 1819, 



before a jury composed of Presley Pritchett, 
John Connor, Clark McCalister. Charles 
Evans, Benjamin McNew, John Armstrong, 
Isaac Farmer, William Blevens, jr., Peter 
Linxweiler, James B. Robertson, Robert 
Gibson and Morrison Fitzgerald. The ver- 
dict was " not guilty." The circumstances 
of the case were peculiar. Domestic 
trouble of some sort had entered McGary's 
cabin, and one day as his wife was coming 
in the door he sent a ball from his rifle 
through her heart. His acquittal was ob- 
tained on the ground that he had shot at a 
dog, not knowing that the woman was about 
to enter the house. 

Judge James R. E. Goodlett succeeded to 
the president judgeship in 1820, and for 
twelve years presided in this circuit. Born 
in Culpeper county, Va., he came to Indi- 
ana in 1816 when about twenty-six years of 
age, and settled at Cor3rdon. He soon 
moved to Paoli, and as early as 1818 went 
to Princeton, where he was practicing his 
profession when elected to the bench. He 
subsequently moved to Evansville, and after 
his retirement from the judgeship practiced 
law for a time in this part of the state. 
Leaving here he went to New Albany, 
thence to Bedford, where he became a com- 
mon pleas judge, and died while on the 
bench about 1857. He was phlegmatic and 
deliberate, a good counselor, a careful and 
wise judge, but not a brilliant practitioner, 
lacking that readiness of resource and 
rapidity of thought so essential to eminence 
as a jury law3-er. He was well versed in 
law, however, studied his cases well, and 
made up by thorough preparation what he 
lacked in celerity of thought. His method- 
ical habits and long experience as a judge 
made him slow in debate, and his arguments 
were without any display of enthusiasm or 
oratorcial ability. The law and the facts, 
clearh', earnestly and forcibl}', though sel' 



ASSOCIATE JUDGES. 



SSI 



dom eloquentl}^ presented, were depended 
on to carry his points. Because of these 
qualities he was generally successful as a 
practitioner. On the bench he was rigid 
and austere. It was his common prac- 
tice to fine attorneys for contempt upon 
meager provocation. The records show 
that he admitted James McKinne}' to prac- 
tice at the March term, 182 1, and on the 
same da\- tined the gentleman fifty cents for 
contempt. The usual amount assessed 
against those offending the majesty and 
dignity of the court was $3. When he be- 
came a practitioner the "tables were 
turned," and fines for contempt were freely 
imposed upon him. 

In 1822 another change in the personnel 
of the court occurred, when William Olm- 
stead replaced Judge Wagnon, and a wider 
difference in worth than existed between 
these two men can scarcely he conceived. 
Judge Olmstead was not a lawyer, but a cit- 
izen of high character, honorable and 
upright in ever}' social relation. In 1S18 he 
emigrated from New York state and settled 
in what is now Center township, where he 
lived for man\' years. He was intelligent 
and progressive, and did much to elevate 
and give tone to societ}'. He was a man of 
unblemished reputation, served satisfactorily 
as associate judge and couj^ty commissioner 
and by his pure and wise private and public 
life rose to a lofty place in the esteem of the 
people. His fitness for the bench was 
generally recognized; he served in that ca- 
pacity for twenty-two years — by far the 
longest service of the kind rendered by 
any citizen of Vanderburgh county. 

For fourteen years, from 1825 to 1839, 
John M. Dunham was the colleague of 
Judge Olmstead on the bench, and for 
honesty and integrity was perhaps the peer 
of any man in the county. He was well 
educated, conscientious, thoroughly just. 



generous, manly, and for many 3^ears a 
prominent citizen of recognized worth. His 
residence was in the city, about where 
Blount's plow factory now stands. In early 
times he was engaged in general merchan- 
dising, and succeeded in amassing what for 
those days was a great fortune. He was a 
prominent church member and intimately 
associated with man\- efforts to advance and 
better the moral tone of the community. 
His character and career, in all respects 
were worthy of admiration. His successor, 
John W. Lilliston, who served from 1839 to 
1842, was his inferior in mental capacity and 
moral strength. Mr. Lilliston had few traits 
worth}- of emulation. He was ungenerous, 
at times unscrupulous, and in pressing 
those unfortunate enough to become his 
debtors was without mercy. His disposition 
in this respect gained for him the .sobriquet 
of "old Black Hawk." At one time he 
made a profession of religion, but shortly 
afterward fell into possession of certain notes 
issued by a church society in the city to 
complete the construction of a house of 
worship. He obtained possession of the 
church property and on Sabbatia morning 
sent word to the minister and his cong-reca- 
tion that the key of the house was in his 
hands and that the church building was his 
property, which they could not enter with- 
out committing a trespass punishable at law. 
He had little refinement, was a citizen of the 
rougher sort, and is now chiefiy remembered 
by the characteristics referred to. He re- 
moved from the county, and, it is said, 
finally failed in business and died in poverty. 
One of the most interestino; of the early 
civil or chancery cases was that of Joseph 
M. McDowell et al. r'5. John J. Audubon et 
al. It derives its chief interest, not from 
the amount involved or the character of the 
transaction on which it was based, but from 
;he subsequent career of the principal re- 



BENCH AND BAB. 



spondent, Audubon, the famous naturalist. 
His establishment of a steam saw-mill at 
Henderson in early times and the failure of 
the enterprise are familiar facts. In i8ig, 
Joseph M. McDowell, William R. Bowen 
and Jonathan Anthony filed a bill in chancery 
against Jacob Gall, John J. Audubon, 
Thomas Litton and John Baddollet, reciting 
that Gall, through one Jacob Rouse., had en- 
tered 569 acres of land, in fractional sections 
2 and 3, township 7 south, range 11 west, 
and offered to sell the same for $300 to the 
complainant, and that Gall, having lost his 
certificate, a trip to Vincennes was made by 
Mr. Antlion}' to examine the record, when, 
everj'thing being satisfactory, the purchase 
was perfected and the money paid. The 
character of the ancient pleadings is so well 
exemplified in the papers of this case, that 
they are freely quoted from in this connec- 
tion. After reciting the facts of the pur- 
chase of the land by the complainants, and 
exhibiting in detail all papers connected with 
the transaction, the bill proceeds as follows: 
" Your orators further state, that some 
short time after their having so purchased 
as above, they indirectly understood that a 
mercantile speculating Frenchman by the 
name of John J. Audubon, who j^our orators 
pray ma}' be a defendant and party to this 
suit, with proper and sufficient apt words to 
charge him with the premises, had, a little 
while previous to your orators' purchase, 
made some kind of bargain with the said 
Jacob Gall respecting the said land, which 
information, though indirect and indistinct, 
induced your orators, who being plain men 
and unversed in the arts of intrigue, chicane 
and duplicity, and becoming somewhat 
alarmed, to enquire of the said Gall the par- 
ticularities of the transaction between himself 
and said Audubon respecting the said frac- 
tional sections of land, when lo! the said 
Audubon's pretended purchase was surrep- 



titious and malum in se, and of so shameful 
a character that it did not become indispen- 
sably necessary to be narrated by 3'our ora- 
tors in their bill, they would willingh' and 
through charity let it be hid, to be hereafter 
brought up in judgment against Mr. Audu- 
bon before the awful bar of heaven's chan- 
cery ! But inasmuch as your orators consider 
this pretended contract of said Audubon 
with said Gall as void ab initio from their 
fraud and perjury and subornation of per- 
jury afterwards committed and transacted, 
for your orators are informed and verily be- 
lieve that the said John J. Audubon, and 
who, combining and confederating with 
divers other persons, to your orators at this 
time unknown but whose names, when dis- 
covered, your orators pray ma}' be made 
defendants and parties hereto with proper 
and apt words to charge them with the 
premises, had written an assignment and 
transfer on the back of said Jacob Gall's 
certificate for the aforesaid two fractional 
sections of land, which he had artfully in- 
duced him to sign by making certain une- 
quivocal assurances, in which he, the said 
Gall, at that time too credulously confided; 
but the said Audubon's deceptions could 
not, nor did not, last very long, for shortly 
after the assignment, as it became, and was 
by the regulations of the land office at Vin- 
cennes, necessary that the said assignment 
should be acknowledged before some one 
judge or justice of the peace, wherefore 
they, the said Gall and Audubon, appeared 
before William Wagnon, Esq., then one of 
the justices of the peace in and for the said 
county of Vanderburgh, and when the said 
Gall, fortunately for himself, family and 
friends, rehearsed over and related to the 
said Wagnon, in Audubon's presence, and 
hearing their contract and agreement 
respecting the said land and the considera- 
tion of the assignment thereof, the said 



THE AUDUBON CASE. 



Audubon was oblifjed to show his cloven 
foot and denied the terms as previously 
agreed upon, whereupon the said Gall per- 
emptorily and unhesitatingly refused to ac- 
knowledge the said assignment and transfer 
and demanded back his aforesaid certificate 
of said Audubon which was affrontingly 
refused by him. This put the said Gall to 
some considerable embarrassment, but still 
supposing that the said Audubon had some 
modestv and veneration for truth and char- 
acter: he had little, in fact no idea of the 
abominable force which was afterward acted; 
for it appeared that he, the said Audubon, 
then, or shortly afterward, repaired to one 
Thomas Litton (who j'our orators pray 
may be made a defendant and party hereto 
with proper and apt words to charge him 
with the premises) as a justice of the peace 
(whose name in that character is a reproach 
to the community) in and for the said county 
of Vanderburgh and bv persuasions, or which 
is the more likely, bribes by the said Audu- 
bon, he, the said Litton, was induced to, and 
did affix to the said certificate and assign- 
ment a writing purporting to be an acknowl- 
edgment made by the said Gall before him, 
when in fact and truth the said Gall never 
did acknowledge the same before an\- iud^-e 
or justice whomsoever, nor did he intend nor 
would he do so after discovering said Audu- 
bon's fraud and deception, and when this 
abominable conduct came to the ears of said 
Gall and through him to the vvorld. the said 
Litton, fearful of an indictment or prosecu- 
tion for perjury, and other high ciimes and 
misdemeanors, made a precipitate departure 
and fled to parts unknown — maybe to the 
marshes and fens of Florida, to mire 
his guilt and remorse, or to the banks of 
the Mississippi, where by its accretions he 
might bury his infamy. And your orators 
are apprehensive that John Baddollet, Esq., 
register of the land ofllce for the district of 



Vincennes, who your orators pray nia\ be 
made a defendant and party hereto, with 
apt words to charge him with the premises, 
not being officially informed of your orators' 
aforesaid assignment and transfer, and 
through the deception and imposition of 
said Audubon, may grant and issue, if he 
has not already done so, a final or patent 
certificate, for the aforesaid fractional sec- 
tions of land to the said Audubon or to his 
assigns, instead of to your orators, as the 
bona fide assigns of the said Jacob Gall, 
thereby materially injuring and oppressing 
your orators; all which said actings, pre- 
tenses and doings of the said confederates, 
are contrary to equity and good conscience, 
and tend to the manifest injury and oppres- 
sion of your orators. In tender considera- 
tion, whereof, and for that your orators are 
remediless in the premises bv the strict 
rules of the common law, and relievable 
only in a court of equity where matters of 
this nature are properly cognizable." It was 
asked that "the said confederates may re- 
spectively make full, true, direct and perfect 
answers upon their respective corporal 
oaths, according to the best of their respect- 
ive knowledge, information and belief to all 
and singular the charges and matters as 
aforesaid, as fully and in every respect as if 
the same were here again repeated, and 
the}' thereunto particularly interrogated." 
The complaint then goes over again at great 
length the entire ground, interrogating the 
respondents as to all the details of the trans- 
action. The complainant's attornc}- was 
William Prince. 

Mr. Baddollet was notified by subpa^na. 
Gall, Audubon and Litton b\- ad\-ertisement. 
No • answers were filed, and at the Ma}' 
term, 1820, the coinplainants obtained a de- 
cree by default. Mr. Audubon had removed 
to Louisville, Ky., and in March, 1821, filed 
his answer. The former decree was opened. 



SS4 



]BENCH AND BA± 



In his answer, " reserving to himself all 
manner of exceptions to the manifold defects 
and want of substance in said bill," he de- 
nied generally the statements of the com- 
plainants, and stated his case substantially as 
follows: He had advanced Gall the money 
necessary to enter the land, upon his prom- 
ise to furnish 2,500 saw logs at $1 each; 
which contract was never fulfilled. The 
certificate showing first payment and a deed 
from Gall were placed in his hands, to be 
held until the logs were delivered, the trans- 
fer being made in the presence of David 
Megley and George Lindsey.as witnesses. 
He advanced money to carry on the work 
of cutting timber, and Gall, instead of pay- 
ing his debt, plunged deeper and deeper, 
until at length, being led to examine his se- 
curitv, he found it not in the form required 
bylaw. But "believing Gall incapable of 
such conduct as he w'as subsequently led 
into bv his co-partners," he let the matter 
rest, till one day he was besought by Gall 
to help him out of a difficulty. Gall had 
been arrested in Henderson for a debt of 
$180, and was about to be committed 
to "gaol." He declined to assist 
further the unfortunate man unless he would 
agree to make a proper transfer to secure 
his already heavy indebtedness. This Gall 
agreed to do in the presence of witnesses, 
on the strength of which Mr. Audubon be- 
came bail, and later paid the ^iSo.oo. On 
the day following the arrest Mr. Audubon 
proceeded to Gall's house in this count}-, 
and procured what he thought was a proper 
assignment, the acknowledgment being 
taken b\' Esquire Litton, a neighboring justice 
of the peace. " At this time your respond- 
ent," so runs the answer, "believes that 
Gall was influenced by a sincere desire to 
do what he himself called an act of justice 
to your respondent in securing him from the 
danger of being a sufferer in consequence 



of the advances he had made, and he thinks 
that Gall would have continued the straight 
and correct line of conduct toward your 
respondent which he was then pursuing, had 
not McDowell and his co-partners upon 
whom the infamy attached to the continu- 
ance of this nefarious transaction must and 
will fall — had not those 'plain men, unversed 
in the arts of intrigue, chicane, and duplicity,' 
stepped between Gall and honesty, and by 
means of their promises and his necessity, 
tempted him to do the deed for which he 
indeed will have to answer at the awful bar 
of heaven's chancery!" Mr. Audubon then 
proceeded to Evansville to have the county 
clerk certify Litton's official character, and 
was told by McGary, the clerk, that the 
transfer was not yet in proper form. He re- 
turned to have the corrections made — a sim- 
ple alteration in form — and reaching Gall's 
house, found there William Wagnon, " an- 
other plain man, unversed in the arts of 
intrigue, chicane and duplicit}'," also a jus- 
tice of the peace. Finding this officer at 
hand it w'as suggested that a new and 
proper transfer be made, to which Gall 
assented, but Wagnon refused to take the 
acknowledgment, declaring that he wanted 
the land to remain in Gall's possession, and 
intimating that he wanted some of it himself. 
However, Wagnon took Gall aside and re- 
mained absent with him for some time. 
Upon his return " the aforesaid type and 
representation of justice, William Wagnon, 
expressed a willingness to take the acknow- 
ledgment, but Gall had been steeped with 
liquor, and now in a brutal and drunken 
manner refused to sign. The respondent 
then says : " Your honorable court will ob- 
serve that this revolution was affected by 
completely dissipating eveiy sentiment of 
honor and justice that still had remained in the 
breast of the miserable tool of their diaboli- 
cal plot b}' the excessive quantity of ardent 



EXECUT10^^ OF HARVEY. 



335 



spirits with which he was supplied, for, 
abandoned as he was, he could not while in 
possession of his faculties act the part 
which was now put upon him. Your res- 
pondent left the spot in disgust, and meeting 
with Litton, he had the alteration effected, 
procured the necessary certificate from the 
clerk of the court aforesaid, and immedi- 
ate placed the whole of the papers in the 
hands of John BaddoUel, Esq., etc. In the 
meantime, by neglect of his business 
and dissipation. Gall's financial con- 
dition grew so bad that he "could 
not withstand the temptation held out to 
him by this conclave of plain and honorable 
men who it appears thought that $300 
was the fair market price of souls, and a 
full compensation for the small crime of 
perjur)' which they induced him to commit," 
for he went to Vincennes and swore he had 
lost a certificate which he knew at the time 
was in the hands of Mr. Audubon. 

The answer charges that Gall never re- 
ceived the $300 named as a consideration 
by McDowell and his associates and 
further recites that Gall afterward told 
Audubon, " in contrition " that he had re- 
ceived only " one indifferent horse with an 
old saddle and bridle " which "your respond- 
ent cannot but suppose were given to him 
by his kind friends to enable him to leave a 
place where his stas' might have been the 
means of laying open the plot so nicel\' and 
secretly formed, and rending asunder the 
web of infamy so ingeniously vvoven. " 
Denying all fraud, combination, perjury, 
subornation of perjury, bribery, etc., he 
proceeds to answer the bill specifically at 
great length, first, however, congratulating 
the complainants "upon their good fortune in 
not being obliged to swear to the bill, as they 
have thereby escaped the temporal pains 
and penalties of perjury." 

Mr. Audubon's attorne}' was J. Hillyer. 



The case was not finally settled until the 
October term, 1822, when the following 
entr^- was made: "Whereupon, the cause 
coming on to be tried upon the original bill, 
answer and exhibits, it is ordered, adjudged 
and decreed, that the complainants take 
nothing by their bill, and that the said de- 
fendants go hence williout day, and recover 
against the said complainants their costs and 
charges by them about their suit in this be- 
half expended, and the complainants be and 
remain in mercy," etc. 

The first and only judicial execution in 
Vanderburgh county was the hanging of 
John Harvey, who was put upon his trial on 
Wednesday, June 4, 1S23, and on the 7th 
day of June was sentenced. The crime for 
which the death penalt}- was inflicted was 
the murder of one Casey, near the old Mc- 
Dowell farm, in Union township. The trial 
was conducted before Judges Goodlett, Mc- 
Crary and Olmstead, and a jury composed 
of Joseph Wilson, Joseph McCallister, Jesse 
McCallister, Samuel Kenj-on, Elisha Dur- 
phey, Lewis Williams, John Fickas, Henr}' 
James, Elijah Waters, Benjamin F. Barker, 
Vicissimus K. Phar and Robert Gibson. 
But one da\' was consumed in making up 
the jur}' and taking the evidence. The de- 
liberations of the jury w-ere brief; the ver- 
dict, guilt3^ A new trial was asked for and 
denied: a motion to arrest judgmicnt was 
overruled, and the following judgment 
entered : 

" Whereupon all and singular the 
premises being seen and by the court here 
fully understood, it is considered bv the 
court here that the said John IIar\ey return 
to the count}' jail from whence he came, 
from whence he must be taken to the place 
of execution by the sheriff of the county, to 
some convenient place within one mile of 
the court-house in Evansville, on Friday, 
the 27th day of June, instant, and then and 



BENCH AND BAR. 



there, between the hours of 9 o'clock in the 
forenoon and 2 o'clock in the afternoon, to 
be hung upon a suitable gallows, for that 
purpose to be erected, by the neck until he 
is dead " 

The gallows was erected on the public 
square in Evansville, near the center of the 
southwest quarter. The militia was called 
out under command of Gen. Robert M. 
Evans, assisted b}' Col. Hugh McGary. 
The soldiers marched upon the ground four 
abreast, and formed a hollow sijuare sur- 
rounding the gallows. They remained in 
position until the body of Harve}' was cut 
down and laid in the coffin. When Maj. 
Warner (R. N.), then sheriff of the county, 
shook hands with the condemned man he 
cried like a child, even before springing the 
trap. Harvey died easily, and was buried 
near the foot of the gallows. His bones 
were dug up when the workmen were ex- 
cavating for the erection of the buildings 
now occupying the ground, and were gath- 
ered up and articulated by the late Dr. 
Isaac Hutchinson. Though the unfortunate 
man undoubtedly did the killing for which 
he was made to suffer, many persons 
doubted whether it was a case of murder. 
As is common in such matters, a woman 
was in the case. 

Besides the cases mentioned, for nearly 
twenty years there were few trials of im- 
portance. The attention of the court was 
chiefly directed to petty criminal matters. 
Following the hard times of 1820, there 
were a few petitions of insolvent debtors for 
a release from the payment of debts. Some 
of these were presented by men who after- 
ward became prominent, among them John 
M. Dunham, Vicissimus K. Phar and E. 
Saterlee. Civil cases of small importance 
and the settlement of estates consumed much 
of the court's time. Divorce suits were not 
infrequent. The principal of these, perhaps, 



because of the prominence pf the parties, 
was that between Dr. William Trafton and 
his wife Hannah, and that against William 
Wagnon, brought by Mar}', his wife; in 
the former case the property of Dr. Trafton 
was equally divided between himself and wife, 
Jay Morehouse and Horace Dunham being 
appointed by the court to make the division. 
Mrs. Watrnon alleged abandonment and 
infidelity, and, by agreement of the parties, 
obtained a decree. State cases were nu- 
merous, and were based on all sorts of vio- 
lations of law, those for assault and battery 
being the most frequent. In those days a 
man's readiness to fight and his skill in per- 
sonal combat were tests of his manhood. 
Indictments for assault and battery were re- 
turned against many of the foremost men of 
the county. Hugh McGary received more 
attention in this line perhaps than any other 
individual. He was once indicted for ob- 
taining money under false pretenses, 
and again for adultery, but in 
neither of these cases was he found 
to be guilty. Gen. Elisha Harrison was 
tried for assault and battery with intent to 
murder. He was acquitted of the intent to 
murder but found guilty of the assault and 
battery. His fine was probably the lowest 
ever assessed by an}- jur}- in this county, be- 
ing one mill. 

Among the pioneers there were few. if 
an)', better men than John Ingle, and yet he, 
too, was tried for assault and battery. When 
arraigned he pleaded guilt}' and threw himself 
on the mere}' of the court. The merciful 
judge punished him with a fine of one cent. 
Maj. Alanson Warner, a conspicuous- figure 
of early times, well remembered by the 
older citizens of to-day, was also fined for a 
similar proof of temper. Ezekial Saunders, 
the pioneer preacher, and a good man, was 
indicted for usurpation, tried, found guilty, 
and fined one cent. There were also num- 



EAELY LITIGATION. 



3S7 



berless indictments for extortion, taking up 
horses, larcenj-, counterfeiting, selling liquor 
or practicing medicine without license, adul- 
tery, disturbing religious meetings, gambling, 
and apparently every form of wrong-doing 
that man's sinful nature could make pos- 
sible. Philip H. Brent and James McClane 
were charged with man-stealing; other in- 
dictments of the same kind were occasionally 
returned. Mark Wheeler was one of the 
purest and most upright men that ever lived 
in this county, and yet he was put on trial 
for marking a hog with intent to steal it. 
David Aikin was foreman of the jury that 
tried the case. It is hardly necessar}' to say 
that the verdict was "not guilty." In 1824 
Samuel W. Hammond was indicted for 
issuing a challenge to tight a duel, and upon 
his trial bj^ a jury of which George W. 
Jacobs was foreman, was found not guilty. 
In the next year Samuel Scott, for whom a 
township was named, was placed under 
bonds to keep the peace, especially as to 
Kirby Wood. Thus indefinitely the account 
might be carried on. Individuals are named 
m this connection with no desire to reflect 
discredit upon them but with a view of 
showing the character of the court's busi- 
ness and incidentally the conditions of societ}- 
at the times referred to. The facts certainlj- 
furnish no support for theories of social 



retrogression. 



The court's connection with the pension- 
ing of soldiers and sailors is worthy of notice, 
that practice now being unknown. B3' laws 
enacted March 18, 1818, pensions were 
granted to the survivors of the revolutionarv 
war, and in order to receive the benefit of 
these laws apphcants were required to make 
their proofs before the court within whose 
circuit they resided. The necessar}- proof 
was made in the following cases: In 1827, 
by Daniel McCollum, aged eighty-three 
years, and Shadrach Elkins, aged seventy- 



eight years, both residents of Posey county. 
In 1829, by John Henson, aged sixty-two 
years, and in 1832, by Elijah Stinson, aged 
seventy-nine years, both residents of Van- 
derburgh county. The practices of the 
grand jur}- are also worth}- of notice. If 
to-day grand jurors would take cognizance 
of such cases as in earlier times formed 
a basis for indictments the court would be 
kept remarkably busy, but perhaps a greater 
degree of social purity than now exists would 
be obtained. Some grand juries inquired 
carefully into all things affecting the public 
welfare, whether or not they were strictly 
violations of law. At the March term, 1822, 
the grand jury of that year, with William 
Pennock as foreman, made a general report 
to the court, denouncing the practice, which 
was said to prevail in the county, " of the 
candidates for the various oflices treating 
electors and others with spirituous li(juors 
for the purpose of obtaining their election." 
With concern and regret they viewed the 
practice as a public evil, subversive of repub- 
lican principles, and having a tendency to 
corrupt the morals and produce habits, which, 
if permitted to be pursued, would in the 
end destroy the pillars of the government. 
Their report was spread at length upon the 
records of the court and directed to be 
printed in the EvansviUc Gazette. 

In March, 1832, Judge Samuel Hall 
presented his commission, signed by Gov. 
Noah Noble, as presiding judge of the 
fourth judicial circuit, and took his seat upon 
the bench. Previously Judge Hall had re- 
sided at Princeton, in Gibson county, where 
he was doing a small practice. He was not 
well known in Evansville, and probably 
never tried a case in the courts of this count}^ 
before he was called upon to preside. He 
was a safe counselor, a good judge of law, 
cool, dispassionate and accurate, but pos- 
sessing few of the brilliant qualities that 



338 



BENCH AND BAR. 



were necessary to the conspicuous advocate 
of that day. After leaving the bench he be- 
came president of the E. & C. (now 
E. &T. H.) Railroad company, and was bet- 
ter known to the people generally as a rail- 
road man than as a lawyer. He was an able 
manager and proved himself an efficient man 
of affairs. He was deservedly popular, 
and was widely respected for his qualities 
of genuine manliness. He had the reputa- 
tion of being an upright and honorable citi- 
zen. Nothing derogatory to his character 
could be truthfully said by any one. The 
later years of his life were uneventful and 
he died in Princeton, where a son of his 
now resides. He took some interest in pol- 
itics, and at one time aspired to a nomina- 
tion for congress. 

Judge Hall resigned his office in 1S35, 
and was succeeded by Judge Charles I. 
Battell, appointed to the vacanc}', who 
presided only through one term of court. 
Judge Battell was a resident of Evansville, 
and a conspicuous member of tlie highest so- 
cial circles. His service on the bench was of 
short duration, and it was not as a judge 
that h-e was best known. The firm of Bat- 
tell & Ingle had more extensive business re- 
lations throughout the east than those 
enjoyed by any other firm. Their work 
was chief!}' of a commercial character, and 
their clients non-residents, and the Branch 
Bank, then doing business here. He was 
scholarly and devoted to his books. His 
practice was not of that general character 
which enabled him to acquire his knowledge 
from his associates at the bar, but required 
a careful consultation of authorities. His 
work was chiefly in the adjustment of com- 
mercial disputes and the settlement of es- 
tates — a very valuable branch of the 
practice, requiring the exercise of the 
greatest care and ability and permitting no 
display which would attract public notice. 



Judge Battell was not practical, but consci- 
entious and careful to be right; in 
.the privacy of his office he was a safe 
counselor. He was remarkable for his 
absent-mindedness, and was guilty of many 
queer freaks, due to that characteristic. It 
is related of him that he often wrote letters 
to parties at a distance, enclosed them in 
envelopes, which he addressed to himself, 
posted them, and in due time received them 
back through the mails. If Evansville had 
a social beau in early times, it was Judge 
Battell. He was an old-school gentleman, 
polished, gallant and charming in conversa- 
tion, a most welcome guest at every social 
gathering, and a delightful companion at all 
times. He was unmarried and had no rela- 
tives here. He retired from the practice 
about 1847, and soon afterward, while in 
Ohio, met with a severe accident by the 
overturning of a stage-coach, which crip- 
pled him for life. He spent much of his 
time in Evansville, and occasionally visited 
in New York city, where he died, probably 
twenty years ago. 

At the first regular election following 
Judge Hall's resignation Elisha Embree, 
of Princeton, Gibson county, was elected 
judge of the fourth judicial circuit, and 
was commissioned December ri, 1835, by 
Gov. Noah Nobles. His first term in this 
county was held in March, 1836. Judge 
Embree was a native of Kentucky and 
came to Indiana territor}- with his parents in 
181 1, locatincr near Princeton. He studied 
law in the office of Judge Hall, and 
was admitted to practice in 1825. 
Before sointj on the bench he 
had served in the state senate 
where he was one of the few who had the 
courage to oppose the internal improvement 
legislation which subsequently bore such 
evil fruits. In the practice of his profession 
at Princeton, he was eminently successful, 



AN ERA OF GAMING. 



339 



being early recognized as an able and elo- 
quent advocate and a sound and practical 
counselor. Throughout his career he main- 
tained an enviable position among the ablest 
members of the bar. His thorough acijuaint- 
ance with every branch of the law, and his 
clear perceptive faculties, made him an ex- 
cellent judge. . It was imptjssible for the 
best pleaders to confuse him or lead him 
away from the main point in a case by elo- 
quence, sophistry, or any art known to the 
profession. He never practiced in this 
county and was not known here as a prac- 
titioner. He was a plain man, practical and 
unostentatious. Though without polish or 
the graces which adorn the cultured gentle- 
man, his mind was vigorous, his manners 
simple, and his character above reproach. 
In personal appearance he was tall, angular, 
with high cheek-bones and large features. 
He always dressed in what appeared to be 
home-spun jeans — material not in general 
use among judges and lawyers even at that 
day. In appearance he was almost a Jac 
siinilc of Gov. Williams, known to later 
generations, and -familiarly called "Blue 
Jeans Williams." In 1847 he was elected 
to congress, defeating Robert Dale Owen, 
then at the height of his power and con- 
sidered impregnable. The campaign was 
looked at as a battle between giants, and 
was hotly contested. The chief issue was 
the tariff,JudgeEmbree setting forth the ad- 
vantages of protection to American indus- 
tries and diversified interests, and Mr. Owen 
arguing for free trade, and predicting the 
ultimate greatness of the nation, if ex- 
clusively a producer of raw materials and 
possessing a lirm hold upon the world's 
markets. Judge Embree served but one 
term in congress and was defeated for re- 
election. Thereafter until 1863 when his 
death occurred he resided at Princeton man- 
aging his private interests. In every walk 



of Hfe he attained a distinguished position. 
In the transaction of the chancery busi- 
ness of the court all of the old common law 
pleadings with their stilted and prolix ver- 
biage filled the pages of the records. The 
forms of actions were multifarious. Debt, 
trover, covenant, assumpsit, detinue, tres- 
pass, trespass on the case, etc., etc., were 
brought into use to suit the various combina- 
tions of facts. About 1S35 a marked in- 
crease in this branch of the court's business 
was observable. Evansville had become a 
town of considerable importance, and men 
were so occupied with business affairs that 
they found less time for fighting. That di- 
version, however, was indulged in quite 
freely. Other forms of amusement began 
to interest the pioneers. The excitement of 
card playing had irresistible charms for the 
most of them. Their love for poker was 
wonderful. At that time the game was very 
popular and fashionable throughout the 
United States among those of high social 
standino-. Many men of national repute 
succumbed to the enticements of the game 
and often "took a hand " at high stakes. 
Representatives and senators in congress, 
members of the cabinet and even the presi- 
dents yielded to the fascination. Steam- 
boats on the Ohio river were frequented by 
professional gamblers, some of whom were 
men of courage, education, social culture and 
many polite accomplishments who gave tone 
and rrrace to their unlawful profession. The 
evil prevailed at Evansville and led to scores 
of indictments and limitless sport. 

Charles Hancock and John B. Mansell 
were tried in March, 1837, for keeping a 
o-amins house, and on conviction were fined 
$50.00. They fought the case with 
vigor; asked for a new trial, were denied, 
and moved to arrest judgment, w ere over- 
ruled, and finally paid the fine and costs. 
There were indictments for keeping nine- 



340 



BENCH AND BAR. 



pin alleys, and for other offenses connected 
with gaming. 

During the campaign of 1836 between 
Van Buren and Harrison, the excitement in 
Evansville was very great. As a result, 
many wagers were made. Gen. Robert 
M. Evans and F. E. Goodsell staked $500 
each on the electoral vote of Indiana, Gen. 
Evans betting that Harrison would get the 
vote. Both were indicted and fined, Gen. 
Evans in the sum of one cent, and Mr, 
Goodsell to the extent of $30.52. John 
Mitchell bet a coat pattern valued at $25 
with William M. Walker, that Martin Van 
Buren would not be elected president of the 
United States. After the election both, 
though among the most prominent of 
Evansville's early citizens, were prosecuted 
and fined for their violation of the law. It 
may be remarked in passing that the now 
venerable Judge John Pitcher was the pros- 
ecuting attorney at that time. 

About this time some other trials of a 
criminal nature attracted general attention. 
In 1S30 Daniel Rose, of Armstrong town- 
ship, was indicted for manslaughter. " Not 
having the fear of God before his e}-es, but 
being seduced by the instigation of the 
devil," he had killed Patsey Rose, his wife. 
It was charged that while she was heavy 
with child he had beaten her with a beach 
stick on June 10, in the 3'ear named; that on 
July 17, he had seized her violently and put 
her out of the house, she being sick at the 
time, having lately given birth to her child, 
and that two days later she died. Judge 
Charles I. Battell prosecuted the case, but 
it was not tried until September, 1832, when 
a verdict of " not guilty " was returned. 

In May, 1835, "^ child was found dead in 
an open field near the dwelling of Nelson 
Jackson, and it was believed that 
Ehza Eaton was the perpetrator of the 
crime. She was unrnarried and was 



known to have given birth to a child. The 
indictment charged her with causing the 
death in three different ways: first, by tak- 
ing it to the field, secreting and deserting 
it, thus causing death for lack of nourish- 
ment; second, by choking it with a cord; 
third, by inflicting with some hard substance 
a mortal wound on its head — a cut three 
inches long and an inch deep being discov- 
ered on its head when found. The prose- 
cution was conducted b}' John Pitcher, but 
the woman was acquitted. 

In the same year Samuel Taylor was in- 
dicted for stealing a horse from Joseph Rose, 
in Armstrong township. Horse-stealing was 
a crime almost equal to homicide. The 
case was continued through several terms. 
At length a writ of capias ad respondendum 
was returned, " not found," and the prose- 
cution of the case ceased. 

Thomas Barnett, sr., was indicted for 
manslaughter in 1837, was tried two years 
later and acquitted, having had a previous 
trial, in which the jur}- failed to agree. 

In 1835 Philip Hornbrook, a most excel- 
lent gentleman and pioneer citizen of Scott 
township, brought a case into court on ap- 
peal from a justice of the peace, as next 
friend of "Charles (a boy of color)," against 
Thomas Duncan, and Henry Smith, wherein 
it was claimed that the defendants, with 
" divers sticks, clubs, knives, dirks, swords, 
fists and other weapons," had beaten the 
boy, had tied with a rope and taken him 
about two miles against his will and had im- 
prisoned him twelve hours. On the tria 
the jury failed to agree, and a year later by 
agreement the case was dismissed, the de- 
fendants paving the costs. About the same 
time the grand jury returned a true bill 
against Edmond Maidlow, another of Scott 
township's best citizens, for harboring a ne- 
gro, it being charged that " Charles, a mu- 
latto " had come into the state, had not given 



JUDGE LOCKHART. 



SJtl 



bond that he would not become a pauper^ 
and was hired and harbored by Mr. Maid- 
low who knew these facts. Mr. Maidlow 
was brought to trial in March, 1836, and 
found not guiltv. These facts suggest that 
the hope of obtaining revenge was not with- 
out its charm even at that time. 

Five colored people were brought into 
court on a writ of h.ihc.is corpus in 1836. 
They were Delila Leach and her four child- 
ren, who obtained their freedom upon the 
death of their master, James Leach, of Mis- 
sissippi, through the terms of his will, which 
also directed his executor to send them to 
Indiana or Liberia as they might choose. 
The\' arrived in Evansville with a copy of 
the late master's will and letters from the 
executor, and were taken possession of by 
Dr. William Trafton, who claimed that they 
were not emancipated bv the will according 
to the laws of Mississippi, and that by the 
letter of the executor he was requested to 
take charge of them. The court, upon 
hearing the facts, discharged them from the 
custody and power of Dr. Trafton. 

Following the financial crisis of 1837 there 
was an enormous increase in the civil busi- 
ness of the court. There was wide-spread 
failure in mercantile circles; suits for the 
recovery of debts, foreclosures and eject- 
ments were a most natural sequence. The 
letters of Amos Clark, one of the most 
prominent lawyers of that day, are quoted 
elsewhere in these pages to show the real 
conditions of the times. Judgments were 
taken against the best men in this part of 
the country. The rapid immigration pre- 
ceding that year had increased the number 
of citizens who were directed to the courts 
of this count\' for the preservation of rights 
and redress of wrongs, and thus a large nat- 
ural increase in the volume of the court's 
business had been effected. Three terms 
had been established where two had previ- 



ously sufficed, but one of these, owing to the 
generally demoralized condition into which 
all public affairs of the state were thrown 
about that time was soon thereafter taken 
away. The litigation consequent upon the 
hard times of that period taxed the energies 
of the court probably as never at anj- other 
time, and certainly as never before. 

The last mentioned of the president judges 
was Hon. Elisha Embree. His successor. 
Judge James Lockhart, commissioned in 
March, 1846, by Gov. James Whitcomb, 
was a resident of Evansville, and before 
ascending to the bench had become one of 
the foremost lawyers in this part of the 
state. His selection to the important office 
was a just tribute to his abilities and worth. 
A native of New York he was born 1806, 
and died in this city in 1857. Admitted to 
the Evansville bar in 1832, he soon gained 
recognition as an able and erudite lawyer. 
He was not a man of quick perception and 
ready speech, but studious and painstaking. 
When addressing court or jury he was 
slow, deliberate and earnest. His intense 
interest in an}- case which he undertook, and 
his deep, enthusiastic earnestness carried 
conviction. He was known as a book law- 
yer, plodding patientlv through authorities 
\ and working his cases thoroughl}-. He was 
I much like Judge Iglehart, well known to 
later practitioners, except that he lacked 
some of the smoothness of the latter and was 
not as clear a writer. Throughout his ca- 
reer as a practitioner he held a commanding 
position. On the bench he was impartial, 
just and thoroughly capable. For several 
years he was prosecuting attorney for the 
district, was a member of the constitutional 
con\ention in 1 851, and was elected to a seat 
; in the Thirty-second congress but died be- 
fore taking the office. He was well known 
' as a politician throughout the district, and 
I was a recognized leader of the democracy. 



34i 



BENCH AND BAR. 



Socially he enjoyed a very high standing, 
being refined and cultivated and having a 
most excellent wife, daughter of David 
Negley, of Centre township. The fact is 
worthy of mention that the only dinner ever 
given to the Evans\'ille bar was at the hos- 
pitable home of Judge Lockhart, shortly 
before his election to congress. There were 
then about sixteen la\v\'ers in the city, and 
all were present on the occasion. It need 
hardly be said that a most delightful after- 
noon was enjoyed. His attainments and 
character gave Judge Lockhart a lasting 
hold upon the esteem of his contemporaries 
in social and professional circles. 

The next to preside in the circuit court 
of Vanderburgh county, was Alvin P. 
Hovey, who was commissioned in Septem- 
ber, 1 85 1, by Gov. Joseph A. Wright. The 
career of Gen. Hovey is a part of the state 
and national history, now fresh in the minds 
of the people because of his recent elevation 
from the halls of congress to the highest 
executive office in the state of Indiana. He 
is not the creature of advantageous circum- 
stances, but struggHng against adversity 
from his youth, by dint of persevering indus- 
try he has achieved a most honorable career. 
His home was at Mt. Vernon, in Posey 
county, and there he pursued the study 
of law in the office of that eminent 
lawver, Judge John Pitcher. He was 
a consumer of the " midnight oil," study- 
ing under great disadvantages, but j'ielding 
to no form of adversit}'. In the old court 
house, in one of the small chambers on the 
upper floor he had his bed and his books. 
The light from his window was a sort of 
beacon, late at night, visible even beyond 
the limits of the town. He was a well-read 
lawyer, and as a practitioner was very pop- 
ular among the members of the bar. When 
he went on the bench he was a j'oung man, 
but his abilities were such that he easily un- 



derstood the intricacies of the law and was 
able to solve disputed questions in harmony 
with justice and right. Dignity on the 
bench he always maintained with the utmost 
rigor. He was ver}' considerate of all attor- 
neys, especially of young men, always giv- 
ing them a fair opportunity, it mattering 
not against whom they were pitted. 

In his earl^' career he affiliated with the 
whigs, but in 1848 joined the democracy 
and was soon thereafter elected to the judge- 
ship by that party. Later he became a 
repubhcan, and for many years has been a 
party leader in the state. He has always 
been a decided partisan, without, however, 
obtruding his political opinions on others in 
an offensive way. He has been so tolerant 
and considerate that manj-, differing from 
him politically, have for him the warm- 
est feelings of friendship. For more 
than thirty-five years General Hovey 
has been one of the most prominent 
men in the state. During the civil war few 
excelled him in patriotic devotion to the 
Union; few achieved a brighter record for 
gallantr}', heroism, and generalship. He 
has ably represented the nation in foreign 
courts; he has sat with honor and dignity 
upon the supreme bench of the state; with 
unusual abilitv he has served his district in 
the national congress, and has become the 
(governor of his state. 

The March term, 1852, was the first held 
after 1819 without associate judges. In 
1842 John W. Lilliston had been succeeded 
by Conrad Staser, an upright and honorable 
man, who resided in Scott township. He 
was a farmer by occupation, and, like his 
predecessors, knew very little of the law. 
He was the son of the German pioneer 
Frederick Staser, who was one of tfie 
earliest settlers in the county. His life was 
uneventful, his elevation to the bench prob- 
ably being the greatest recognition given to 





U^'C.iAy 



i/^^L<}r-i^^f7Z7' 



CHANGES IN 1852. 



S43 



his abilities b}' his fellow citizens. His 
career as a citizen was honorable through- 
out. His death occurred while on his wa\' 
to California about 1850. In 1844 Silas 
Stephens succeeded Judge Olmstead. Judge 
Stephens was a man of sterling worth, pos- 
sessing the attributes of genuine manhood, 
and in his career reflecting honor upon him- 
self and the communit}' of which he was a 
part. lie was a native of Kentucky, born in 
1801, and in his youth learned the trade of a 
saddler. He came to Vanderburgh county in 
1822, with no worldly possessions but the 
clothes of a pioneer hunter and a rifle. By 
steadfast industry, strict economy, and an 
unswerving adherence to honorable methods, 
he accumulated a valuable estate. His earh' 
manhood was devoted to a business career, 
he being principally engaged with work at 
his trade and in mercantile pursuits. After 
leaving the bench he resided near the cit\', 
occupied with the management of his large 
private interests. When elected judge he 
had no legal education, but his strong mind, 
large store of good common sense, his up- 
rightness and strict sense of honor, fitted 
him admirably for the position. He did not 
allow himself to remain uninformed in the 
law, but by patient study became familiar 
with the duties of his office, and proved him- 
self an able and successful oflicial. Judge 
Stephens married Miss Julienne E\ans, 
daughter of Gen. Robert M. Evans. Their 
descendants occupy an honorable place in 
this communilv to this dav. 

The last of the associate judges was 
William Shook, who succeeded Judge Staser 
in 1S49. ^^^ ^^'''^ 'I farmer residing in 
Union township, very ilHterate, possessing 
no knowledge of law, but having good judg- 
ment and a fair amount of common sense. 
He was kind-hearted and rather an enter- 
prising citizen. His habits of life were not 
(fOod, and his moral perceptions were obtuse. 
?0 



He was once a justice of the peace, but at- 
tained no other distinction. 

Before the adoption of the code of 1852 
the common law practice pro\'ided for 
actions at law and suits in chancery- ; actions 
at law being subdivided and classified as- 
sumpsit, debt, trespass, case, trover, eject- 
ment, etc. B\- the code the distinction be- 
tween actions at law and suits in equity was 
abolished, and one form for all actions pro- 
vided, a complaint stating the facts consti- 
tuting the cause of action. This radical 
change notwithstandintr its tendency to ob- 
scure the salutary principles that obtained in 
chancery courts, and to encourage loose 
pleading, has, on the whole, worked well, 
under the new order of things; while before, 
chancery cases were tried by the court, 
afterward all cases at the election of either 
party were tried by a jury, and in cases that 
wotild have been chancery causes, suits for 
the settlement of long and intricate partner- 
ships, etc., there was frequently a mis- 
carriage of justice, for jurors were not 
allowed even to take notes of the evidence. 
This condition of affairs was remedied by 
the code of 1881, which provides that all 
cases which before the code of 1852, were 
of exclusive chancery jurisdiction, shall be 
tried by the court. 

The adoption of the code of 1852 ended 
forever the careers of the mythical John 
Doe and Richard Roe, who had for years 
been familiar to ever}- lawyer as the chief 
figures in a legal fiction used in actions for the 
recovery of real estate. The new code pro- 
vided that every cause should be prosecuted 
b\' the real party in interest and against the 
real party complained of. The alacrity 
with which Doe always stepped in to vindi- 
cate the alleged right of the man out of pos- 
session, and the equal promptness of Roe to 
insist that the man in possession was the 
lawful owner and entitled to retain his pos- 



BENCH AND BAR. 



session, were such that old practitioners 
could not take a final leave of these knights- 
errant of the common law without feelings 
of intense regret. With the abolition of 
fictions, and a modification and simplification 
of many forms of proceedure, much of the 
intricate learning of the old common law fell 
into disuse and became mere matters of his- 
tory. Those who had studied the common 
law and by long years of practice, had be- 
come thoroughly imbued with its principles, 
admired it for its grandeur, wisdom and em- 
bodiment of the right principles of justice 
and equity. It had been founded on the 
wisdom and experience of ages, and its ad- 
mirers stood in awe of any attempt to prune 
it, eyen of its smallest branches. Man\- of 
the old practitioners regarded the innova- 
tion as sacrilege, few became reconciled to 
the change, and some went so far as to 
abandon the practice forever. 

The character of the court's busin'ess, 
though transacted in a different way, has 
been much the same since 1852, as it 
was before that date. Extensive and 
important litigation has frequently engaged 
its attention. Crimes and misdemeanors 
have been committed frequently, and even 
a brief account of the man}- important crim- 
inal trials of recent years can not be under- 
taken. The penitentiary has received a 
large ([uota of its inmates from Vander- 
burgh county. \yrong-doing has never 
been allowed to go unpunished through a 
lack of judicial integrity or a failure on the 
part of any officer of the court in the per- 
formance of duty. 

The civil cases, because of the advance- 
ment of the locality in wealth, and the in- 
crease in the fortunes of individuals and 
corporations, have been of much greater 
importance, if measured by the amounts in- 
volved, in late years than formerly'. The 
most important of these, up to the time of 



its trial, and perhaps as interesting a case as 
any ever heard by the court was that enti- 
tled Longworth vs. Bell and Kiger. The 
trial was conducted by Conrad Baker, 
Thomas E. Garvin and Alvin P. Hovey, for 
the plaintiff; by James Lockhart, J. J. 
Chandler, James G. Jones and James E. 
Blythe, for the defendants; and was heard 
b}' Judge William E. Niblack. It involved 
the title to 160 acres of land, then near the 
boundary of the city, and now within its 
limits. There was rather a striking similar- 
it}'' between the case and that in which 
John J. Audubon was defendant, in earlier 
3'ears. The land in dispute had been 
entered about 1820, by Messrs. Pear- 
son and Paxton, general merchants 
then in business at Cincinnati, Ohio. The 
credit system was then in vogue on land 
entries, and full paj'ment was not at first 
made. It appeared that afterward Mr. 
Longworth paid the purchase money. The 
firm of Pearson & Paxton failed. The cer- 
tificate of purchase for the land was taken 
by Nicholas Longworth, of Cincinnati, in 
payment of its debts with an irregular or in- 
formal assignment on the back of, or attached 
to, the certificate. Mr. Longworth left the 
certificate in the hands of Vachel Worthing- 
ton, a Cincinnati lawyer, who deposited it in 
his safe. He then took possession of the 
land, and through his agents had put a part 
of it in cultivation, had cleared it of its tim- 
ber, and made use of it as if his title had 
been perfect. After the lapse of }'ears, Mr. 
Lonijworth forjjot how his title was obtained 
and onl\' knew in general that he had long 
been in possession and that his ownership 
was based upon a title properly acquired, as 
he thought, in the first instance. The records 
of the land office and of this county showed 
nothing be\'ond the entr\- of the land by 
Pearson & Paxton. The claim of Bell & 
Kiger was based upon deeds frorn the heirs 



LATER JUDGES. 



34,5 



of these merchants. When the suit was 
commenced Mr. Longworth was unable to 
show title of any sort. During- the progress 
of the trial, the lawyer Worthington, when 
about to abandon the practice, was examin- 
ing the accumulated mass of old papers 
in his safe and ollice and discovered 
the certificate with its informal assign- 
ment to Longworth. The paper was placed 
in the hands of Mr. Longworth's attorneys, 
its receipt causing considerable rejoicing. 
The case was decided in favor of Long- 
worth, and was then carried to the supreme 
court where the judgment of the lower 
court was affirmed. i\nother important 
case, attracting general interest, was that of 
Mrs. Saleta Evans :■.<. Mary Stephens et al. 
It involved the title to the Evans block, and 
brought into question the will of Gen. 
Robert M. Evans. The case was tried be- 
fore Judge John Baker of the third judicial 
circuit, was sharply contested, and finally 
decided in favor of the plaintiff. 

The cases in which banks, railroads and 
other corporations, the city as a corporate 
body, and the county have been parties 
have been of such magnitude and import- 
ance as to demand the highest legal attain- 
ments for their proper settlement. In the 
conduct of weighty litigation, some of which 
has been carried to the supreme court of 
the state and to the highest judicial 
tribunes of the nation, the members of the 
Evansville bar have displayed great abilit}' 
and learning; and in the final determination 
of those cases taken on appeal to higher 
courts, the judgments of Vanderburgh 
county courts have been generally sus- 
tained, thus showing the high character and 
{Cgal understanding of those whom the pub- 
lic has intrusted with the discharge of the 
great responsibilities and duties attaching 
to the bench. 

Judge William E. Niblack was commis- 



sioned by Gov. Joseph A. Wright in April, 
1854, and succeeded Judge Hovey. Judge 
Niblack never resided in this county. He 
was a native of Dubois county, and resided 
at Dover Hill, Martin county, when he went 
upon the bench. At that time he was with- 
out experience in law, ex;cept such as he 
had obtained by a few years' practice in his 
own county. Notwithstanding this he suc- 
ceeded in becoming an able judge. What 
he lacked in legal learning he made up in 
good judgment and what is called " hard 
common sense." To be a good judge it is 
not always necessary to be an excellent law- 
yer. With a sharp attorney on either side 
of a case calling attention to every phase of 
the law involved and citing authorities, it 
becomes an easy matter for a " level-headed" 
man to solve disputes in accordance with 
the right. Judge Niblack was kind, affable, 
honest and upright, and had many friends. 
His pleasant and genial manners made him 
an agreeable companion, but he was not a 
refined or polished gentleman and exhibited 
neither a fondness for literary work nor a 
particular acquaintance with general litera- 
ture. His manners were so conciliatory 
that it is said few were offended by his de- 
cisions. Even when deciding adversely, he 
did it in such a way as to relieve the decis- 
ion of all asperity. He was thoroughly 
just, and on the whole an excellent judge. 
He left the bench with the respect of the 
bar and the confidence of the people. 
Afterward he went to congress, being 
elected with very little opposition to fill the 
term to which Judge Lockhart had been 
previously elected, and later for many 3'ears 
sat upon the supreme bench of the state. 

When Judge Niblack resigned in Octo- 
ber, 1857, to go to congress, the vacancy 
was filled by the appointment of Ballard 
Smith. He was commissioned October 24, 
1857, by Gov. A. P. Willard. At the time 



BENCH AND BAR. 



of his appointment he was a resident of 
Cannelton, in Perry county, and after leav- 
ing the bench removed to Terre Haute, 
where he became one of the foremost mem- 
bers of the Vigo county bar. He was 
perhaps the most pohshed judge ever on the 
bench in this circuit. He was refined, 
scholarlv, and possessed in a marked degree 
all the characteristics of a genuine gentle- 
man. Socially he maintained a high stand- 
ing and his company was sought by the best 
people. He held only a few terms of court 
here, but everybody liked him and regretted 
his departure. On the bench, in the trial of 
causes, he gave great satisfaction. 

The universal regret at the departure of 
Judge Smith, subjected his successor, Judge 
M. F. Burke, to a critical reception. He was 
a resident of Washington, Daviess county, 
and was commissioned by Gov. Willard, in 
November, 1858. That he gave eminent 
satisfaction under the circumstances, was 
proof of his manly qualities. He soon 
inii^ratiated himself into the good graces of 
the bar and became popular. He was an 
Irishman by birth and possessed the read}' 
wit peculiar to that race. He was a hard 
student, a thorough lawyer, and an honest 
and upright judge. While here, he was a 
man of very correct habits, and his life on 
the bench was above reproach. In politics 
he was an acknowledged leader of the 
democracy in his district. 

Judge William F. Parrett was commis- 
sioned by Gov. A. P. Willard in August, 
1859, and for ten years presided in the 
courts of this circuit. He resigned in 1869 
to engage in the practice of law, but on 
March 7th, 1873, was again called to the 
bench by an appointment from Gov. Thomas 
A. Hendricks, and for nearl}' sixteen years 
held aloft the scales of justice in this circuit, 
resigning December 31, 18S8, because of 
his election as a representative in congress. 



None have filled the position with more be- 
coming dignity nor discharged its delicate 
duties with less partiality than Judge Par- 
rett. The extended notice of his life de- 
manded by his exalted career as a citizen 
and jurist appears elsewhere in this volume. 
In this connection the action of the court 
and bar upon the occasion of his retirement 
from the bench may be appropriately in- 
serted. A committee, consisting of Gen. 
J. M. Shackleford, D. B. Kumler, James T. 
Walker, R. C. Wilkinson, Cicero Buchanan 
and J. G. Winfrey, was appointed to draft a 
suitable expression of the respectful feelings 
entertained for the retiring judge. In the 
afternoon of January 5, 1S89, Gen. James 
M. Shackleford arose in the circuit court, 
and after making a few remarks offered 
the following resolution : 

" Our distinguished fellow-citizen and 
brother, Hon. William F. Parrett, having 
resigned the judgeship, which office he has 
held and adorned for more than a quarter of 
a century, we, the members of the Evans- 
ville bar, cordially unite in giving tliis ex- 
pression of our high regard for him, both as 
a man and a jurist. As a man, he is open, 
genial and unassuming. In private and so- 
cial intercourse, he is amiable, attractive and 
the soul of generosity; and above all this, 
he is possessed of a temper instinct with 
honesty. Blessed of heaven with a clear, 
broad, comprehensive and well-balanced 
mind, which he has richly stored with legal 
learning, rooted and grounded in the princi- 
ples of the law, he, during all the years he 
was on the bench, dispensed justice, •' sea- 
soned with mercy," with such ability and 
conspicuous impartiality as won the esteem 
and challenged the admiration of all con- 
cerned. It is a source of pleasure and pride 
to the members of this bar to recount these 
things; therefore, 

" jResoh'cd, That as a jurist, Judge Par- 



JUDGE PARRETT RETIRES. 



S47 



rett's fame will adorn the brightest page in 
the history of tlie state. 

" Hcsolvcd, That in the retirement of 
Judge Parrett, the bench has lost one of its 
ablest judges and brightest ornaments." 

The court ordered the resolutions to be 
spread upon the minutes, and remarks eulo- 
gistic of Judge Parrett were made b\- Col. 
J. 8. Buchanan, Col. C. H. Butterfield and 
Mr. D. B. Kumler. 

During the period from 1S69 to 1873, 
while Judge Parrett was in the active prac- 
tice of law, the bench was occupied by 
Judge Jarnes G. Jones and Judge David T. 
Laird. Judge Jones was appointed by Gov. 
Conrad Baker in April, 1869. For many 
years he had been one of the most brilliant 
members of the bar. His methods of rea- 
soning were those of a logician, and he pos- 
sessed the graces of a natural orator. Stand- 
ing at the head of the profession he became 
familiar with every branch of the practice. 
His early mental training was obtained in 
the public schools. He was without a clas- 
sical education, but through his studious 
habits and his tastes for mental work he 
became familiar with current polite litera- 
ture. Durinjx the civil war he rendered 
effective and devoted service to the Union 
cause. Armv life, however, impaired his 
mental vigor, and while in the service he 
contracted habits of life which greatlv inter- 
fered with the clearness of his intellect. He 
was on the bench but a short lime, and 
while there, through sickness and other 
causes, was unable to add lustre to the bril- 
liant record which he had already achieved 
as a member of the bar. His health failed 
rapidly and special judges tried many of the 
important cases coming before the court 
during his term of othce. He is best 
remembered by the older members of the 
bar for the brilliancy and grandeur of his 
early career. Judge David ^P. Laird was 



commissioned in October, 1870. He was a 
resident of Rockport, Spencer county, where 
he still remains a venerable member of the bar. 
He was a rough and vigorous character, 
with little legal or literary learning. Though 
without polish, he did not lack good sense 
and sound judgment. His conceptions were 
clear, and he went to the core of a case, 
regardless of technicalities, concerning 
himself only as to what was right and just. 
He was never influenced by the wishes of 
the parties to an action, but endeavored 
alvva^'s to dispense justice stricth', without 
bias or partiality. He was not popular 
with the bar at this place because it was 
not believed that his professional attain- 
ments justified his elevation to the bench. 
But his probity and uprightness were uni- 
versall}' acknowledged and in manj- re- 
spects he was an excellent court officer. 

Judge R. D. Richardson was appointed 
in January, 1S89, by Gov. Gray to lill the 
unexpired term of Judge Parrett. Judge 
Richardson for many years has been a con- 
spicuous member of the bar at this place, 
and because of his eminence as a law}-er 
and his gentlemanW traits, has won the 
respect of the entire bar. When he took 
his place upon the bench, before the trans- 
action of any business, Mr. D. B. Kumler 
arose and said : 

" Ma\' it please your honor, I desire to 
say a word which is of interest to us all, 
though it is a little out of the routine of court 
affairs. On behalf of this bar I desire to in- 
form your honor that we have e\"ery confi- 
dence in your ability, honor and integritv, 
and are certain that you will make a worthy 
successor to the illustrious and learned gen- 
tleman w ho has for so man}- years filled the 
seat of power and digtfity which you now 
occupy. This bar will have great pleasure 
in practicing under your honor, and pledges 
itself in that behalf.'' 



Si8 



BENCH AND BAR. 



The bench of Vanderburgh county has 
been blessed with a line of distinguished 
men, able, pure, and against whose judicial 
integrity there has been no taint whatever. 
This can be said rarely of a line of judges 
extending through nearly three-quarters 
of a century. There was never a sustained 
charge, and indeed never a suspicion of cor- 
ruption against any one of the fifteen judges 
who have presided in the circuit court of 
this county. All have been thoroughly 
trained in the profession, and their methods 
have been in strict accordance with profes- 
sional ethics. 

The Circuit Court Seal. — At the second 
term of the Vanderburgh count}- circuit 
court, held Ma}' 25, 1818, a scroll, called in 
the records " a common scrawl," surround- 
ing the words, " Seal, C. C, Vanderburgh 
County," was adopted as the seal of the 
court until a more suitable one could be pro- 
vided. This was continued in use until the 
June term, 1S22, when the court adopted a 
seal engraved with the device of the bal- 
ances on its face, and the words " Seal of the 
Vanderburgh Circuit Court " surrounding 
its center, being almost a fcic simile of the 
seal now in use. At the October term, 
1853, a seal was adopted which, on the rec- 
ords, is described as follows: Around the 
circumference of said seal there is a circle, 
and within this circle there is a smaller 
circle, and between the two circles are the 
words, " Seal of Vanderburgh Circuit 
Court," and in the center there is the fol- 
lowing device, viz., a pair of scales, and be- 
low the scales there is the word " Indiana." 

Circuit Relations. — From 1818 to 1852 
Vanderburgh county formed a part of the 
fourth judicial circuit of Indiana. In April, 
1 85 2, it was made a part of the third judicial 
circuit, and later became a part of the fif- 
teenth judicial circuit. In 1873, when the 
state was re-districted, it was joined with 



Posey county to form the first judicial cir- 
cuit, in which relation it remains. 

Probate Court. — The judiciary system 
of Indiana territory comprised a common 
pleas court, which was abolished in 18 16. 
To perform a part of its duties, by the early 
laws of the state a probate court was 
established, with jurisdiction over all mat- 
ters pertaining to the settlement of estates. 
The first probate court in Vanderburgh 
county was held in the county clerk's office 
in February, 1821, with associate judges 

John McCrary and William Wagnon presid- 
ing. The associate judges of the circuit 
court were ex-officio judges of this court 
until 1829. In that year George W. Lind- 

I say became probate judge and served in 

I that capacity, until August, 1835. His suc- 
cessors were : Nathan Rowlev, August, 

j 1835, to August, 1836; John B. Stinson, 
August, 1836, to August, 1841; Edward 
Hopkins, //'(? tern., for August term, 1841; 
Thomas Hornbrook, November, 1841, to 
February, i846;John B. Stinson, ^ro tern., 

' for August, 1846; Edward Hopkins, No- 
vember, 1S46, to August, 1850; Cadwalla- 
der M. Griffith, August, 1850, to August, 
1851; Ira P. Granger, August, 1851, to 
August, 1852. The old probate system 
prevailed until the adoption of the canstitu- 
tion of 1852, when the common pleas court, 
again revived, absorbed its business. The 
judges in this court were all very prominent 
men in early times and closely identified 
with the best interests of the city and 
countv. They were not lawyers but men 
of sound judgment and of unquestioned in- 
tegrity. The - records show that a very 
large amount of important business was 
transacted by each of them. 

CoiuDion Pleas Court. — By the acts of 
1852 the court of common pleas was created 
with exclusive jurisdiction over estates and 
guardianships, and largely concurrent juris- 



COMMON PLEAS COURT. 



Slfi 



diction with the circuit court, except cases 
involving title to real estate, actions for slan- 
der, libel and breach of promise to marry. 
The circuit court retained exclusive juris- 
diction over felonies, except enumerated 
cases for the benefit of defendants, in order 
to secure a speedy trial; and exclusive juris- 
diction over misdemeanors was given to the 
court of common pleas, except the cases over 
which justices' courts had exclusive juris- 
diction. The first term of the common 
pleas court of the first district, of which 
Vanderliurgh countv was a part, was held 
at the court house in Evansville, and began 
on the first Mondav in January, 1853, Hon. 
Conrad Baker presiding. This eminent 
jurist and statesman occupied the bench in 
this court until December, 1S53, being ap- 
pointed and commissioned by Gov. Joseph 
A. Wright. His successor was Judge Asa 
Iglehart, a man of great legal and literary' 
attainments, who administered this import- 
ant trust during three years. From Decem- 
ber, 1856, to December, i860. Judge Joel 
W. B. Moore, a citizen of Warrick county 
and prominent member of the Boonville 
bar, presided. At that time the district 
was composed of Warrick and Vander- 
burgh counties. It was subsequently 
enlarged so as to include Posey and 
Gibson counties also. Judge Moore was 
succeeded in December, i860, by Judge 
John Pitcher, a citizen of Posey county, 
and one of the ablest lawyers in the state of 
Indiana. After six years he was succeeded 
by Judge Andrew L. Robinson, who served 
but one year. The next to preside in this 
court was Judge Morris S. Johnson, who 
from December, 1867, to December, 187 1, 
acceptably discharged the duties of the posi- 
tion. Judge William P. Edson, of Posey 
county, still prominent in the profession, 
assumed the ollice in December, 1871, and 
continued therein until September, 1872, 



when he was succeeded by Judge William M" 
Land, of Gibson county. At the January 
term, 1873, Judge John B. Handy, of War- 
rick county, later judge of the circuit court 
of Warrick county, and now a conspicuous 
member of the Boonville bar, took his seat 
upon the bench. Judge Handy's term was 
closed by the termination of the court's exis- 
tence. By the act of March 6, 1873, the 
court of common pleas was abolished and all 
matters confided to it restored to the juris- 
diction of the circuit court. 

When the common pleas court was cre- 
ated appeals could be taken to the circuit 
court, but that right was afterward abolished, 
appeals to the supreme court of the state 
being allowed. The clerk and sheriff of 
the county officiated in the common pleas 
as well as in the circuit court. By the act 
of June II, 1852, a court of conciliation was 
created providing that any person claiming 
to have a cause of action against another for 
libel, slander, malicious prosecution, assault 
and battery, or false imprisonment might 
serve on him a written notice briefly stating 
the cause of action and requiring him to ap- 
pear, at a time and place named, before the 
judge of the court of common pleas, who 
was ex officio judge of the court of concilia- 
tion. None but the parties, guardians of 
infants, husbands of wives, parties plaintiff 
or defendant, were permitted to appear at 
the hearing. It was the duty of the court 
to affect a reconciliation if it could reasona- 
bl}' be done, and if settled the entr}' thereof 
ended tJie matter. Without such notice and 
appearance of the plaintiff before the court 
of conciliation he could not recover costs in 
the action, and if the defendant failed .to 
appear, then if he defeated the action, he 
could not recover costs. In theory the law 
was a good one, but in practice it was a fail- 
ure, for the parties appeared but refused to 
be conciliated. The law creating this branch 



.m 



BENCH AND BAR. 



of the court was repealed in 1867. The 
judges of this court who resided in Evans- 
ville, Hon. Conrad Baker, Asa Iglehart, 
Andrew L. Robinson and Morris S.Johnson, 
are mentioned more at length elsewhere in 
these pages. 

Criminal Circuit Court. — In 1869, the 
general assembly created a criminal circuit 
court in Vanderburgh county, the county 
constituting the twenty-eighth judicial circuit. 
The first term of this court was held at the 
court-house in Evansville, on the first Mon- 
day in June, 1869, with Hon. Andrew L. 
Robinson as judge, and William P. Har- 
grave as prosecutor. A seal bearing within 
the circle about the center, the words: 
" Vanderburgh Criminal Circuit Court, Indi- 
ana," and on its face the device of an eagle 
holding in its beak a scroll with the words 
"justice" written thereon, was adopted, and 
the court proceeded to business. Judge 
Robinson was succeeded in November, 
1870, by Judge C. H. Butterfield, who 
served until June, 1872. Judge William P. 
Hargrave was then elected and continued to 
administer justice in that court until July, 
1877. In the following September the busi- 
ness of the court was transferred to the cir- 
cuit court. During its existence the criminal 
circuit court had exxlusive jurisdiction over 
criminal causes arisinsr in Vanderburgh 
county, except such misdemeanors as were 
exclusively within the jurisdiction of the 
justice's courts. Judges Robinson and But- 
terfield are well known through distin- 
guished services in other branches of the 
law. Judge Hargrave possessed peculiari- 
ties which affected his popularity as a court 
officer. He was a fair lawyer and an honest 
judge. After leaving the bench he removed 
from Evansville and entered the ministry of 
the Methodist Episcopal church. 

Superior Court. — The superior court of 
Vanderburgh county was created b}- legis- 



lative enactment in 1877. Its first term was 
held at the court-house in Evansville on the 
first Monda\' in August of that year. Judge 
Azro Dyer, an able lawyer and upright citi- 
zen, was appointed by Gov. James D. Will- 
iams to occup}' the bench in this court, his 
commission being dated July 7? 1877- I^y 
successive elections. Judge D\er has contin- 
ued to serve in this important capacity to 
the present time. At the first term of the 
court, rules for its government were pre- 
pared b\- Judges Azro Dyer and William F. 
Parrett, assisted by Hons. Asa Inglehart, 
Charles Denby and Edward E. Law. The 
court has concurrent jurisdiction with the 
circuit court of Vanderburgh county, ex- 
cept in criminal cases. 

T/ic Bar. — The Evansville bar through- 
out the past has been composed chielly of 
men of large legal attainments and of high 
character. Among the practicing lawyers 
either residing in Evansville or attending the 
courts of this county during the first ten 
years of the existence of the county there 
were many men worthy of a more extended 
notice than can be given in this connection. 
Of these, Amos Clark, John Law, Horace 
Dunham, John Pitcher, Eben D. Edson, and 
John A. Brackenridge were pre-eminent. A 
few years later came James G. Jones, W. T. 
T. Jones, H. G. Barkwell, John Ingle, jr., 
John J. Chandler, Conrad Baker, James 
Blythe, Lemuel Q. DeBruler, Thomas F. 
DeBruler, Thomas E. Garvin, Andrew L. 
Robinson, and others of superior natural 
endowments and large attainments. 

Amos Clark was a well-read lawyer, a 
good coimselor, fine pleader, and a man of 
public spirit, largely influential in the early 
development of this section, and one of the 
most prominent figures of earl\- times. Fol- 
lowing the panic of 1837 he met severe 
financial reverses, and left here for Texas, 
where he permanentl}' located. John 



EVANSVILLE BAR. 



351 



Law was the first prost-cutor in V'ander- 
burgh county, and was one of the 
most distintjuished men ever connected 
with the bar of Evansville. lie was an able 
and erudite lawyer, a ripe scholar and a 
perfect gentleman. Full of anecdotes, with 
very pleasant manners, of a friendly dispo- 
sition and skilled in the fraces of life, he 
was a conspicuous figure in social, as well 
as professional circles. Horace Dunham 
occupied a high place at the bar, and was 
considered an able lawyer and an upright 
man. John Pitcher, Eben D. Edson and 
John A. Brackenridge were not residents of 
the county, but their superior talents and 
frequent attendance upon the court gave 
their names an indissoluble connection with 
the history of Vanderburgh count}-. Judge 
John Pitcher still resides at Mt. Vernon. In 
vigor of intellect he stands to-day the peer 
of any man of his j-ears in the state, and 
during the period of his activitj' he was 
always the equal of all in his profession in 
excellence and endowments. This vener- 
able man is now ninety-six years of age, but 
his mental brilliancy is undimmed 
by the weight of years. Mis mem- 
ory is good, and his conversation 
sharp, pointed, and epigrammatic. He 
is well posted on current political events, 
and his mind is a veritable storehouse of use- 
tul information concerning the olden times. 
His mental strength and acuteness are such 
that his chief pleasures are obtained from 
the pursuit of scientific and literary publica- 
tions. Eben D. Edson was from Posey 
count\-, and John A. Brackenridge from 
Warrick. Each attained marked distinction 
not only in the count}* of his residence, but 
throughout southern Indiana. Ex-Governors 
Powell and Dixon and Judge Towles, of 
Henderson, Ky., were also prominent prac- 
titioners in the Vanderburgh county court 
in early da\s. The superior qualities of 



James G. Jones, W. T. T. Jones, John Ingle, jr., 
Conrad Baker, Asa Inglehart, James M. 
Shanklin, and others of his associates are 
elsewhere adverted to. Judge H. G. Bark- 
well is still living, though retired from prac- 
tice. For many years he was a prominent 
practitioner throughout southern Indiana, and 
won honorable distinction. John J. Chand- 
ler was accomplished in literature, a pro- 
found lawyer, a progressive, generous, public- 
spirited citizen, and one of the brightest 
ornaments that ever adorned the legal pro- 
fession in the state of Indiana. His abilities 
were of the highest order and his memory is 
held in the profoundest respect by every one 
who was in a position to know his character 
and his worth. Andrew L. Robinson was in 
many respects the equal of Mr. Chandler. 
He was a noted man in the district, and 
through the force of his character and at- 
tamments, made his influence co-extensive 
with his acquaintance. Physically he was 
large and of commanding presence. At the 
bar or on the stump his speech was power- 
ful, and at times he was genuinely eloquent. 
Few men have occupied so large a place in 
the histor}' of this county and section as did 
this learned lawyer. James E. Blythe was 
recognized as one of the most effective ora- 
tors and best lawyers in this state. He was 
a sound counselor and a very brilliant advo- 
cate. The firm of Jones & Blythe was one 
of the strongest in the city during its exist- 
ence. Morris S. Johnson was a good law- 
yer, safe counselor and excellent judge, but 
not a brilliant ad\ocate. 

L. Q. DeBruler and Thomas F. DeBruler 
were men of large influence, and gained for 
the DeBruler name a distinguished place in 
the annals of their times. Thomas E. Gar- 
vin, now the oldest member of the Evan.s- 
ville bar in point of contiimous service is the 
link connecting the old time bar with 
the present period. His business conduct e.\- 



S52 



BENCH AND BAR. 



emplifies the strictly honorable methods of 
the old-time practice. Thoroughly versed 
in ever}' branch of law and familiar with 
ever}' authority, he has always been a safe 
counselor, while his abilities as an advocate 
have been of a high order. His natural 
talents, his studious habits and his adher- 
ence to legitimate methods early gained for 
him an enviable prominence among his asso- 
ciates at the bar, and this position- he con- 
tinues to hold. In his profession, in politics, 
and as a progressive citizen, he has for many 
years been a recognized leader throughout 
his county, the district and the state. Judge 
William F. Parrett was admitted to practice 
here in 1849, and Charles Denby in 1S54. 
These distinguished men were important 
additions to the bar. Both have been for 
many years among the most conspicuous 
figures in legal and political circles in south- 
ern Indiana. Gen. James M. Shackelford 
came herein 1864. He had won distinction 
on the field of battle, and earl\- attained rec- 
ognition as an exceptionall)' brilliant lawyer. 
About the same time, Peter Maier, a good law- 
yer and an upright man, and Judge Azro Dyer, 
an ornament to the profession, and during 
its entire existence judge of the superior 
court, became associated with this bar. 
Charles H. Butterfield and S. R. Horn- 
brook soon thereafter were admitted to 
practice here. Mr. Hornbrook is a cultured 
gentleman of literarv tastes, a good law3'er, 
conscientious in his practice and successful. 
Col. Butterfield has a brilliant military 
record, is a well-read law3'er, and for some 
time has been county attorney. J. S. 
Buchanan, II. C. Goodwin and George P. 
Peck were all valuable acquisitions to the 
bar. Mr. Peck was a good man in every 
respect, of strong, clear intellect. He died 
here while in the practice about tvvent}' 
years ago. Messrs. Buchanan and Good- 
win are still prominent members of the bar. 



Late in the sixties the strength of the bar 
was greatly added to. Such men as John 
E. Iglehart, D. B. Kumler, James B. 
Rucker, Robert D. Richardson, H. A. Mat- 
tison, Jesse W. Walker and James M. 
Warren became identified with it. The two 
last named are no longer among the living; 
Robert D. Richardson has advanced to the 
bench, and each of the others named occu- 
pies an honorable and conspicuous place 
among those constituting the present bar. 
James M. Warren was prominent here for 
several years ; his health failing, he went to 
Denver, Col., and there died. Jesse W. 
Walker had an excellent reputation as a 
lawyer and public officer. He held many 
positions of trust, and was considered one of 
the best men in all respects that ever lived 
in Evansville. Concerning those who have 
been most conspicuous during the last 
twenty years, not elsewhere noted, only 
biief mention can be made here. 

Victor Bisch, long a member of the bar, 
is an able and talented man, more prominent 
as a public officer than as a practitioner. 
W. F. Smith is a sound lawyer, profession- 
ally above reproach, and gentlemanl}' in all 
his characteristics and conduct. Alexander 
Gilchrist, and his associate in business. Cur- 
ran A. DeBruler, are recognized through- 
out the state as profound lawyers. Their 
attainments are of the highest order, and 
their practice extends through the circuit, 
the state and federal courts to the highest 
judicial tribunal in the land. Mr. Gilchrist 
graduated at Union college, with the highest 
honors, practiced at Ovid, N. Y., for a time, 
and coming west located in Evansville. His 
superior abilities gave him a high rank at 
once, and to-day, as a counselor he is con- 
sidered without a superior at the bar. His 
studious habits have made him an erudite 
scholar in many branches of literature, not 
directly connected with his professional 



EVANSVILLE BAR. 



s->s 



work. As a man his excellence is unsur- 
passed; he exhibits al\va3's the qualities of 
genuine and sturd\' manliness; his purposes 
are honest, his methods straightforward and 
upright, and his conduct in strict liarmony 
with manly principle and professional ethics. 
Curran A. DeBruler is distinguished both 
for his eloquence and his learning. He is a 
son of L. Q. DeBruler, and came here 
from Rockport. As an advocate he is 
the peer of an\' man in southern Indi- 
ana. Because of his high rank and recog- 
nized abilities he has figured in most of the 
important cases in this part of the state. lie 
is studious, painstaking and accurate in pre- 
paring his cases, judicious in their manage- 
ment, and perfectly fair with every interested 
party. As a speaker he is brilliant, earnest, 
logical, eloquent, and convincing. His schol- 
arly attainments have made him popular, 
not only as an advocate, but as a political 
orator and as a lecturer. Edward Hatfield 
was a strong man in man)- ways. Self- 
taught and of vigorous mind, he ranked 
high, especiallv as a criminal lawyer. He 
died young, but not before he established 
an excellent reputation. Paris C. Dunning 
was an excellent gentleman of the old school, 
dignified and learned. He was here but a 
short time, but while a member of this bar, 
maintained a high standing. R. C. Wilkin- 
son has been a successful practitioner, mak- 
ing commercial law a specialty. He is 
prominent as a politician and popular as a 
man. William H. Gudgel is an able lawyer, 
for a time was prosecuting attorney, and 
made the race for congress from this dis- 
trict as the candidate of the republican party, 
but failed of election. G. E. Smith was a 
brilliant speaker, a good lawyer, and had a 
fine record as a Union soldier. He was 
much respected Uy all who knew him. John 
Brownlee, a graduate of Albany law school, 
is in all respects a good lawyer. For a time 



he was prosecuting attorney and now has a 
good practice. 

George A. Cunningham is one of the 
most brilliant young attorneys at the bar. 
He possesses the qualifications of a good 
lawyer, sound judgment, a clear mind, re- 
tentive memory, oratorical ability, and famil- 
iarity with the law. W. W. Ireland and 
Alfred C. Tanner have made creditable 
records as citizens and lawvers. r<. B. 
Vance came to this cit\- from Henderson, 
Ky., as attorney for the L. & N. R. R. Co. 
He is a finished scholar, an excellent lawyer, 
painstaking, careful and accurate. He is a 
clear reasoner, an able debater, logical and 
profound. Although not long a member of 
the bar, he has made an enviable reputation. 
Both members of the firm of Iglehart & 
Ta3-lor, attorneys for the E. & T. H. R. R. 
Co., are particularly able in corporation law, 
and in the general practice maintain a high 
rank. W. J. Wood also makes a specialty 
of corporation law, and has made a credita- 
ble reputation. He came here from Flor- 
ence, Ala., and early exhibited great ability 
as a man of affairs. His enterprising spirit 
and energetic activity have done much to 
advance the material development of Evans- 
ville. His future is bright and enviable. 
J. G. Winfrey, J. G. Owen, Edward E. 
Law, J. E. WiUiamson, Philip Ere)- and 
others are men of ability, and are creditably 
connected with the practice. 

The following list of attorneys is as nearly 
complete as practicable. Admissions to 
practice were not indexed on the early 
records, and on that account some names 
may be omitted. Many practitioners here 
named, especially in the first part of the list, 
did not reside in Evansville, but only came 
occasionally at term time; and in some in- 
stances the person named was perhaps ad- 
mitted to try a single case. In 1818, Jacob 
Call, Charles Dewey, Richard Daniel, John 



Soi. 



BENCH AND BAR. 



Law, William Prince, James Hylliar, Willis 
C. Osbourne, James A. Boitr, and James 
R. E. Goodlett; in 1819, Elisha Roberts, 
George W. Lindsey, Amos Clark, General 
W. Johnson, Charles I. Battell, Samuel 
Leggette, Samuel Hall and Robert M. 
Evans; in 1820, David Ilart and Philip 
Triplett; in 1821, Jacob R. Everson, James 
McKinney and Horace Dunham; in 1823, 
T.J. Evans; in 1825, John Mosely; in 1829, 
George W. P. Maxwell and Abner T. Ellis; 
in 1830, Eben D. E. Edson, W. T. T. Jones, 
Archibald Dixon and David H. Hylliar; in 
1832, James Gibbs; in 1833, James M. 
Lockhart; in 1834, John Ta3dor; in 1835, 
James G.Jones and Lazarus Powell, jr.; in 
1836, Thomas Towles, jr., Elisha Embree, 
E. S. Terry and H. G. Barkvvell; in 1837, 
Emory Kinne}-; in 1838, Charles Moore, 
Burwell B. Sayre, Francis E. Walker, John 
Ingle, jr., and Edward H. Hopkins; in 1839, 
John J. Chandler; in 1840, George Wheel- 
wright and James Davis; in 1841, Conrad 
Baker and James E. Blythe; in 1843, Ben- 
jamin M. Thomas, Asa C. Mills and 
Alvin P. Hovey; in 1844, Robert M- 
Evans, Samuel Peper, Lemuel Q. De- 
Bruler, John M. Grimes and William 
Newton; in 1845, James T. Walker; in 1846, 
Samuel R. Hammill, Thomas F. DeBruler, 
Hugh B. Montgomery, Nathaniel C. Foster, 
Thomas E. Garvin, and James J. Thornton; 
in 1847, John Eakin, Benoni Stinson, jr., H. 
Q. Wheeler, and Andrew L. Robinson; in 
1848, George H. Todd, James R. Harper, 
and William A. Wandell; in 1849, William ^■ 
Parrett, Asa Iglehart, William S. Palmer, 
Lewis C. Stinson, William P. Hall, and 
Dennison D. Carder; in 1850, Clement B. 
Simmonson, Harrison S. Kiger, Thomas II. 
Bruner, Morris S. Johnson, and Benoni 
Stinson; in 185 1, William Bar, Alvah John- 
son, John R. Garvin, William K. McGrew, 
and Brackett Mills; in 1852, Samuel B. 



Garrett, Theodore Venneman, and Wilson 
Shook; in 1853, Willet E. Andrews. 

The state constitution of 1852 provided 
that any citizen of good moral character 
might be admitted to practice as an attornev 
in the circuit courts of the state. Under this 
provision a great manj^ persons have been ad- 
mitted who in fact never formed a part of the 
Vanderburgh count}- bar. The admissions as 
fully as practicable up to 1870 will be given; 
and thereafter only those who for a time, 
long or short, have been associated with the 
bar as resident practitioners will be named. 
In 1854 William A.Jones, Z. M. P. Carter, 
Richard A. Clemens, James Blythe 
Hynes, Y. Allison, James McLain Hanna, 
James L. Allen, Charles Denby; in 1855, 
G. W. Ilardin, James S. Collins, 
RoN'al S. Hicks, Lloyd M. Lowe; 
in 1856, Henry C. Bard, Marcellus Emery, 
Edmund B. Se3'mour, William G. McDow- 
ell; in 1857, Jacob Lunkenheimer; prior to 
1858, John W. Foster, M. R. z\nthes, Hor- 
ace Plumer and James M. Slianklin; in 1858, 
Alexander C. Donald and William E. Rust; 
in 1859, Samuel K. Leavitt, George W. 
Moore, William H. Walker, jr., A. T. 
Whittlesey, John E. Gallagher and James 
Reid; in 1861, George W. Merrill; in 1862, 
Albert G. Dennis, James C. Dennj^ J. G. 
Shanklin, Ben Stinson, C. E. Marsh, E. E. 
Law, George W. McBride, Peter Maier; 
in 1864, Azro Dyer, Robert A. Hill, Will- 
iam Reavis, Napoleon B. Risinger, Andrew 
J. Fletcher, J. M. Shackelford, George W. 
Shanklin; in 1865, Charles H. Butterfield, 
Charles G. Bennett, J. G. Gardner, W. P. 
Ilargrave, S. R. Ihirnbrook; in 1866, Selby 
Ilarne}', William Land, Thomas L. Davis; 
in 1867, John E. Cleland, John Brownlee, 
Charles Potter, John McGrath, William G. 
Williamson, William H. Beadle, H. C. 
Gooding, C. W. Molton, George P. Peck, 
John C. Patterson, James F. Welburn, J. S. 



LIST OF ATTORNEYS. 



355 



J^iiclianan, J. II. Beadle, George Peck, 
William Harrow; in fS6S, L. T. Harris, 
Jesse W. Walker, Calvin Taylor, James M. 
Manna, J. B. Rucker, Clinton Staser, David 
D. Doughty, Joseph McClary, Patrick A. 
Curtis, A. IT. Clark, Thomas R. Cobb 
O. F. Baker, Henry W. Bippus; in 1869, 
H. A. Mattison, R. D. Richardson, J. E. 
Iglehart, D. B. Kumler, Charles H. Mann, 
John Schubert, Moses Weil, LeRoy Will- 
iams, N. F. Malott, James M. Warren, S. D. 
Dial, J. G. Dailey, Luke Wood, George W. 
Robertson, Lee Dinkelspiel, Curran A. 
DeBruler; in 1S70, Galen L. Spencer, Ar- 
thur E. Adams, George K. Amory, Gaines 
II. Hazen, William A. Tracewell, William 
A. Porter, W. Frederick Smith, J. E. Will- 
iamson, Edwin R. Ilattield, Royal S. Hicks; 
in 1S70 and 1S71, Victor Bi.sch, W. M. 
Blakey, Cicero Buchanan, T. L. Davis, 
John C. Graham, Jacob Ilerr, 
Harrison R. Littell, J. M. Hum- 
phreySjWilliam D. Mavhall, Thomas J. Moon- 
ey; in 1872 and 1S73, William Armstrong, 
James W. Brown, William Fordham, A. C. 
Hawkins, Alexander Gilchrist, George L. 
Meddrick, Alfred C. Tanner, Rane C. Wil- 
kinson, Fount S. Yager; in 1S74, Edwin S. 
Abbett, August Brauns, Paris C. Dunning, 
R. \'. Hodson, William H. Gudgell, George 
Palmer; in 1S75, Adolf Pfaefflin, W. G. 
Bradley, A. C. Jones, Julius A. Coleman 
Rudolpli Kehr, S. E. Smith, Karl F. 
Thieme, George R. Thomson, M. V. B. 
Van .\rsdale, Bernard Wagner, C. H. 
Wesseler; in 1876, Robert S. Holt, C. H. 
MjCarer, John W. McFarland; in 1877, 
Elhanan C. Devore, George. W. Dannetell,- 
Richard J. Dixon, Philip W. Frey, William 
M. Hull, A. N. C. Leveson-Gower, Harry 
F. Lyon, Frank L. Mills, Isaac S. Moore; 
in 1878, Morris, C. Baum, George A. Cun- 
ningham, Charles F. Gould, William W. 
Ireland, J. Erian Martin, J. G. Winfrey; in 



1879, Hugo Legler, August Pfaefflin, 
James. Wartmann; in 1880, Converse 
Clement, Duncan C. Givens, Thomas 
Hislop, S. B. Vance, Charles L. 
Wedding, W. J. Wood, W. R. Shackelford; 
in 1881, R. C Benjamin, William A. Cord, 
Henry L. Minor, Henry S. Slaughter, Wil- 
liam Kerlman, John Lenihan, jr., D. B. 
Miller, Aaron W. Richards, C. S. Roberts; 
in 18S2, George S. Clifford, H. P. Cormick, 
Theodore Landsberg, O. W. Mitchem, 
N. E. Talley, Edwin Taylor; in 1883, 
Thomas E. Crumbaugh, Graham F. Denb}', 
W. S. Hurst, Willis Charles, J. F.Parrett, 
Daniel H. Patrick; in 1884, Thomas H. 
Brown, James L. Keith, Alfred H. Edwards, 
W. J. Vicker\;in 18S5, John Coker, John H. 
Foster, Thomas E. Garvin, jr., C. B. Harris, 
Charles E. Johnson, A. J. McCutchan, 
James G. Owen, A. L. Wheaton; in 1887, 
J. A. Clippinger, Louis O. Rasch, Andrew 
C. Vance; in 1SS8, W^illis Howe, Walton 
M. Wheeler, John L. Craig, T. S. Harrison, 
Oscar E. Wood, W. C. Wilson, Leroy M. 
Wade. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Judge Asa Iglehart. — Levi Iglehart, 
the tifth son of John Iglehart, of Anne 
Arundel county, Maryland, was born August 
13, 1786; married Anne Taylor, and about 
the year 181 5, crossed the mountains and 
settled in Ohio County, Ky., where their 
eldest son Asa, was born December 8, 1S16. 
In 1823, the familv moved to Warrick 
count}-, Ind. . In later life Judge Iglehart 
thus described southern Indiana as it was 
when he moved here: "The countr}' was 
wild indeed; there were no roads, mere paths, 
no wa<xon roads, no waifons to i"iin in them, 
and no houses but log cabins. There was 
not more than one or t .vo frame houses in 
Warrick count\-. The whole countrv was a 
wilderness, in which wild game was veiy 
plentiful. Wolves were so bad that the set- 



S56 



BENCH AND BAR. 



tiers — we could not call them farmei-s — 
could not raise pigs enough to furnish them 
pork, and could not keep sheep at all." 
Here he spent his youth, and lived to see 
great changes in the country; no one con- 
tributed more by sturd}' character and indus- 
trious habits to produce these changes. 
The educational advantages of the country 
in his youth were also described by him : 
" In that new country', where there were no 
books, and newspapers were very rare, 
opportunities for education were verv poor 
indeed; but father and mother, especialW 
the latter, were anxious for the promotion 
and education of their children. Stimulated 
by her precept, we all earlj' acquired a taste 
for books. We subscribed for weekly 
papers very early, and supplied ourselves 
with what few school books could be 
obtained, and went to school, a few months 
each winter in the impro\ised rude cabins, 
which were called school-houses in those 
rude days. But, in fact, our education was 
obtained more at home, from the scant}' sup- 
ply of books we had, and from our applica- 
tion, and by stimulating each other. One 
of the sources of education and stimulation 
was the early Methodist preachers, who 
found their way as well to the wild woods of 
Warrick county, as every where in this 
country which has been reached by civiliza- 
tion. They were generall}' better educated 
than the most of the people in the country 
then were, and they stimulated us to seek 
for better educational opportunities; and 
though none of us ever went to college 
we obtained all the education which was 
attainable in those early days without going 
to college." At the age of twenty-four, he 
married Anne Cowle, a ladv of intelligence 
and culture, both literary and social, quite 
above her surroundings, whom he sought in 
associations, which he describes : " In the 
neighborhood adjoining to ^vhere the farm 



of the senior Iglehart was situated in War- 
rick county, across a neighboring creek in 
Vanderburgh county, were several families 
of English people, who were tradesmen in 
London. Around them were clustered two 
or three other families of northern Protes- 
tant Irish, constituting one of the most intel- 
ligent rural communities in all the western 
country." The influence of this community 
upon both the country and city of Evansville, 
may readily be seen to this da}-. x\fter his 
marriage, he says, "by seemingly irresisti- 
ble passion for learning the law, I com- 
menced the study while on the farm, and 
pursued it with great enthusiasm, little short 
of romance, and ha\ing been admitted to the 
bar at thirty-two, changed my location and 
life, and adopted the profession of the law." 
In 1849, ^^^ removed to Evansville, and 
immediately entered the firm of Ingle, 
Wheeler & Iglehart, where he remained 
until he was appointed common pleas judge 
to till a vacancy in 1854, and subsequently 
he was elected without opposition to the 
same position. In 1S58, he came again to 
the bar, after thorough elementar\- training 
and four years' experience on the bench, and 
his success came rapidly and certainly. His 
natural capacity, his reputation for learning 
in the law, his untiring industry, 'liis unyield- 
inrr will and inteirritv, which no one ever 
questioned, all combined to make his success 
full and complete. For many years his 
income from the practice compared favora- 
bl)' with that of other leaders of the bar of 
tlie state. His personal ac(|uaintance with 
the leading law\'ers of the state was very 
great. He was active in organizing the 
first state bar association, and was its first 
president. He was an original promoter 
and member of the bar association of the 
United States. He was for many years an 
editorial contributor of the Central Lazv 
yonnial^ and his views on interesting legal 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



357 



questions were often expressed throu<rh this 
channel and attracted the attention of tiie 
bar throughout the west. lie revised 
" McDonald's Treatise" for justices in Indi- 
ana, which subsecjuently became known as 
" lyleliarl's Treatise." lie prepared with 
great labor an original work on "Pleading 
and Practice" in Indiana. His was a pioneer 
work in this state, wliere the code practice 
is in force. Subseijuently other works of 
the same general character followed; but 
the portion of his work on " Pleading," that 
is an adaptation of pleading as it exists at 
the common law, to the law in Indiana under 
the code, is a concise elementary discussion, 
wiiich has not been, and probabl}- will not 
be superseded, and is valuable especially to 
students of law in this state. These, with 
minor literary labors, were performed in 
the midst of active practice. Judge Igle- 
hart's practice in the supreme court of 
Indiana for many years was great, and his 
opinions were always received by that court 
with respect. Before the federal court was 
established in Evansville, he practiced regu- 
larl\- in the federal court at Indianapolis, 
with men like Hendricks and McDonald, and 
he conducted successfully a number of ver\- 
important cases through the supreme court 
of the United States. Judge Iglehart's mind 
was distinguished bv clearness of percep- 
tion, incisiveness and discrimination of 
thought; and such (|ualities always indicate 
a superior order of intellect. Not onl}- 
was his. reach and grasp of thought clear 
and incisive, but it was at the 
same time broad and comprehensive. 
lie very naturally, therefore, took his 
place as a jurist at the head of his profes- 
sion. There are certain principles of law 
that Judge Iglehart traced more fully, and 
understood more thoroughU', it is believed, 
than an\' jurist in our state. lie was vast in 
labors, patient and profound in his researches. 



The reports of the decisions of our highest 
court of appeal will preserve the conclusive 
evidence of all this down into future gener- 
ations. The following testimonial was, 
among others, gi\-en h\ a resolution of the 
Evansville bar: "It was, however, at the 
bar that he excelled. It was there he made 
for himself the name which we cherish. As 
a commercial and corporation lawyer he 
was without a peer in Indiana. As a special 
pleader he had no rival. He was master of 
all the branches and intricacies of our juris- 
prudence. For twenty-five years he was 
the leader of a bar, made famous by the 
namt^s of Blythe, Jones, Chandler, Baker, 
Law and others, dead and living. In the 
history of Indiana, Asa Iglehart wil 
always rank with Willard, Judah, Morton 
and Hendricks, as one of her great men." 
The following estimate of Judge Iglehart'sl 
character as a lawyer has been given by one 
who was capable of describing it: "He 
was no ordinary man. In nati\e breadth 
and strength of mind, in his accurate and 
extensive, I might say overwhelming, knowl- 
edge of the law, in his unrivaled capacity 
for work — a qualit}- which often supplies the 
place of genius, which is genius — he was 
one of the most remarkable men with whom 
I have, ever met. This was my deliberate 
conviction when I first met him, more than 
fourteen years ago, and years of association 
with him only strengthen this conviction. 
The privilege of conversing with_ Judge 
Iglehart, of hearing him discuss legal ques- 
tions in the courts, was in itself, if improved, 
a liberal education in the law. I never left 
him, after even a casual conversation upon 
legal topics, but what I felt I had been the 
, gainer. His grasp upan legal principles 
was sure and Hrm. In this day, when the 
multiplication of report;; has become an in- 
tolerable burden, the tendency in all of us 
is to become rnere case-lawyers. Too many 



358 



BENCH AND BAR. 



of us bow down to the authority of a case, 
or a dictum, no matter how ill-considered it 
may be, with almost cringing servility. 
Judge Iglehart, without the advantage of 
early education, who was a self-taught man, 
might have been pardoned had he shared 
this tendency. But of all men, he was freest 
from this bondage. He sought always to 
found his contention upon the bed-rock of 
legal principles, and when he had found his 
sure foundation, he brushed aside the decis- 
ion, or even the text-writer, which stood in 
the way of his maintenance of those princi- 
ples with little ceremony." On one occasion 
he persuaded the supreme court of Indiana 
to overrule Judge Redlield, one of the lead- 
ing American text-writers. Judge Gi-esham, 
several years after he had sat as judge 
- of the United States circuit court, 
and before whom the leaders of the 
bar of the country had practiced, 
wrote of Judge Iglehart after his death: 
"All things considered, his career was a 
remarkable one. ♦ * * I have met few 
men who had greater power of analysis, 
and, just now, I can recall no one who 
examined and briefed a case better. * * * 
His life was honorable and blameless." In 
his case the man was greater than his pro- 
fession. Professions, institutions and. states 
are the work of man, but man himself is the 
work of God. In the underlying personal- 
ity of Judge Iglehart were embodied the 
largest gifts and rarest qualities of a rich 
and noble manhood. There are immutable 
moral forces, certain primal virtues upon 
which family, society and the state must 
rest; with these he was richly endowed, and 
these were the sources of his great power. 
To him patronage and official recognition 
could give nothing. His claim to distinc- 
tion, his titles of nobility, his royal investi- 
tures came direct from the hand of God. 
His faith in the great fundamental principles 



of revealed religion was as the faith of a 
little child. He believed that the great ver- 
ities of religion were established facts, and 
in those facts his soul rested with utter con- 
fidence. To him religion was a matter to 
be verified by the test of experience, and 
hence, his was a practical religion. The 
church of his choice and her interests was 
ever before him and her prosperity was 
dear to his heart. He was generous in her 
support, loyal to her doctrines, and gave, as 
a most trusted and faithful official, wise 
counsel and cheering words. His home 
was ever open to his pastor, and anj- visit- 
ing minister of his church. He enjoyed the 
services of his church, and was devout and 
faithful in his attendance. When called 
upon, he could alvva3S in fitting and earnest 
words give a reason for his faith, and while 
not demonstrative in words or manner, yet 
a close observer could catch a glimpse of a 
heart touched and fuU of feeling, and see his 
eyes fill as emotions strong and deep would 
touch his inmost soul under the spell of 
speaker or song. He took an early and 
abiding interest in educational affairs in 
Evansville and abroad. He was for several 
3-ears trustee of Evansville public schools 
and for many years a trustee of De Pauw 
University, and gave freely of his time, 
counsel and money to its support. He car- 
ried into his daily life^ at home and abroad, 
a pure Christian character, untarnished and 
unstained. No man's life was more unself- 
ish. His unbounded liberality aided much 
to extend the sphere of his influence. In 
personal appearance Judge Iglehart was 
commanding. He was very stout in frame, 
and his massive head was for many years 
covered with silver white hair, crowning 
the impressiveness of a noble presence. Ill 
health compelled him to retire from his 
work several years before his death, which 
occurred February 5, 1S86. 




C^ti(t^ 




'A 



/^ 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



3(il 



John Law, an eminent jurist, whose life 
work made him a conspicuous figure in the 
history of Indiana, was a native of New 
London, Conn., born October 28, 1796. His 
ancestry was no less notable, his grand- 
father being a member of the first conti- 
nental congress, and his father, Lyman 
Law, as a lawyer and as a congressman, 
was a prominent man in Connecticut. He 
was careful in the education of his son John, 
and the latter received his earlier training 
in the school of Jonathan Pomero}-, an en- 
thusiast in an educational way, who devoted 
a culture shaped at Yale college to the 
training of students for that institute. John 
Law entered Yale at the age of four- 
teen and graduated in usual time, distin- 
guishing himself especially as a classical 
student. He then read law in his father's 
office, and was admitted to the bar in 181 7. 
The fall of the next year he opened an office at 
Vincennes, and within a 3-ear after his arrival 
n Indiana, stood prominent as a successful 
practitioner. As a criminal lawyer he was 
especially famous, and his fame spread rap- 
idly throughout a wide region. For several 
years he was prosecuting attorney in nearly 
all the courts of the old first congressional dis- 
trict, and he served for a considerable period 
as circuit judge. His powers of analysis and 
clear mental inspection rendered him an able 
judge. The gravity and dignity that he 
well assumed in his official capacities gave 
wa}- in social life to a bright animation that 
always drew about him an interested circle, 
and aided no little in his advancement. 
During the administration of President 
Pierce he was register of the land office, 
previously having served as receiver of the 
public money. In 185 1 he removed to 
Evansville, and at this time was ensracred in 
several land-title controversies, by the con- 
duct of which he won renown. In 1861 he 
was elected by this district as representative 



in congress, for which he was the demo- 
cratic candidate, and was re-elected in 1863. 
He was an able congressman, though in the 
minority exerted a powerful influence, and 
numbered among his friends the " great 
commoner " Thaddeus Stevens. 

TiioMA.s Edgar Garvin, attorney at law, 
Evansville, Ind., was born at Gettj'sburg, 
Adams county, Penn., September 15, 1826. 
He is a son of John and Providence Garvin, 
of Presb}'terian faith, and of Scotch-Irish 
extraction. At the age of fourteen he en- 
tered Mount Saint Mar}''s College, at Em- 
mettsburg, Md., where he completed the 
course of stud_v, after four j-ears' diligent 
application, and graduated June, 1844. In 
the autumn of the same year Mr. Garvin 
removed to Evansville, Ind., where he has 
ever since resided. He has seen the city of 
his adoption graduall}' grow and increase in 
commercial importance till it ranks among 
the great industrial places of the country', 
and second in population to none, except the 
capital, in the state of Indiana. Soon after 
Mr. Garvin came to Evansville he began 
the study of law in the office of Hon. Con- 
rad Baker, ex-governor of the state of 
Indiana, and one of the leading 
lawvers of the country. Destitute of pat- 
ronage it became necessary for Mr. Garvin 
to make his own way, and raise funds by 
his own efforts to pursue the study of law. 
This he did by accepting a position as 
teacher in the public schools. Here he 
realized all the experiences of the early 
schools of Indiana made so famous by 
Edward Eggleston in his " Iloosier School 
Master." Mr. Garvin has a vivid recollec- 
tion of the pioneer times, which he now con- 
siders as forming an interestmg epoch in his 
career. March 27, 1846, after an examina- 
tion, he was licensed by Judge James Lock- 
hart and John Law, of the fourth and sev- 
enth judicial circuits, respectively, and 



S62 



BENCH AND BAR. 



entered regularly upon the practice of law. 
Immediately after this event Mr. Garvin 
formed a partnership with ex-Gov. Baker, 
before mentioned, under the firm name of 
Baker & Garvin. This partnership was 
pleasantty and profitably continued for eleven 
years, and wliile it lasted these 
gentlemen were employed as counsel in some 
of the most important cases ever adjudicated 
in the state. Mr. Garvin has always been 
esteemed as a careful and vigilant attorney, 
in whose hands it was safe to trust the most 
intricate and complicated litigations, and in 
consequence his clients have been among 
the most pronunent and influential citizens 
of Evansville and contiguous country. No- 
vember II, 1S49, ^^ "'^^ married to Miss 
Cornelia M. Morris, at Penn Yan, Yates 
county, New York. Mrs. Garvin is a direct 
descendant of the Morris family of Morris- 
town, New Jersey, and of revolutionary 
fame. In 1862 Mr. Garvin was elected to 
represent Vanderburgh count}' in the state 
legislature, where he served his constituents 
with credit to himself and the communitj- 
which had elected him. Mr. Garvin 
was among the first stockholders of the 
First National Bank of Evansville, 
and for many j'ears one of its directors, a 
position he still holds. In 1S76 his alma 
mater. Mount St. Mary's college, conferred 
upon him the degree of LL. D., a distinction 
rarely granted, and of which Mr. Garvin 
should feel justly proud. The later j'ears 
of his life have been mainly spent as a real 
estate attorney and in speculation. He is a 
man of much application and greatly de- 
voted to the interests of those who intrust 
their business to him. It is not alone in the 
legal profession that Mr. Garvin has distin- 
guished himself. In the department of po- 
lite literature and natural historj^ he takes 
high rank. He was one of the original 
trustees of the Willard library, and one of 



the board to whom the property was 
deeded. He has always taken a lively in- 
terest in the welfare of this institution, and 
has been for manj' years one of its chief 
executive officers. He is well known in 
Indiana, and has many warm personal 
friends. As an example of self-made men 
Mr. Garvin furnishes us a rare type. All 
in all his career has been one of uniform 
success and there are few citizens in the 
state more entitled to a place in American 
biography than Thomas Edgar Garvin. 

John J. Chandler, who in his prime 
stood among the foremost lawyers of Indi- 
ana, was born in New York city, November 
17, 181 5, and died at Evansville, April 15, 
1872. The less than thirty-six years of 
manhood within those limits were crowded 
with achievements in his profession which 
won for him a wide renown and made him 
one of the most prominent men of Evans- 
ville. He was the son of Asaph Chandler, 
a native of Vermont, who moved to New 
York at an early da}-, and obtained com- 
mand and ownership ot a ship in the New 
York and Liverpool and New York and 
Havre lines, and was also at one time a 
merchant in the cit\'. The son soon dis- 
tinguished himself bv a great interest in 
books and studv, and when the family re- 
moved to Nashville, Tenn., in 1834, he was 
ready to enter the university there. This in- 
stitution was then under the presidency of 
the late Dr. Philip Lindsey. Here the 
3-oung student soon attracted notive as an 
essayist on political econom}- and mental 
philosoph}', and as a skillful debater. He 
graduated in 1836 at the head of his class, 
and as the Seminole war was then the most 
prominent thing to attract the energy of a 
young man he raised a company and went 
to the scene of action. He participated in 
several important engagements, and was 
distinguished for braverj- and abiht}- as a 



BIOGRAPHICAL 



363 



fighter and captain against a treacherous en- 
emy. On the close of the campaign he returned 
to Nashville and began the study of law. 
In 1838 he came to Evansville and entered 
the office of Amos Clark, where he continued 
his studies. In the spring of the 3'ear fol- 
lowing he was admitted to practice in all 
the courts of the state, and became a partner 
of his preceptor. As a lavv3'er he was un- 
tiring in the study of his cases, shrewd as 
a counselor and powerful as an advocate. 
Though often abrupt in asserting his opin- 
ions, and sometimes personal in the course 
of a warm argument, his most bitter oppo- 
nents would forgfet their cha<rrin in admira- 
tion of the audacity and skill of his manage- 
ment of the case on trial. His disposition 
was scholarly, and he was in all respects a 
gentleman, genial and generous, esteemed 
as a friend as well as admired as a brilliant 
man of affairs. Mr. Chandler was married 
in 1851 to Mrs. Ann Hann, a sisterof the late 
Dr. Casselberry, by whom he had three 
children. His son, John J. Chandler, is 
now a leading citizen of Evansville. 

Hon. William F. Parrett. — Judge 
Parrett, the son of Robert and Martha Par- 
rett, was born on a farm near Blairsville, 
Posey county, Ind., August 10, 1825. In 
1826 his father moved to Vanderburgh 
county, and purchased a farm adjoining the 
village of Evansville, then containing but few 
inhabitants. The Parrett homestead em- 
braced all of the present city limits lying 
south of Washington avenue and east of 
Parrett and Third streets. His early youth 
was passed on a farm and going to school. 
He spent three j-ears at Asbury (now De- 
Pauw) University, at Greencastle, under the 
renowned Matthew Simpson, who was then 
its president, and he obtained the substantial 
benefit of a college course. He was eight- 
een months under John Douglas, president 
of the old Evansville branch bank, in a posi- 



tion of trust, and readily learned accurate 
business habits and ideas, which were of 
value to him in his professional life. He 
began the study of law with Conrad Baker, 
later governor of Indiana. April 7, 1847, 
at Boonville, he was admitted to the bar 
after examination. He remained at Boon- 
\-ille till 1852, when he went to the Pacific 
coast and spent two years and a half in the 
practice of the law in Oregon, when he 
returned to Indiana and continued in 
the practice in the firm of Lock- 
hart, Parrett & Denby, at Evansville. 
In 1855 he removed to Boonville and con- 
tinued successfulh' in his profession until 
August, 1859, when he was appointed by 
Gov. Willard, judge of the 15th judicial 
circuit, composed of the counties of Craw- 
ford, Perry, Spencer, Warrick,Vanderburgh, 
and Posey. In October, 1859, he was 
elected for six years to the same position, 
when he removed to Evansville, where he 
has since resided. In 1865 he was re- 
elected for another term of six years. After 
serving three years of this term, he resigned 
and entered into the practice of the law with 
Gen. James M. Shackelford, and- subse- 
quently formed a partnership with Luke 
Wood, the firm name being Parrett & Wood. 
In 1873, upon the formation of the first cir- 
cuit of Vanderburgh and Posey counties, 
Judge Parrett was appointnd judge by Gov. 
Hendricks, and later was again a candidate, 
and re-elected over Judge Edson of Posey 
county by a large majority. In 1879, he 
was again elected to the same position with- 
out opposition, his name being printed on 
all the tickets. By a change in the law, 
the next election came one year earlier, and 
in 1884, Judge Parrett was again elected 
judge over Mr. Ernest Dale Owen, of New 
Harmony, and he remained on the bench 
until December, 1888, when after his elec- 
tion to congress, he was succeeded by Judge 



364 



BENCH AND BAR. 



Robert D. Richardson, of the Evansville 
bar. Judge Parrett, upon his retirement from 
the bench, entered into partnership with Mr. 
W. M. Blakev, at Evansville, the tirm being 
Parrett & Blake\'. He was for several 
years trustee of the Evansville public 
schools, with H. W. Cloud and others, un- 
der whose management the schools continued 
to thrive and grow upon their liberal found- 
ations, under a policy which had placed the 
best citizens in that office. Judge Parrett 
was presidential elector for the first judicial 
district of Indiana in 1856, and cast the vote 
of Indiana for James Buchanan. In 1858, 
he was elected to the legislature of Indiana 
from Warrick countv and served the regular 
and a special term. In 1888, he was chosen 
by the democratic party as its candidate for 
congress in the first district, and in Novem- 
ber was elected over Mr. F. B. Pose}' of 
Petersburgh. In politics he has been a 
leading democrat, although during his entire 
career upon the bench, he has alwa\'s risen 
superior to any political prejudices, and his 
politics have only been prominently recog- 
nized when he was a candidate for office. 
In November, 1852, Judge Parrett married 
Miss Harriet W. Hinman, who died in 18S8, 
leaving surviving two daughters, Mar}^ and 
Eva, who reside with their father in Evans- 
ville. The retirement of Judge Parrett 
from the bench was an epoch in the history 
of the bar of Evansville and vicinity. 
Though yet in full mental and physical 
vigor, he is one of the few remaining of the 
bar of this section as it existed thirty years 
ago. Judge Parrett's career begins after 
that of Lockhart and Law, both of whom 
served in congress; contemporaneous with 
Baker, who later became governor 
of Indiana; Jones, attorney general of 
Indiana; Shanklin, who died young, in the 
beginning of great promise; Robinson, 
whose unique originality and sarcasni and 



great natural power gave him high reputa- 
tion as an advocate; Chandler, of superior 
education, mental culture and high forensic 
power; Harrow, able and brilliant; Blythe, 
stately and eloquent; Iglehart, with broad 
intellect, a comprehensive lawyer and a 
jurist of extensive reputation; Pitcher, of 
marked ability; Garvin, learned in the law, 
classic in his tastes, and genial in his social 
life; Hovey, who has held high positions, 
military and civil, now governor of Indiana; 
Denby, able, eloquent and successful at the 
bar, now' United States minister to China; 
Foster, United States minister to Mexico, 
Spain and Russia; Hynes, than whom none 
was more eloquent, brilliant and charming. 
These and others composed the bar which 
practiced before Judge Parrett in the earlier 
days. They were men of strong, broad 
natures, robust manhood and sturd\- char- 
acters. Comparing favorably in natural 
ability with these men, with whom he asso- 
ciated, (juick to feel the inspiration wliich 
these surroundings produced, with a natural 
aptitude to the law, Judge Parrett has in a 
life of continuous labor earned the tribute, 
which was paid him bv the Evansville bar, 
upon his retirement from the bench. It 
contains a just estimate of his personal and 
professional traits, by those who know him 
most intimately, and is given elsewhere. 

Conrad Baker, who practiced law in 
Evansville twenty-five years, from 1841 un- 
til 1867, when he was called to the highest 
office of the state, was a native of Pennsxl- 
vania, born in Franklin county, Februar}' 
12, 1 81 7. He was educated at the Perm- 
SN-lvania College at Gett^-sburg, and studied 
law in the office of Stevens & Smyser, the 
senior member beino- the illustrious Thad- 
deus Stevens. Mr. Baker was admitted to 
the bar at Gettysburg in the spring of 1839, 
and practiced there for two years. In 1841, 
he came west and settled at Evansville, 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



S65 



which was his home and the theater of his 
professional activity, until his removal to 
Indianapolis. He was elected in 1845 to 
represent Vanderburgh county in the gen- 
eral assembly, and served one term. He 
was the first judge of the court of common 
pleas for the first district, as has been noted 
in the account of that court. At the birth 
of the republican party, in 1856, his was the 
second name on its first state ticket. He 
was nominated for lieutenant-governor, 
without his knowledge and without effort on 
his part, on the ticket headed by Oliver 1'. 
Morton. They were defeated, and Willard 
and Hammond elected. In the next cam- 
paign, in which Morton was elected, he was 
not a candidate, but in the war, which soon j 
afterward broke out, he did an honorable 
and valuable part. In 1861, he was com- 
missioned colonel of the First Cavalry 
(Twenty-eighth regiment), and served in 
that position over three years. From Au- 
gust, 1861, to April, 1863, he commanded 
either his own regiment or a brigade in 
the field in Missouri, Arkansas and 
Mississippi. At the latter date, the times 
demanding men of his stamp in the work, 
he was summoned by telegraph, the order 
from the secretary of war reaching him at 
Helena, Ark., and required to repair at once 
to Indianapolis and report to the provost 
marshal general. On his arrival at Indian- 
apolis he was detailed to act as assistant 
provost marshal general for Indiana, and as 
such to organize the provost marshal gen- 
eral's bureau in tliis state. lie |-)erformed 
the duties of this place, superintending vol- 
unteer recruiting and acting as chief muster- 
ing ofilcer until August, 1864, when his 
term of service having expired, he was re- 
lieved at his own request and with his regi- 
ment was mustered out a few weeks later. 
In 1864 the republicans renominated Gov. 
Morton, and Gen. Natham Kimball 



having declined the nomination for the 
second place, the central committee tendered 
the nomination for lieutenant-governor to 
Mr. Baker. Early in the year following 
their election, Gov. Morton was stricken 
with disease, and he called the legislature in 
special session and went to Europe in search 
of health, leaving Gov. Baker in charge 
of the executive department durmg five 
months. At tlie next session of the leefisla- 
ture Gov. Morton was elected United 
States senator, and Mr. Baker again assumed 
the duties of governor. He was unanimously 
nominated for governor by the republican 
convention of 1868, and was elected after a 
memorable campaign by the small majority 
of 961 o\-er that formidable competitor, 
Thomas A. Hendricks. In that intense 
political struggle, when every possible fail- 
ing of a candidate that could be used to his 
discredit was eagerly sought for, it was a 
remarkable fact that against Conrad Baker, 
who had been acting chief executive for 
some time, no charge of misconduct as a 
man or as an ofiicer was laid. His succeed- 
ing administration of four ^-ears was like- 
wise honest and conscientious. After the 
retirement of Mr. Baker from the guberna- 
torial chair, he became associated in the 
famous law firm of Baker, Hord & Hend- 
ricks, and made his home in Indianapolis 
during the remainder of his life. 

Morris Stanberry Johnson, for four 
years judge of the common pleas court of 
the first district of Indiana, was a choice 
spirit in tlie earlier history of Evansville as 
a city. He was a man in whom the ele- 
ments of intellect and heart were well com- 
mingled, who was as conspicuous as a 
genial and hospitable gentleman as he was 
notable as a barrister and judge. He was 
a native of the state of New Jersey, born at 
Morristown March 15, 18 17. His mother 
was a daughter of the Col. Stanberry who 



366 



BENCH AND BAR. 



fought at the battle of White Plains, in the 
war of the revolution, and she was a cousin 
of Henry Stanberry, of Newport, Ky., who 
was attorney general of the United States 
during the administration of Andrew John- 
son, and who acted as one of the attorneys 
for the defense in the impeachment trial. In 
early life Mr. Johnson turned his studies in 
the direction of the law, but owing to the 
desires of his family he devoted himself to 
business until his thirty-fifth year. In 1844 
he came to Evansville, and in that year 
the firm of Johnson & Crane, Isaac A. 
Crane being the junior partner, began do- 
ing business in the line of wholesale and re- 
tail dry goods. The firm was dissolved after 
a few years, and Mr. Johnson continued the 
business alone. He removed for a short 
time to Nevvburgh, but soon returned to 
Evansville, and revived his stud}- of law m 
the office of Gen. James E. Blythe. He 
soon afterward began the practice of law 
and formed a partnership with John Law 
and Charles I. Battell. He was success- 
ful from the beginning as a lawyer, and 
gained a large and lucrative practice. In 
1848 he took an active part in the presiden- 
tial campaign, as a supporter of Taylor and 
Fillmore, the whig candidates. After the 
demise of that party, however, he allied 
himself with the democrats. His first 
appearance as a candidate in the political 
arena was when he was nominated for 
mayor in 1862. He made a gallant can- 
vass, but was defeated by William Baker 
by fifty votes. In 1867, Mr. Johnson was 
elected judge of the first common pleas dis- 
trict, to fill a vacancy. His competitor was 
Maj. A. L. Robinson, who held the office 
by appointment of the governor. The fol- 
lowing year Judge Johnson was elected 
over Isaac S. Moore, of Boonville, for a full 
term, and held the office until December, 
1 87 1. In 1840 he had been married to 



Miss Charlotte Warner, of New York. No 
children were born to them. The death of 
Judge Johnson occurred in 1S72. 

Colonel Jacob S. Buchanan, attorney 
and counselor at law, was born in Jefferson 
county, Ind., in February, 1822. His 
paternal grandfather was a native of the 
north of Ireland and of Scotch descent; his 
maternal grandfather was a German. His 
father, a native of Westmoreland county, 
Penn., was reared in Lexington, Ky., and 
about the year 1800, settled on the Ohio 
river, about twenty miles above Madison, 
Ind. Some two or three years afterward, 
with three of his brothers, he went into Jef- 
ferson count}', Ind., where they built a block- 
house and stockade as a defense against 
Indian attacks, and became pioneer farmers. 
Jacob S. Buchanan was reared on a farm, 
near Vevay, Switzerland county, Ind., to 
which his father had removed with his 
famih' when he was a child. His early edu- 
cation was received at the common country 
schools during the winter months, and was 
supplemented by a year's study with a 
private tutor, after he was twenty-one years 
old. He had begun to read law at the age 
of eighteen years, more to satisfy a natural 
fondness for study than with a view of tak- 
ing it up as a profession, and he continued 
this until he was admitted to practice 
in 1849. In the following year he opened 
a law office at Versailles, Ind., and suc- 
ceeded in obtaining a good practice in the 
two 3-ears of his stay there. He then re- 
moved to Charlestown, Clark county, Ind., 
where he soon acquired a good practice, 
which he retained until the breaking out of 
the civil war. Then, abandoning his pro- 
fession, he went to his old home at Vevay, 
raised a company, and entered the United 
States cavalry service. Subsequently this 
company became a part of the Third Indiana 
cavalry, a regiment distinguished in the an- 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



367 



nals of the country for its lieroic achieve- 
ments. Captain Buchanan was promoted 
to the Heutenant colonelcy of the regiment 
and was in command of it during the most 
of his military service. Col. Buchanan in 
November, 1862, was then taken sick for 
the third time during his service and by the ad- 
vice of the surijeons resigned and returned 
home to his family at Vevay. After his partial 
recovery he removed to Greensburg, Decatur 
count}', Ind., but was unable, on account 
of continued ill health, to remain there, and 
in about a year, b}' the advice of physicians, 
removed to Arkansas. There for two years 
and a half he managed a plantation, recu- 
perated his health, and, in 1S66, removed to 
this city, where he again commenced the 
practice of law. Within a year he succeeded 
in gaining a considerable patronage, and has 
gradually acquired a large practice. He is 
now the senior member of the law firm of 
Buchanan & Buchanan, and is regarded as 
one of the most successful lawyers in the 
city. He has a strong lo\e for the practice 
of law, but detests technicalities. In the 
trial of his cases he is absolutely fair to all 
parties concerned; is very frank and candid 
in all his dealings with every one, and to 
this may be attributed, to a great extent, his 
success. As an advocate, he is earnest and 
effecti\'e, a fluent speaker, and powerful in 
argument before both court and jury. In 
his early jears he was a whig, and upon 
the formation of the republican party allied 
himself therewith, but has never been, in 
any sense of the word, a partisan. He has 
invariably refused to accept any elective ollice, 
having on various occasions declined nomina- 
tions. He was married injanuary, 1 848, to Miss 
Julia A. Sauvain, a descendant of one of the 
French families that settled at Gallipolis, 
Ohio, t(j\vard the beginning of the present 
centurw Three children, now living, are the 
fruits of tills marriage: Cicero, the oldest, 



who is the junior partner in the firm of 
Buchanan & Buchanan, himself distinguished 
as a lawyer and citizen because of his 
natural brilliancy as a speaker, his thorough 
conversancy with every branch of law, 
and his aggressive public spiritedness. 
Mrs. Mar}- O. Flower, the widow of the 
late Rev. George E. Flower, who is now 
living in Evansville with her brother and 
actively engaged in works of charit}' for the 
poor and friendless. Scott Buchanan, the 
youngest son, is now residing in the state of 
Dakota, extensively engaged in wheat 
irrowinsi, and is one of the best farmers 
in the state. 

Cicero Buchanan, attorne}- at law, was 
born on a farm near Vevay, Switzerland 
count}-, Ind., November 23, 1848, and is 
the son of Col. Jacob S. and Julia A. (Sau- 
vain) Buchanan. He received a collegiate 
education, graduating from Eureka College, 
at Eureka, 111., in 1869,. He then began 
the study of law in the oflice of his father 
in Evansville, and was admitted to practice 
in 1 87 1. In the following year he went to 
Oregon, where he practiced his profession 
one year, being associated with the firm 
of Mitchell & Dolph, of Portland. The 
senior member of this firm was the well- 
known United States senator from Oregon. 
Returning to Evansville, Mr. Buchanan 
entered the practice again at this place, 
where he has since remained. He is the 
junior member of the firm of Buchanan & 
Buchanan, whose extensive practice em- 
braces many important cases in the district, 
state, and federal courts. His familiarity 
with the law, and his abilities as a speaker, 
have given him a prominent place among 
the ablest members of the Evansville bar. 
In politics he is a staunch republican and 
by his brilliancy and effectiveness as a pub- 
lic speaker, has largely contributed to the 
success of that party for many years past. 



BENCH AND BAR. 



Being selected as the republican candidate 
for presidential elector for the first district of 
Indiana, in iS88, he canvassed the district in 
a most vigorous and telling manner. He 
was pitted in joint discussion against one of 
the ablest exponents of democratic doctrines 
— Judge S. B. Vance — and in a masterly 
way, with convincing logic and a happy 
style of presentation, handled the abstruse 
questions which formed the issues of the cam- 
paign. Everj'where his power as an orator 
and debater was recognized, and left a last- 
ing influence. The spirit of progress is one 
of his possessions. Every wise effort to ad- 
vance the public good finds in him an earn- 
est friend and supporter. He takes an 
active interest in the work of temperance, 
and the betterment of the moral condition of 
the community. In the Masonic fraternity 
he has attained exalted rank, being now 
eminent commander of LaValette com- 
mandery, K. T. He was married September 
2, 1874, to Miss Anna, daughter of Francis 
Allen, a pioneer citizen of this city. To 
this union two children have been born. 

Major Hamilton Allen Mattison, at- 
torney and counselor at law, was born in 
South Berlin, New York, September 23, 
1832, and is the son of Allen J. and Luc}^ 
Mattison. His grandfather, Allen Mattison, 
was a Rhode Island Quaker, who joined 
the revolutionary army in 1775, under Gen. 
Nathaniel Greene, and fought at the battle 
of Bunker Hill. Some time after the close 
of the revolutionar}^ war, he removed with 
his family to South Berlin, E ensselaer county, 
N. Y., where he resided until his death at 
the age of eighty-four years. Hamilton A. 
Mattison was reared on a farm, and his early 
instruction was received in a common coun- 
try school where he attended about three 
months in a year. His ambition as a boy 
was to obtain a good education, and at the 
age of nineteen years, he entered the New 



York Conference Seminary, at Charlotteville, 
N. Y., where he pursued his studies, at the 
same time earning by his own labor, as assist- 
ant teacher, the means necessary- to support 
himself and pay for his tuition. Later he 
entered Union College, from which institu- 
tion, under the presidency of the distin- 
guished educator. Dr. Eliphalet Nott, he 
graduated in i860. From the fall of that 
year until the summer of 1S62, he was prin- 
cipal of the Bacon Seminary, at Woodstown, 
N. J. In July, 1862, during the progress of 
the civil war, convinced that it was his dut}' 
to respond to President Lincoln's call for 
troops, he enlisted and raised a compan}- 
of recruits which became part of the Twelfth 
New Jersey regiment. Before leaving 
the state he was commissioned second lieu- 
tenant and received successive promotions 
as first lieutenant, captain and major. He 
was on the staffs of Gens. Alexander Hayes 
and Nelson A. Miles, and was actively en- 
gaged in about twenty-five battles, received 
three wounds at Chancellorsville — from one 
of which he never entirely recovered — was 
wounded twice afterward and had his horse 
shot under him at the battle of the Wilder- 
ness, at which time he was made a prisoner 
of war. On that battlefield he was intro- 
duced to Gen. Lee and held a conversation 
with him. Here began a chapter of hard- 
ships in the life of Maj. Mattison such as 
,can be appreciated only by men who have 
undergone similar sufferings in southern 
prison pens. He was first taken to Lynch- 
burg, Va., thence to Macon, Ga., and there 
confined " on short rations " from the latter 
part of May until about the first of July, 
when he was taken to Savannah, Ga. He 
was one of fifty federal officers taken from 
this place by the rebel authorities and placed 
under the fire of the federal guns while they 
were shelling the city of Charleston from 
Folly Island. After several weeks, with 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



others, he was taken to Columbia, S. C, 
and put in a pen exposed to all kinds of 
weather, without shelter of any kind, and 
fed only on coarse corn-meal and sorghum. 
Here through intense suffering he remained 
until November 28, when, in company with 
a fellow prisoner. Rev. John Scamahorn, 
well known in Evansville, he made 
his escape. Without money or food and 
with a scanty supply of clothing, 
the two took to the woods and started out 
to meet Sherman's army which they 
believed to be on its way to Augusta, Ga. 
They traveled across the state of South 
Carolina, walking by night and concealing 
themselves in the woods and swamps during 
the day. Reaching the Savannah river, 
they took possession of a small boat and ran 
the gauntlet of rebel guards and steamers 
until they reached the lines of Sherman's 
army at Savannah, which place had been 
captured subsequent to their escape. They 
had traveled nearly 1,500 miles through 
a rebel country and were nearly prostrated 
with fatigue. General Sherman ordered 
Maj. Mattison to report to the ami}- of the 
Potomac as soon as he was able to return to 
duty. After visiting his home in New York, 
he rejoined the ami)' of the Potomac about 
March ist, 1865, and took part in all the 
battles in which that army was engaged un- 
til the surrender of Lee, some six weeks 
later. He was mustered out of service at 
the close of the war, and soon after entered 
the Albany Law School from \Nhich he grad- 
uated in 1866, receiving the degree of 
LL. B. The same year he married the 
daughter of Hon. Marinus Fairchild, of 
Salem, N. Y. He began the practice 
of law at Salem, in partnership with his 
father-in-law. In February, 1868, he re- 
moved to Evansville and in the following 
fall took an active part in the political cam- 
paign, advocating the election of Gen. 



Grant for president. In 1870, he was 
appointed county attorney, but resigned the 
office in the following year for the purpose 
of accepting the appointment b}' the gover- 
nor to the office of prosecuting attornev of 
the Vanderburgh county criminal court, to till 
a vacancy. In the fall of 1872 he was 
elected by the people to the same office for 
a term of two years. In 1876 he was ap- 
pointed, by United States Chief Ju3tice 
Waite, register in bankruptcy, and dis- 
charged the duties of the office until its 
abolishment by law. In 1887 he was ap- 
pointed city attorney for Evansville, and was 
reappointed to the same office in 1S88. Ever 
since his coming to Evansville Maj. Matti- 
son has taken an active part in citv, county, 
and state politics. He served four years as 
chairman of the republican executive com- 
mittee of the count)- and city, and to his able 
and skillful management the successes of 
the party were largely due. He attended 
the national republican convention of 1876 
as an alternate delegate at large from the 
state. As a forcible stump speaker he has 
a high reputation throughout the district. 
In 1888 his name was presented by his 
friends to the republican district convention 
for the congressional nomination, without 
his knowledge or consent (not being 
present at the time), and was defeated by 
the Hon. F. B. Posey by but one vote. He 
became a member of the Masonic fraternity 
at Troy. N. Y., in 1862, and joined Reed 
Lodge, No. 316, of this city, by demit in 
1868; became a member of LaValette com- 
mandery of Knights Templar in 1872, and 
has held manv important offices: and is now 
past master of Reed lodge, past high priest 
and past eminent commander. He joined 
Trinity Methodist Episcopal church soon 
after moving to Evansville, and ever since 
has been an active member of both church 
and Sunday-school. His first wife having 



S70 



BENCH AND BAR. 



died in 1873, he was again married Febru- 
ary 7, 187S, to Miss Henrietta M. Bennett, 
of Evansville, formerly of Brooklyn, N. Y. 
He has one daughter, the issue of his first 
marriage. Maj. ' Mattison is numbered 
among the leading lawyers in Evansville, 
and has been eminently successful in the 
practice. As a public officer he has been 
faithful to every trust and has performed 
every duty in a praiseworthy manner. He is 
a genial, kind-hearted, and courteous gen- 
tleman, and is esteemed as a man of honor 
and strict integrit\' in all business matters. 
Judge Azro Dyer, for many 3'ears a 
prominent member of the Evansville bar, 
and at present judge of the superior court 
of Vanderburgh county, was born in Rum- 
sey, Ky., March 12, 1836. His father* 
Dillis Dyer, was a native of Connecticut, 
but emigrated to Kentucky at the age of 
eighteen years. He studied law in that 
state, and for many years practiced his pro- 
fession at Hartford, Ohio county. During 
twenty-live years he held places of trust and 
influence in the affairs of the state." As 
representative and state senator, he took a 
prominent part in developing the internal im- 
provement s\stem of Kentucky, and as an 
agent of the state caused the erection and had 
the subsequent management of the locks and 
dams on Green and Barren rivers, that have 
recently passed under the control of the gen- 
eral government. Azro D3'er attended the 
well-known school of Frank Griffin, at 
Hartford, Ky. Later he pursued his studies 
at Rochester University, N. Y., and in 1S54 
entered the junior class of Dartmouth Col- 
lege, from which institution he graduated, 
June, 1856, delivering to President Lord the 
farewell address for the class. While at 
Dartmouth he was a member of the Greek so- 
ciety, Alpha Delta Phi. He was also a mem- 
ber of the college society, " Social Friends," 
of which he was for a time the president. 



Returning to Kentuck}- he read law with 
Judge J. W. Becker, and attended the law 
school in Louisville, Ky., from which he 
graduated in March, 1858. From that time 
he practiced law in McLean county, Ky.,. 
until July, 1864, when he removed to Evans- 
ville, Ind., where he has since resided. For 
thirteen years he was engaged in the active 
practice of his profession, and concerned in 
many important trials in the courts during 
that time. In March, 1877, the superior 
court of Vanderburgh count}' was organized 
by an act of the legislature, and upon the 
request of the members of the Evansville 
bar, he was appointed by Gov. Williams 
as presiding judge of the new court, which 
position he held until the general election in 
October, 1878, when he was elected for the 
term of four years. So acceptable has been 
his service in this important position, that he 
has been twice re-elected to the office by 
the people, and is now serving his twelfth 
year. His abilit}-, promptness and faithful- 
ness to duty have been recognized by attor- 
neys, litigants and all persons having busi- 
ness in the court. In 1878, in company with 
Gen. Ben Harrison and Judge Mitchell (now 
of the supreme bench), he represented the 
Indiana Bar Association at the convention 
of the American Bar Association held at 
Saratoga, N. Y., in that year. Judge D3er 
was married January 3, 1861, to Prudence 
L., daughter of Henry J. Bell, of Livermore, 
Kentucky. 

Hon. Charles Denbv, a distinguished 
lawyer and diplomat, was born in Botetourt 
countv, Va., and is now about fiftv-eight 
}ears of age. His education included three 
Years at Georgetown College, in the District 
of Columbia. Afterward he entered the 
Virginia Military Institute, where he grad- 
uated with hiirh honors. He was a profes- 
sor in the Masonic University, at Salem, 
Ala., until 1S53, when he located in this city 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



371 



and edited the Daily Emjtiirer, the first 
democratic dail}- published in Evansville. 
While editing this paper for his support he 
began the study of the law in the office of 
tiie late Gov. Conrad Baker, then a prac- 
ticing attorney in this city. In 1S56 he was 
elected a member of the Indiana legislature. 
When Sumter fell, in 1861, he recruited the 
Forty-second regiment of Indiana Volun- 
teers, and was appointed lieutenant colonel. 
After the battle of Perryville, in which 
action his regiment took an active part, he 
was promoted to the colonelcy of the 
Eightieth Indiana infantry. In 1863 his 
resignation on account of phjsical disabilities 
was tendered, and he returned to Evansville, 
where he resumed the practice of law. 
From that time uniil 1SS5, when appointed 
by President Cleveland as United States 
minister to China, he devoted himself ex- 
clusively to his profession. In 1876 and 
1884 he was delegate at large from the state 
of Indiana to the national democratic con- 
ventions held in those years. He has been 
requested several times bv his party to 
accept the nomination for congress, but each 
time he refused, preferring the practice of 
law to a participation in active politics. For 
many jears past he has been the senior 
member of the law firm of Denb\' & Kum- 
ler, composed of himself and Daniel B. 
Kumler. He is distinctively a lawyer, and 
has few supericrs in his profession at the 
Indiana bar. His practice has been ver\- 
large and general, and his knowledge of the 
law is not confined to any one branch, but 
extends through all. He has been always 
a close student and a hard worker. His 
achievements are proof of his ability. In 
the discharge of his delicate duties as min- 
ister of a great nation to a foreign power he 
has exhibited the possession of particular 
qualifications. He has upheld the dignity 
and honor of the position in an admirable , 



manner, and in his treatment of state matters 
has done credit to himself and his country. 
In the national democratic convention of 
1 888 his name was seriously considered by 
delegates from Indiana and other states in 
connection with the nomination for vice- 
president, but it was not formally presented. 
In 1858 he was married to Maretea Fitch, 
daughter of the distinguished senator, Gra- 
ham N. Fitch, of Logansport, Ind. 

Graham Fitch Denbv, attorne}' at law, 
was born in Evansville, December 25, 1859. 
He was educated in the public schools of 
this cit}-. In 1881 he began the study of law 
in the office of his father, Col. Charles 
Denb}', and in the same 3'ear was admitted 
to the bar. In the 3'ear 18S8 he was 
nominated for prosecuting attorney on the 
democratic ticket, but was, with nearly all 
democratic nominees, beaten. 

Robert Dale Richardson, attorne}- at 
law, son of William B.andMar\' A. Richard- 
sonwas born in Luce township, Spencer 
county, Ind., on the i3thdayof Januarj', 1S47. 
His father and mother lived to celebrate their 
golden wedding in August, 18S4, in the 
presence of many friends and eight living 
children. The father still survives in his 
eightieth year. He has been a potent fac- 
tor in shaping the events which make up 
the histor\^ of his county. In his life the 
highest qualtities of citizenship and the 
best traits of manl}^ character have been ex- 
hibited. He twice represented his county 
in the legislature, and once served as sena- 
tor from Warrick, Perry and Spencer coun- 
ties. The son, Robert, spent his early boy- 
hood on his father's farm, and received his 
elementar\' training in the public schools of 
the neighborhood. Afterward he pursued 
his studies at the State University at Bloom- 
ington, Ind., where he graduated in both 
the literary and law departments in 1867-8. 
He came to Evansville in 1868 and began 



57^ 



BENCH AND BAR. 



the practice of the law. By his associates 
at the bar he is accorded high rank as an 
advocate and counselor. During the course 
of his practice he has been intrusted with 
the management of much important litiga- 
tion, and throughout skill and ability have 
characterized his efforts. In 1S79 he was 
chosen as one of the trustees of the Indiana 
University, his u//na niatcr, which position 
he contines to hold, having been twice se- 
lected as his own successor. In January, 
1889, he was appointed judge of the first 
judicial circuit, to till the vacancy caused by 
the resignation of Judge Parrett. 

Charles L. Wedding, one of the promi- 
nent and most successful lawyers in southern 
Indiana, was born in Ohio county, Ky., 
October 17, 1845, on his father's farm, 
where his infancy and boyhood were spent 
in the usual monotony of farm life. His 
father, Mark Wedding, a carpenter, was a 
man of strong common sense, high honor, 
and belonged to a family noted for their 
good sense and force of character. His 
mother was Nancy J. Hale, a most excellent 
woman, and a member of an old and highly 
respected family, one which has given to 
the world several useful and distinguished 
men. The father survives, at the age of 
sixty-eight; the mother died in 1874. ■'^''• 
Wedding's parents were poor, and he was 
afforded onl\' the facilities of a country 
school taught by very incompetent men. 
At the age of sixteen, when he began the 
study of law, he had but a very imperfect 
knowledge of the most elementary' branches 
of common English education. To be a 
lawyer in the high sense that implies 
character, love of countrv, culture, learning, 
and usefulness to the community, was the 
earl^' hope and settled determination of the 
boy. Though surrounded with apparently 
insurmountable difficulties and of a frasrile 
constitution — alvvaj's rather delicate — he 



had moral courage, energ}-, and a firm 
resolve, which never weakened. He pressed 
on with a manliness which knows "no such 
word as fail."' At the age of sixteen, his 
father bought liim the elementarv text books, 
and for the next year and a half he studied 
diligently about sixteen hours a day. This 
entire time was spent upon the same farm, 
and much of it in the beautiful forests — 
God's first temples — as they existed in Ken- 
tucky thirty years ago. In studying law, 
general literature, and oratorical exercises, 
the inspiring and healthful influence of such 
a life, largely compensated for the lack of 
other training and advantages, regarded 
now as quite indispensable. At the age of 
eighteen he applied for admission to the bar, 
and passed a successful examination before 
those two distinguished judges, James Stuart, 
then of Brandenburg, and P. B. Muir, of 
Louisville, and was by them duly admitted 
to practice in all the courts of Kentucky. 
After his admission to the bar, he located at 
Cloverport, Ky., where he remained but 
eight months, having been engaged in sev- 
eral cases of local importance during the 
time. Owing to the disturbed condition of 
things in Kentucky at this time, Mr. Wed- 
ding moved in January, 1865, to Rockport, 
Ind. When he arrived at Rockport he was 
not only an inexperienced countrv bo}', but 
among strangers, and without monev, knowl- 
edge of the world, or a single friend to 
encourage him. The Rockport bar at that 
time was among the ablest in the state. 
There were Judges DeBruler, Laird and 
Barkwell, Gen. J. C. Veatch, Hon. Thomas 
F. DeBruler, all lawyers and politicians of 
great worth and eminent abilities, to say 
nothing of the young men of promise. 
Here, notwithstanding the established repu- 
tation and high character of his competitors 
at the bar, Mr. Wedding made rapid strides, 
and by the time he had attained his majority 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



37S 



had a leading business. On tiie 4th of July 
1865, when he was but nineteen vears of 
age, he delivered an oration at Roekport to 
a great autlience, which at once gave him a 
reputation throughout the country as a 
speaker. The war had just closed, the sol- 
diers at home, and Lincoln recently dead. 
There was a golden opportunit\- for a great 
effort, and Mr. Wedding proved to be 
equal to it. From this time on until he 
moved to EvansvlUe, he had a large and 
lucrative practice at Roekport, and in the 
federal and supreme courts of Indiana. 
After establishing and maintaining a most 
enviable reputation at Roekport for years, 
he moved to Evansville as stated, in 1880. 
Previous to moving he had bought a beau- 
tiful home on First street, where he has 
ever since resided. At Evansville he 
has been equally successful. It is prob- 
ably true, that no man of his age in 
southern Indiana has been emploj'ed in more 
important trials or made more money than 
Mr. Wedding. While not penurious, he has 
been frugal in his habits, intelligent and 
prudent in his management of his earnings, 
and in the result of his twenty-three vears of 
practice at the bar in Indiana he has accu- 
mulated such a competencv as all prudent 
men desire. This has all been done in the 
legitimate practice of his profession, for he 
never goes outside of it, except when force 
of circumstances, such as are inevitable in 
the management of all business, has obliged 
him to do so. He believes in, and often re- 
minds his friends of the truthfulness of the 
maxim — ■ " Let the shoemaker stick to his 
last." Attracted to him by his success, Mr. 
Wedding has had many young men under 
his charge as law students, some of whom 
have made their mark, while others, acting 
upon his advice, have gone into ether busi- 
ness to which they are better adapted. One 
of Mr. Wedding's traits is his perfect sin- 



cerity and frankness in his friendship, and 
also made manifest in the expression of his 
dislikes and prejudices. You always know 
where to find him; concealment has no 
place in his character. At Roekport, De- 
cember the 1st, 1866, he was married to 
Mary C. English, a woman of great worth, 
good sense and Christian character. They 
have two boj's, aged respectively eleven and 
nineteen. In poHtics Mr. Wedding was an 
original republican, but went with the lib- 
eral republicans in 1872. and actively sup- 
ported Greeley. In 1876 he supported 
Tilden, making speeches in Indiana and 
other states, which will rank among the best 
arguments made in that famous campaign 
for the democracy. In iSSo he supported 
Hancock, and took an active part in the 
campaign. He voted for Cleveland in 
18S4, but took no part or interest in the 
contest. He has never claimed to be a 
party man, but always asserted his perfect 
independence of party lines, and has rarely 
voted a straight ticket. He never took any 
part in ward or local politics, except to help 
his friends who have been candidates for 
nomination or election. As a lawyer, Mr. 
Wedding is an able advocate, speaking with 
energy, sincerity, and often elo(juently. He 
tries his cases before the courts and juries 
with skill and abilitv. He advises with 
candor and accurac\', having at his com- 
mand one of the fmest private law libraries 
in the state, kept with scrupulous care. In 
the supreme court the records show he has 
been nearlv always victorious, demonstrat- 
ing his good judgment as to the result of 
legal controversies. \\\\\\ all this, he has 
excellent practical judgment of men, busi- 
ness and business problems, and he has, 
therefore, always had the confidence of the 
best business men wh-rever he is known. 
In all transacTtions involving mone\', charac- 
ter or integrity, his reputation is unquestion- 



37^ 



BEyCH AND BAR. 



able and without reproach. Outside of his 
professional practice, upon literary society 
and other public occasions, his services as a 
speaker are much sought after, and few 
merely priv-ate citizens have made more 
public addresses than Mr. Wedding. Some 
of them have been published, and highly 
commended, notably that at the funeral ser- 
vices of Gen. Grant in this city. It is proper 
we should state, that for much of the ma- 
terial in this sketch we are indebted to Mr. 
E. M. Swan, a prominent lawyer of Rock- 
port, and Vol. i, page 56, of the Biographi- 
cal History of the Eminent and Self-Made 
Men of Indiana. 

Charles H. Butterfield, whose distin- 
guished services in war and in peace, make 
a notable figure in the history' of the city, is 
a native of Maine, born in Farmington, May 
17, 1S34. He remained at home until he 
was seventeen, assisting his father, and at- 
tending the winter schools. He then entered 
the Farmington academ^', and in 1S55 com- 
pleted a preparatory course for college. In 
the fall of that year he entered Bowdoin 
College, and was graduated in 1859. His 
favorite studies were Latin and natural sci- 
ences, in which he particularly excelled. In 

August of the same year, he came to Evans- 
es - ^ 

ville and became the principal of the high 
school, in which capacity he had acted three 
years with great credit to himself and satis- 
faction to the patrons of the school, when 
the dire necessities of the national govern- 
ment, assailed by rebellion, called upon him 
irresistibly to drop all civil pursuits, and go 
to the front. In the spring of 1862 he as- 
sisted to recruit the Sixty-fifth regiment, 
expecting to go with it, but was detained b\r 
circumstances beyond his control. He then 
raised the Ninety-first, and was appointed its 
major, later being promoted to lieutenant 
colonel. His command saw active and im- 
portant service. The first exciting duty was 



the chasing of the guerillas in the vicinity' 
of Henderson, and they were then enofaged in 
the expedition after Morgan in the spring of 
1S63. In the fall and winter of 1863-4, ^^^ 
regiment was a participant in all the battles 
of the East Tennessee campaign, and in the 
spring of 1864, it formed a part of the 
Twenty-third army corps, under the general 
command of Gen. Sherman, and made the 
march from Chattanooga, to Atlanta. This 
famous campaign ended, the regiment re- 
turned to Nashville, to fight under Thomas, 
and destroy the hopes of the confederacy 
in the crushing defeat of Hood. Then the 
Ninet\'--first was transferred to Washington, 
and took boat for Fort Fisher, North Caro- 
lina, landing in time to join Sherman at 
Goldsboro, and in the final battles and skir- 
mishes that followed, the regiment gallantly 
did its dut3^ Col. Butterfield was in com- 
mand at Salisbury the first day after the entry 
of the Union army. In July, 1865, he re- 
turned to Evansville, and resumed the study 
of law. He was soon appointed superinten- 
dent of the schools and he held this position 
one year, meanwhile improving whatever 
opportunity offered to keep up his study of 
law, in the office of Hon. Conrad Baker. 
He was admitted to the bar in December, 
1865, and soon after engaged in the practice 
of his chosen profession. In 1869 he was 
elected judge of the criminal court, but re- 
signed this position in 1871, to accept the 
mayoralty, to which he was elected at the 
death of Hon. William Baker. He served 
for nearly three years as mayor, since which 
he has up to the present time, been engaged 
in the practice of the law in Evansville. 

Capt. William Reavis, pension claim 
attorney, was born in what is now Gibson 
count}-, Ind., August 27, 1815. His father, 
Isham Reavis, was a native of North Caro- 
lina, born March 7, 1781, who died in Gib- 
son county, Jul}- 30, 1825; his mother was 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



375 



born in South Carolina, January 31, 1781, 
and died August 14, 1848. The Reavis 
family emigrated to Indiana territory in 
1813, making their way against many hard- 
ships and obstacles into the wilderness and 
settling as pioneers within the limits of the 
present county of Gibson. They were 
hardy people of unswerying integrity, whose 
simple lives were characterized b\' the man- 
ners and custonis of the early days in this 
section. William Reayis began the battle 
of life for himself when twenty years of 
age. This new countr}' was then without 
a well ordered school system and its educa- 
tional advantages were few indeed. Only 
those endowed with natural acumen and an 
inate fondness for stud\'- obtained more 
than a smattering of the most elementary 
principles of learning. But because of stu- 
dious habits and his aptness Mr. Reavis 
was early fitted for the duties of a teacher. 
This calling he followed for some time, and 
with a pleasing degree of success. In 1846 
he was elected treasurer of Gibson county, 
and was re-elected to the same office three 
years later b}' an increased majority. The 
county records indicate that he was a most 
efficient officer. In 1859 he removed to 
Benton, Ills., where he engaged in the prac- 
tice of law until the commencement of the 
the ci\'il war. His active interest in the 
strife and his loyalty to the union early 
proved themselves. He was instrumental 
in raising many troops and served as captain 
of Company G, Fifty-sixth Illinois infantry-. 
His record as an officer was indeed flatter- 
ing, showing throughout the most patriotic, 
unselfish, and SDldierI\- conduct. Coming 
to Evansville in December, 1862, he began 
the business in which he is now engaged. 
He is one of the oldest claim attorneys in 
the state, and has been successful in his 
practice. He was united in marriage in 
1836 to Eleanor C. Burton, to whom eight 



children were born. Upon the death of his 
first wife he was again married in 1856 to 
Mrs. Lathena Damon, widow of the late 
Volney Damon, of this county. 

James T. Walker, a worthy representa- 
tive of a distinguished pioneer family, and a 
successful attorne}' at law, was born in the 
city of Evansville October 22d, 1850. The 
name of his grandfather, William Walker, 
was closely woven into the early history of 
Vanderburgh count\\ Settling here in 1835, 
when Evansville, then a struggling village, 
was feeling the first impulses of that new 
life which soon bore it on from the condition 
of a village to that of a city, the family early 
took a prominent place among the sterling 
people of that period, and because of high 
character and loft^- aims, stamped the 
Walker name indelibly upon the annals of 
their adopted count}- and city. Prominent 
as a citizen, of recognized ability, and pos- 
sessing the best qualities of magnetic manli- 
ness, William Walker, as soon as war was 
declared with Mexico, offered his own ser- 
vices to his country, and raised a company 
for duty at the front. In that company there 
were many men of high local standing, and 
later distinguished throughout the country. 
General Joseph Lane, resigning his seat in 
the state legislature, where he sat as a repre- 
sentative from this county, went to New 
Albany, whither Capt. Walker's company 
had proceeded to rendezvous, and lliere took 
his first lesson in company drill. On the 
field of Buena Vista, nobly and gallantly 
leading his command, soldier-like, sword in 
hand, Capt. Walker fell, pierced to death by 
the unerring aim of the Mexican lancers. 
Gen. Lane, many years later, in speaking of 
the hei'oic character of the man, said: " A 
truer soldier fell not upon any battle-field 
before or since." The immediate subject of 
mention in this connection, is the son of the 
late Hon. James T. and Charlotte (Burtis) 



37G 



BENCH AND BAR. 



Walker. His father was born in Salem, N. J., 
April 15, 1S06, and after a long, useful and 
honorable life, died in this cicy May ist, 1877. 

He was a law3-er by profession, and for 
many years was connected with the office of 
county auditor, during the long and efficient 
incumbency of William H. Walker. In 1844 
he was chosen by the people to represent 
the county in the state legislature, and in 
subsequent years occupied many positions of 
public and private trust. His career was 
honorable throughout, and his death was 
generally lamented. The mother, Charlotte 
Walker, still living, and through the beaut}- 
of her womanly character enjoying the re- 
spect and love of many friends, was born 
in this county March 2d, 1822. Her 
parents, Jc sse Burtis and his wife, natives of 
New York state, came to the new west in 
very early times, and belonged to that noble 
and heroic class of pionejrs who, undaunted 
by any form of hardship or severity, built 
their rude cabin in the wolf-infested forests, 
made small clearings, and planted the seed 
which, ripening, yielded the rich fruits of 
civilization and Christian enlightenment. 
Charlotte Burtis was the second wife of 
Hon. James T. Walker. The present 
James T. Walker was the second of their 
children. His boyhood was spent in the 
city of his birth, and here in the pubHc 
schools he receix-ed the foundation of his 
intellectual training. In 1S66, having success- 
fully passed through the schools of the city, 
he entered Wabash College, at Crawfords- 
ville, Ind., and after a year's work there was 
matriculated at Hanover College, at Han- 
over, Ind., one of the leading educational 
institutions of the state, where he graduated 
in 1870. Because of subsequent literary at- 
tainments his alma mater conferred upon 
him in 1887, the degree of A. M. In 1872, 
he began the study of law in the office of 
Hon. Charles Denby, an eminent member of 



the bar and now United States minister to 
China, and continued to enjo}^ the beneficial 
guidance in the pursuits of his studies of this 
able instructor, until he was readv for ad- 
mission to the bar. He remained in the 
office of Mr. Denbv until 1881, when a 
partnership with R. D. Richardson was 
formed. His natural and acquired abilities 
as a counselor and advocate, his close atten- 
tion to the interest of his clients, and the 
honorable methods of his practice have won 
for him an enviable position among the 
members of his profession. Mr. Walker 
affiliates with the democratic party, but has 
not sought political preferment. In 1S84 he 
was elected a trustee of the public schools, 
in which capacity he served three 3'ears. 
His ideas being progressive he is identified 
with the business advancement of the citv. 
In the prime of life his past achievements 
give promise of continued usefulness and an 
honorable career. Februar}- 20, 1882, his 
marriage to Luc}- A. Babcock was solem- 
nized. Mrs. Walker, a native of Evansville, 
was born December 8. 1856, her parents 
being the well-known Henry O. and Mary 
E. (Howser) Babcock, natives of New 
York and Ohio, respectively, and long 
prominently identified with Evansville's pro- 
gress. Of this union two children, Henrv B., 
was born March 10, 18S5, and James T., jr., 
born December 22, 1888. 

Gen.James M.Shackelford has achieved 
eminence as citizen, lawver, statesman, and 
soldier. He was born near Danville, Lin- 
coln countv, Kv., July 7, 1827, his ancestors 
beinfj among the most illustrious citizens of 
that state. His mental training was intrusted 
to the best instructors. His mind early ex- 
hibited superior strength. At the age of 
twenty those manlv characteristics which 
have marked his entire career were fully 
developed. The war with Mexico was then 
being waged, and because of his peculia 




•^'f's5«. 




'm^- 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



377 



talents he was offered and accepted a lieu- 
tenant's commission in the Fourth Kentuck}- 
infantry, under Col. John S. Williams. The 
Fourth Kentucky infantry did not reach the 
seat of hostilities until after the decisive bat- 
tles of the war had been fought, but the 
soldierly conduct of Lieutenant Shackelford 
gave his name a creditable place in the history 
of that period. In Jul}^, 1848, he returned with 
his regiment to Kentucky. Choosing the legal 
profession for his tield of effort, he entered 
the office of Judge Cook, a well-known 
lawyer of Madison ville, Ky., and began his 
studies. Upon his admission to practice in 
1851, a partnership was formed with his old 
preceptor. A few days thereafter the 
young lawyer was retained to de- 
fend a prisoner charged with murder. 
The evidence against the accused was verj^ 
strong, and the prosecution was conducted 
b}' able and experienced lawyers. Young 
Shackelford's case was well prepared and 
abl}- managed. His argument was clear, 
direct, convincing, and because of the true 
eloquence of his utterances, and the breadth 
of learning displayed, he achieved a triumph. 
Upon the conclusion of his argument the 
judge and bar congratulated the young man 
upon his success. From that time he rose 
rapidh', and soon became an honored and suc- 
cessful practitioner. For a time he figured in 
the major part of the important litigation 
in southwestern Kentucky, and man}- of hi^ 
cases were amoog the most noted in the 
state. His career as a lawyer was inter- 
rupted by the call to arms in 1861. Eager 
to aid his country in its hour of peril, he 
offered his services, and was authorized bv 
Pres. Lincoln to raise a regiment for 
the Union army. The regiment was re- 
cruited with dilliculty, most of his neighbors 
being in sympathy with the confederacy. 
At length the regiment was designated as 
the Twenty-fifth Kentucky infantry, was 
23 



mustered in, with Col. Shackelford in com- 
mand, and was placed in Gen. Craft's brig- 
ade, Callender's division. The division 
participated in the engagement at Fort Don- 
elson, where Col. Shackelford performed a 
gallant part. The exposure incident to the 
service seriously impaired his health, and 
upon the advice of the surgeons he tendered 
his resignation, which was accepted with re- 
gret by those who knew his worth as a sol- 
dier. His health being improved, he went 
to Pittsburg Landing and witnessed the 
fight at that place. Gen. Buell strongly 
recommended him for a command. He was 
authorized to recruit a regiment of cavalry, 
and within two weeks after receiving orders 
raised over 1,600 men, from among whom 
the Eighth Kentucky cavalr}- was enlisted. 
At Henderson, Ky., before muster-in, the 
regiment was engaged with the guerillas, 
and in the skirmish Col. Shackelford was 
seriously wounded in the foot. He was re- 
moved to hospital but returned to his com- 
mand before he had completely recovered. 
His command had frequent encounters with 
the guerillas, and in the summer of 1863 
Col. Shackelford was nominated by the 
president and confirmed by the senate as 
brigadier-general, assigned to the First 
Brigade, Second Division, Twenty-third 
army corps, and given the task of captur- 
ing the famous guerilla John Morgan. His 
successful accomplishment of this difficult 
task is related in the military chapter of this 
work. The pursuit of the noted raider was 
characterized by gallantr}- and seldom 
equaled powers of endurance. The per- 
sistent valor displayed by the general in 
command as well as by the subordinate 
otFicers and men was remarkable, and the 
achievements of that campaign placed the 
name of Gen. Shackelford upon the roll of 
American heroes. Soon after Morgan's 
capture the general engaged in the East 



378 



BENCH AND BAR. 



Tennessee campaign, and was chiefly in- 
strumental in causing the surrender of the 
rebel, Gen. Frazier, at Cumberland Gap. 
For three months he was fighting in the 
valleys of Virginia and Tennessee. He was 
then placed in command of an army corps 
composed of sixteen regiments of cavalry, 
numbering over 15,000 soldiers. While in 
command of this force Gen. Shackelford 
rendered efficient and gallant service. Brave 
to the verge of rashness, always capable of 
making the best disposition of his forces, a 
good disciplinarian, yet much beloved by 
his men for his magnanimous impulses, 
and strictly conscientious, he manifested 
rare ability and proved himself under all 
circumstances a true soldier. In the 
latter part of 1863 for domestic reasons 
Gen. Shackelford resigned and returned 
to his home in Kentucky. He came to Evans- 
ville in 1864, resumed the practice of law, 
and at once took a prominent place among 
the foremost attorneys of the Evansville 
bar. His legal career has been brilliant and 
his reputation as an able and erudite law3"er 
extends throughout the state. His charac- 
teristics are accuracy in the preparation of 
cases, adroitness in their management, skill 
in the examination of witnesses, fluency and 
power in speech, and a great familiarity with 
every branch of the law. Politically he has 
been a staunch republican. To his able and 
eloquent discussion of national questions and 
the power of his personal influence, may be 
attributed much of his party's success. In 
1880 he was elected as a presidential elector 
for the state at large. He was made presi- 
dent of the electoral college, and was unan- 
imously chosen by the college to carr\' its 
vote to Washington. In 1881, his appoint- 
ment as minister to Mexico, was urged by 
the republicans of the state, and would 
doubtless have been made had not the un- 
timely death of Pres. Garfield prevented 



it. Prominent republicans, the state electors 
and many members of the legislature united 
in urging his appointment. The Evansville 
Courier, though not his political friend, said 
of him: " No man in the state, no man in the 
nation has been a more consistent or a more 
positive republican. No republican orator has 
used gloves as little as he in dealing blows 
at the democratic party. It is the nature of 
the man to be true as steel to his convictions 
and to can;y them before the eyes of all 
men as buckler and shield. Loyal to the 
right, as he understands the right, his splen- 
did courage compels the respect and admi- 
ration of those who differ with him — chiefly 
of his opponents, it would seem — for his 
modesty, when his personal interests are at 
stake, exceeds his bravery, and notwith- 
standing the irreat services he has r^indered 
his party, he has never sought nor held 
office. He is a gentleman of rare social 
gifts and is well versed in the graces of life. 
Few men in Indiana are more widely en- 
dowed intellectually. He is a fine lawyer, 
and as an advocate has no superior at 
the Indiana bar. He is studious, energetic 
and industrious in his habits, and in temper- 
ament possesses that kind of amiability 
which blends prudence with high resolve." 
His name was afterward prominently men- 
tioned in connection with the gubernatorial 
nomination, but he was not an aspirant 
for that honor. In 1888 he was again 
elected presidential elector for the state at 
large, and was unanimously chosen presi- 
ident of the electoral college. In recognition 
of his high standing as a citizen, his eminent 
qualifications as a jurist, and his promi- 
nence as a republican, Pres. Harrison ap- 
pointed Gen. Shackelford as judge of the 
United States circuit court at Muscogee, 
Indian territory, on March 23, 1S89. 

Clinton Staser, attorney at law, was 
born January 15, 1S42, in Scott township 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



379 



this county, and is the son of John C and 
Marj^aret (Clinton) Staser, the well-known 
pioneers. His boyhood was spent upon the 
farm, and his early mental training obtained 
in the district schools of the neighborhood. 
Coming to the city, he pursued a course of 
study in the school of Prof. Knight, and 
later attended the commercial coUetre of 
Jeremiah Behme. Determining to fit him- 
self for the practice of the law, he began his 
professional studies in the office of Peter 
Maier, and was admitted to practice in 
1868, since which time he has been an 
honored and successful practitioner. His 
practice has been of a general character, 
but important probate and mercantile busi- 
ness has chiefly engaged his attention. In 
1870 he was married to Miss Clarissa 
Wille}', of Delaware, Ohio. To this union 
seven children have been born. Mr. and 
Mrs. Staser are members of St. Paul's 
Episcopal church. 

Wesley S. Hurst, attorney at law, was 
born in Dubois county, Ind., November 9, 
1846. His father, Ira Hurst, a Virginian, 
now resides in Gibson county at a ripe old 
age. His mother, Phcebe (Brenton) 
Hurst, was a native of Dubois county, and 
died there in 1847. He was reared on his 
father's farm until fifteen years of age, at 
which time he went to work in a printing of- 
fice at Jasper, Ind., with a view of learning 
the printer's trade. He had been there but 
a short time when he decided to join the 
Union army. He enlisted as a drummer boy 
in Company E, Fifty-eighth Indiana in- 
fantr}-, and, after a jear's service, was hon- 
orably discharged, because of ph3'sical 
disability. Upon his return home, he en- 
tered the State University at Bloomington, 
where he continued until 186S, when he was 
graduated in both the departments of litera- 
ture and law. In the early years of his boy- 
uood he had struggled hard for the 



rudiments of his education, eagerly seizing 
upon e\ery opportunity afforded by the then 
imperfect schools of his locality. At fifteen 
years of age he found himself whollv de- 
pendent upon his own efforts for what he 
most desired — an education. At the uni- 
versity he defrayed his expenses bv work- 
ing as a janitor; a commendable thing this 
was, for the dignity of honorable labor and 
the delights of a cultivated intellect are rec- 
ognized by all. It was impossible for him 
to begin the practice of his profession 
immediately after his graduation. He 
taught school in Pike, Gibson and Warrick 
counties until 1872, when he entered upon 
the practice of law at Vincennes. After 
two years he removed to Petersburgh, Ind., 
and from there, in 1883, came to Evansville. 
Here he has attained a degree of success 
such as his zeal and ability have warranted. 
He was married in 1869 to Miss Anna Min- 
nis, of Gibson county, who was born in 
1850, and is the father of two children, 
Mattie A. and Oscar W. He and his wife 
are consistent members of the Presbyterian 
church. 

PiiiLU' W. Frey, attorney at law, is a 
native of Evansville, having been born in this 
city July 9, 1857. His parents, Louis and 
Rosalie Frey, were natives of Austria and 
Alsace, France, respectively. His father 
emigrated to the United States in 1847, and 
nine years later came to Vanderburgh county. 
He has always been known as a respectable 
and worthy citizen. He was educated in 
the public schools of the city, passing 
through all the grades and graduating from 
the high school in 1874. Immediately 
thereafter he began the stud}' of law under 
the direction of Judge Azro Dyer, and three 
years later, being admitted to the bar of 
Vanderburgh county, began the active prac- 
tice of his profession. His success from the 
beginning of his career w^s s^ssvired, The 



3S0 



BENCH AND BAR. 



democratic party nominated him in 18S2, 
and again in 1884, for the office of prose- 
cuting attorney for the first judicial district, 
composed of Posey and Vanderburgh coun- 
ties, to which office he was elected for two 
terms. At the expiration of his official 
career he again turned his entire attention 
to his private law practice, which, through 
a steady increase, has attained gratify- 
ing proportions. Mr. Frey is a young 
man with nearly the whole of his life's work 
before him. The accomplishments of the 
past indicate for him a bright future. He 
was married in December, 1886, to Miss 
Hattie Loewenthal, of Leavenworth, Kas. 

William M. Blakey, attorney at law, 
was born on a farm in Logan county Ky., 
April 21, 1849, being the son of George 
T. and Sarah E. (McLean) Blakey, people 
well and favorably known in tlie locality 
where they long resided. His youth was 
spent upon the farm in the monotonous pur- 
suits common to farm lads. His elementary 
mental training was obtained at the public 
schools of Oldfield, a place in his native 
county. At the age of eighteen years he 
entered Bethel College at RusselviUe, Ky., 
where he pursued his studies for two j'ears. 



making rapid advancement. He was then 
matriculated at Asbur}- University (now 
DePauw College), at Greencastle, fnd., 
where he graduated with the class of 1869. 
Returning to Russelville, Ky., he began the 
study of law, having for his instructor the 
eminent Judge R. C. Bowling. At the 
same time the zealous law student enjoyed 
the benefit of a course of lectures at the 
Law School in Louisville, K}-., in the winter 
of 1870-1. In November, 1871, he came 
to Evansville and at once began the practice 
of his profession, spending four years in the 
office of Judge Azro Dyer, and continuing 
to the present time with marked success. 
His public spirit has caused him to play a 
prominent part in local politics. His affilia- 
tions have been with the republican party. 
From 1880 to 1884, he served as chairman 
of the county central committee and much 
of the success achieved by the party was 
due to the skill of his management and the 
devotion of his services. In 1873 ^^ be- 
came a Mason, and in 1877, a Knight Tem- 
plar, and has always occupied a high 
position in his lodges. His marriage to Miss 
Carrie McDonald, of New Albany, Ind., 
occurred in November, 1879. 



CHAPTER XII. 



Secret and Benevolent Orders — Free Masonry — Odd Fellowship — Knights 
OF Pythias — Ancient Order of United Workmen — Royal Arcanum — 
Knights of Honor — Other Secret Orders — Benevolent Institutions, Etc. 

ICERO declared that " fraternity im- home, where onlv brethren of the m3'stic 



proves happiness, abates miser}', 
doubles our joy and divides our grief." 
The fundamental principles of the secret so- 
cieties now existing in this city tend to the 
accomplishment of these results of fraternal 
association. Benevolence, charit}- and merc\' 
mark their work; and among their objects 
are the subjugation of man's perverse will 
and passions to discretion and prudence, and 
the elevation of character, by directing the 
performance of noble and unselfish deeds. 
They are adapted to modern life and habits; 
their creeds are predicated upon an enlight- 
ened and liberal public sentiment; then- pur- 
poses and aims tind a spontaneous approval 
among prudent people, and their teachings are 
consistent with the highest order of morality. 
Their benign influence reaches into number- 
less homes, arouses the noblest instincts in 
man's nature, purifies and betters society. 
The history attempted here is local and a 
general record of any order is not under- 
taken. 

Secret Societies: Free Masonry. — In earh' 
daj's — prior to 1817 — the states of Ohio, 
Indiana and Kentuck}- formed one grand 
jurisdiction. This amount of territory could 
not be overlooked by the grand ollicers as 
its need demanded : hence, on December 30, 
1817, a grand lodge exclusively for the 



tie were permitted to be present, and say: 
"Behold how good and how pleasant for 
brothers to dwell together in unity." Early 
in 1S19, a number of Master Masons organ- 
ized and asked the grand lodge of Indiana to 
grant thfem a dispensation. This was done 
b}' the grand master with the name of 
Olive Branch, U. D. A regular charter 
was granted September 15, 1819. by Alex- 
ander A. Meeks, grand master, and the 
lodge was known as Olive Branch, lodge 
No. 10, with Jay Morehouse worshipful 
master; William Olmstead, senior warden, 
and Amos Clark, junior warden. The 
meetings of the lodge were held in the 
fourth story of the warehouse on the corner 
of Water and Locust streets, owned and 
used by Shanklin & Reilly. The craft 
moved forward in the even tenor of its 
way for many years, but in 1833 the charter 
was surrendered. For fifteen years there 
was no lodge of Master Masons in the city. 
In 1847 Evansville became a city; her popu- 
lation had increased rapidly. Masons from 
Kentuck}- and other states had moved in and 
were here in sufficient numbers to form a 
lodge. This they determined to do, and on 
the 3d day of April, 1848, the following 
brethren joined in a petition to the grand 
master of the state asking for a dispensa- 



state of Indiana was formed. When Evans- 1 tion: Rev. C. A. Foster, John C. Hibbard, 
villa was a small town of a few hundred in- James T. Walker, Nathan Rowley, P. G. 
habitants, there were a number of resident I O'Riley, Alva Farnsworth and Richard 
Masons who were anxious for a Masonic ' Palridge, all of whom, except Rev. C. A. 

{3S1) 



38S 



SECRET AND BENEVOLENT ORDERS. 



Foster, are now dead. Their request was 
granted by the grand master, who ap- 
pointed Rev. C. A. Foster to be the first 
W. M.; John C. Hibbard, first S. W.: and 
James T. Walker, first J. W.;P. G.O'Riley 
acting as secretary. 

The following May 28, the grand lodge 
granted a charter, which was signed by 
Elizur Deming, grand master. The title 
bestowed was Evansville Lodge, No. 64, 
F. and A. M. The lodge has been continu- 
ously at work from its organization to the 
present time, steadily increasing its member-> 
ship. Many hundreds have been admitted 
to its secret circle, but by deaths, removals, 
and the formation of two other lodges — 
Reed Lodge, No. 316, and Lessing Lodge, 
No. 464 — its membership is at present a 
little over 100. A number of its mem- 
bers have been attached to the lodge 
for over thirt}^ years. The following gen- 
tlemen have ofHciated as chief executive or 
worsliipful master: Rev. C. A. Foster, 
1848; James T. Walker, 1849; W. Hubbell, 
1850, '51, '52; D. A. Farnsley, 1S53, '54; 
W. A. McRea, 1S55, '56; William Hubbell, 
1857. '58) '59; Wm. E. Hollingsworth, i860, 
'61, '62, '6y, T. W. Simpson, 1S64; Alex 
Sharra, 1865; I. Haas, 1866, '68, '72, '74, 
'75) '79 and '80; George W. Shearer, 1867 
and '73; C. H. Butterfield, 1869, '70, '71; 
George Burch, 1876; A. J. McCutchan, 
1877; John Foulks, 1878; W. F. Epmeier, 
1881; J. L. Dow, 1882; Otis Wood, 1883; 
M. Moran, 1884; Jacob G. Kountz, 1885; 
Alex Crawford, 1886, '87, '88. 

Evansville Lodge, No. 64, held its first 
meeting in the room previously occupied b}' 
Olive Branch Lodge, in Shanklin & Reilly's 
warehouse, on the corner of Locust and 
Walnut streets, where the tobacco ware- 
house of White, Dunkerson & Co. now 
stands. Subsequently they removed to a 
large hall in the third story of Judge M. W. 



Foster's building, on the corner of Main 
and First streets. This lodge room was 
prepared expressly for Masonic purposes, 
and the craft remained in it for many years. 
Later the lodge removed to the fourth 
story of William H. Klausman's building on 
Main, between Second and Third streets, 
where they remained for several years. At 
length the membership desired more con- 
venient and commodious quarters. When 
the Merchants' National bank was about to 
erect a magnificent bank building on the 
corner of Main and First streets, a commit- 
tee was appointed to confer with the bank 
directors, having in view the occupancy of 
the third story b}- the Masonic fraternity of 
the city, which at that time consisted of two 
blue lodges and a royal arch chapter. This 
committee did its work well; the lodges took 
a lease of ten 3'ears and occupied it several 
years after the expiration of the lease. 
In 1887, when James L. Orr was erecting 
liis commodious building on the corner of 
Locust and Second streets, the fraternity felt 
that their increase in membership and the 
addition of Simpson council and LaValette 
commandery, necessitated additional rooms. 
A committee from the commandery was ap- 
pointed to confer with Mr. Orr, with a view 
of leasing the entire third story of the new 
building for Masonic and other purposes, 
which was finally accomplished. All the 
bodies of the Masonic order use these apart- 
ments, and are to be congratulated upon 
having the finest lodge quarters in the state. 
There are separate rooms for the blue 
lodge, chapter, council and commandery, all 
conveniently arranged and handsomely fur- 
nished throughout. Elegant parlors, a spa- 
cious banquet hall, kitchen, etc., add to the 
completeness of the quarters. 

Reed Lodire, F. cf- A. J/.— In 1865 a 
number of brethren who had not united with 
Evansville Lodge, No. 64, wished to form a 



FREE MASONRY. 



$8S 



new lodge. To this arrangement Evans- 
ville lodge gave its hearty consent. A 
petition was prepared by Dr. I. Haas, the 
master of Evansville lodge, and J. H. Carlin, 
and the names of fourteen Master Masons 
were subscribed. Upon this the grand 
master issued a dispensation and appointed 
Rev. Samuel Reed, worshipful master; W.J. 
Hargrave, senior warden, andR. H. Cooke, 
junior warden, with the title of Reed Lodge, 
U. D. On the 30th of May, 1S66, the 
grand lodge granted a charter to Reed 
Lodge, No. 316. This lodge has prospered 
and now numbers over 100 members. 

The chief executives, or worshipful mas- 
ters, have been: Rev. Samuel Reed, 
1865-6; W. J. Hargrave, 1866-7; T. W. 
Simpson, 1867; W. E. Hollingsworth, 186S; 
Alex Sharra, 1869; G. H. Fish, 1870; G.N. 
Wells, 1871 and 1873;]. W.Barbour, 1872; 
John J. Ha^'s, 1874; J. S. Turner, 1875, 
part 1S84; A. C. Isaacs, 1876, 18S0, and 
part 1884; William M. Blakey, 1877; H. A. 
Mattison, 1878; W. N. Webb, 1879; J. W. 
Irwin, 1S81; S. W. Douglas, 1882, '83, '88; 
J. W. Walker, 1SS5; T. W. Summers, 
1886; Herman Engle, 1887. 

J^essing- Lodge, A'o. 464. — On July 9, 
1872, a number of Master Masons who were 
Germans, desiring to have a lodge of their 
own, took demits from Evans\ille lodge, No. 
64, for the purpose of working in the Ger- 
man language. They were P. Nonweiler, 
William Koch, Ilarry Joseph, F. S. Zum- 
stein, Fred Hoffman, Julius Kahn, Jacob 
Bopp, H. W. Elmendorf, G. L. Altwater, 
Christian Kratz, D. Heilman, S. J. Lowen- 
stein, Phillip Klein, Rev. C. L. C. Runck, 
Samuel Meyer and William Pretorius. A 
dispensation was granted on the 7th dav of 
December, 1S72, by Christian Felta, grand 
master, who appointed Rev. C. L. C. 
Runck as the first W. M.; Samuel J. 
Loewenstein, S. W.; G. L. Altwater, J. W. 



These members having done their work in 
a satisfactory manner to the grand lodge, 
were granted a charter May 27th, 1873, 
numbered 464. The present membership 
is sixty-three. The chief executives, or 
worshipful masters of this lodge have been: 
Rev. C. L. C. Runck, 1874, '75; Fred Hoff- 
man, 1876; G. L. Altwater, 1877, '78; P. 
Nonweiler, 1879; Jacob Graul, 1880; K. L. 
Back, 1S81; Ch. Yung, 1882; S.J. Loew- 
enstein, 1885; Herman Wilde, 1883, '84, 
86, "87 and '88. 

Evansville Chaffer, JVo. 12, Royal Arch 
Masons, was established April 25, 1848, — 
first officers: Rev. Colley A. Foster, H. P.; 
Edmund H. Hopkins, K.; Solomon Rath- 
bone, S.; James T. Walker, C. of H.; Moses 
Ross, P. S.; Peter Sharpe, R. A. C; Ben- 
jamin F. Dupuy, 1st G. M. V.; John D. An- 
derson, 2nd G. M. v.; William Soaper, 3d 
G. M. V. The chapter has been prosperous 
from its inception to the present time. Its 
accessions have been of the best material, 
and its present general condition is good, 
financially, socially, and Masonically, having 
during recent years added many excellent 
members. Col. Charles H. Butterfield has 
attained the rank of P. G. H. P. and P. G. 
I. M. of C. Major H. A. Mattison is at 
present high priest. 

Simpson Coitnril, JCo. jj, R. dr S. M., 
was instituted May 21, 1867. Its first offi- 
cers were: George H. Fish, illustrious mas- 
ter; W. E. Hollingsworth, deputy illustrious 
master; Alexander Sharra, P. C. of W. ; 
Charles H. Butterfield, C. of G.; A. J. Col- 
burn, recorder; T. W. Simpson, sentinel. 
Those who have served as illustrious mas- 
ter at different times are: George H. Fish, 
i\lexander Sharra, Charles H. Butterfield, 
T. W. Simpson, A. C. Isaacs, Charles H. 
Roberts and Chester H. Chubb. The 
present officers are: Chester H. Chubb, 
illustrious master; H. A. Mattison, 



■38J^ 



SECRET AND BENEVOLENT OEDERS. 



deputy illustrious master; Andrew J. Mc- 
Cutchan, P. C. of W.; Franz R. Caden, 
treasurer; Henr}- J. Clark, recorder; M. 
N. Ross, C. of G.; J. S. Averj-, sentinel. 
Total number of members at present, 96; 
the council is in excellent condition in every 
respect. 

La Valette Commandery, A^o. ij, A. T. — 
Templar Masonry is considered the highest 
branch of York Rite Masonry; the order of 
the Temple, or Knights Templar being the 
highest of this rite. A dispensation was 
granted by the grand commander of the 
state on March, 14, 1868. A convention of 
Knights Templar was held at the Masonic 
hall March 16, of the same year, presided 
over by the grand commander of the 
state. A commandery of Knights Templar 
was opened in due form, and La Valette 
commandery was organized under dispensa- 
tion, closing on the 19th with twenty-four 
charter members, consisisting of many of 
the prominent men of the city. A charter 
was granted April 8, 1868, by the grand 
commandery of the state of Indiana. On the 
17th of the same month the following offi- 
cers were elected: Sir George H. Fish, 
eminent commander; Sir James T. Walker, 
generalissimo; Sir J. Blythe Hynes, captain- 
general; Sir William E. Hollingsworth, pre- 
late; Sir Charles H. Butterfield, senior 
warden; Sir James F. Welborn, junior 
warden; Sir W. E. Hollingsworth, treasurer; 
Sir Andrew J. Colburn, recorder. The growth 
of this body of Masonry was slow for the 
first six j-ears of its organization. In 1874 
new interest was taken in the commandery, 
and the members worked in earnest, show- 
ing at the end of that year a large increase 
in its membership. This interest has been 
kept up until the present time, having con- 
ferred the orders of knighthood upon over 
200, closing with a membership of 136 on 
January i, 1889. The sir knights, members 



of this commandery, who have filled the 
office of eminent commander are as follows: 
Em. Sir George H. Fish, 1868 to 1873 in- 
clusive; Rt. E. Sir E. W. Patrick, 1874, 
1875, 1877, and 1879; Em. Sir C. H. But- 
terfield, 1876; Em. Sir William E. H-ollings- 
worth, 1878; Em. Sir H. A. Mattison, 1880; 
Em. Sir WilHam M. Blakey, 1881; Em. Sir 
George N. Wells, 1882 and 1883; Em. Sir 
J. W. Walker, 1884; Em. Sir S. W. Doug- 
las, 1885; Em. Sir E. B. Morgan, 1886; 
Em. Sir E. P. Huston, 1887 and 1888. The 
present officers are as follows : Sir Cicero 
Buchanan, eminent commander; Sir W. S. 
Pollard, generalissimo; Sir Moses N. Ross, 
captain general; Sir Charles Morris, 
prelate; Sir Simeon Joseph, senior warden; 
Sir W. D. Ewing, junior warden; Sir L. M. 
Baird, treasurer; Sir Herman Engel, re- 
corder. The Masonic fraternity now occupy 
the third stor}- of the Masonic block on the 
corner of Second and Locust streets, and 
their appartments are considered the finest 
and best arranged in the state. The com- 
mandery is in a flourishing condition, and 
stands at the head of the list of command- 
eries in this grand jurisdiction. Eminent Sir 
E. W. Patrick is past grand commander of 
the state of Indiana. 

Centennial Chapter, Order of the Eastern 
Star, was organized in 1S76, and worked 
successfully for a time, but at length sur- 
rendered its charter. The leading spirits of 
the chapter were: Mr. and Mrs. David 
Schofield, Col. and Mrs. C. H. Butterfield, 
Capt. and Mrs. A. J. McCutchan, Mr. and 
Mrs. C. H. Chubb and others. 

McFarland Lodge {^colored Masons). — 
This lodge is the result of a consolidation of 
Liberty and Olive Branch lodges, which, 
beginning about 1866, worked for some ten 
years. Those chiefij^ instrumental in estab- 
lishing Masonry among the colored people 
in this citv were: Albert Shannon, Rev. 



ODD FELLOWSHIP. 



S8S 



Green McFarland, Adam Rouse, J.J. John- 
son, Abner Cloud, John Banks and A. W. 
Finley. Named in honor of Rev. Green 
McFarland, the lodge now working was 
established in September, 1876. It has been 
very prosperous, its present membership 
being fifty-six. Its worshipful masters have 
been: G. G. Robinson, Rev. G. McFarland, 
Rev. Dennis Rouse, Anthony Garnett, and 
Lewis Anderson. 



Pvlh'jg'oras Lodge, iVu. 



II {^colored 



Masons^, was organized with thirty-one 
charter members in 1887. Edward James 
and Nathaniel Allen were the chief instru- 
ments in founding it. Its first, and present, 
officers are: Rush Carr, W. M. ;John 
Neville, S. W.; George Austin, J. W.; W. 
A. Rucker, Sec; B. York, Treas. 

Odd J^clloic's/iip. — The establishment of 
the I. O. O. F. in Evansville, occurred in 
1839. For a few years prior to that date 
some members of the order had come here 
on the tide of immigration set in motion by 
the good times incident to the adoption of 
the state's internal improvement system in 
1835-6. Among those who were instru- 
mental in introducing Odd Fellowship into 
the community was William Wandell, but it 
does not seem that he was a member of the 
first lodge chartered. Christian Decker, 
now over eighty years of age, and a very 
prominent citizen, was concerned in awaken- 
ing the first desire for a lodge among the 
few Odd Fellows then here. But for about 
forty years past Mr. Decker has not been 
actively associated with the order. The 
first charter was granted to nine members, 
and from that time to the present, a constant 
increase has taken place until now there are 
about 600 Odd Fellows in the city. The 
lodges are in a flourishing condition, their 
aggregate available resources being about 
$12,000. At lirst the growth of the 
order was very slow, and from time 



to time serious reverses were met, but 
when once a sure foothold was obtained 
the trrowth of the order was never allowed 
to be checked. The early meetings were 
held in the second story of a frame building 
standing where the Marble hall now is, in 
the lower room of which was Griffith's 
hardware store. After a five years' occu- 
pancy of this place the lodge room was 
moved to an old house belonging to Nathan 
Rowley, Esq., upon the present site of the 
Merchant's National Bank. Entrance to the 
lodge room was gained by ascending a flight 
of stairs constructed on the outside of the 
building, passing through a door in the gable 
much like a trap door. Later meetings 
were held in a hall, on the corner of Locust 
and Water streets, long since torn away. 
Eight years were spent in these quarters, 
and then for twenty \'ears a hall on the 
southwest corner of First and Main streets 
was occupied. By this time the member- 
ship had largely increased, new lodges had 
been formed and more suitable quarters 
were necessary. A handsome building 
was erected on the corner of Vine and 
First streets, which cost, exclusive of the 
lot, upwards of $40,000. Morning Star 
Lodge held $16,000 stock in the building, 
and Crescent and Schiller lodges, $7,000 
each. The building was heavily mortgaged, 
and in 1S80 was sold at public auction to D. 
J. Mackey for $32,000.00. It was occupied 
by the order for eight years, and was de- 
stroyed by fire some years after its sale. 
Prior to 1880 all lodges used the same hall. 
Since that date the present hall at the corner 
of Main and Fifth streets has been used by 
the older lodges. It is 90x24 feet, comfort- 
abl}' and handsomely furnished, and well 
fitted for a lodge room. Some lodces are 
accommodated in other parts of the city more 
convenient to their members. 

Morning Star Lodge, No. 7 was instituted 



386 



SECRET AND BENEVOLENT ORDERS. 



December 4, 1839. The charter members 
were: Robert W. Dunbar, Joseph H. Phelps, 
F. C. Gwathney, G. W. L. White, C. M. 
Griffith, William Morrison, T. G. Thurston, 
H. C. Gwathney, and Christian Decker. 
The first officers were: F. C Gwathney, 
N. G.;G. W. L. White, V. G.; H. C. 
Gwathney, secretary; and C. M. Griffith, 
treasurer. The present membership num- 
bers 106, and the present officers are: Charles 
Green, N. G.; WilHam Hacker, V. G.; D. 
B. Norcross, secretar}-, and James Darling, 
treasurer. More than 100 noble grands 
have presided over the workings of this 
lodge, among them many of Evansville's 
most prominent citizens, such as James E. 
Blythe, H. Q. Wheeler, Judge James Lock- 
hart, Charles D. Bourne, F. C. Good- 
sell, Thomas W. Thurston, James G.Jones, 
WiUiam H. Chandler, Joseph P. Elliott, 
Levi L. Laycock, Philip Hornbrook, Joseph 
E. Turnock, John F. Glover, Edward Ta- 
bor, Cyrus K. Drew, William Warren, 
James C. McAlpin, Pembroke Wiltshire, and 
many others. Joseph E. Turnock's fidelity 
to Odd Fellowship is probably without a 
parallel, and deserves mention in connection 
with the history of this lodge. In England, 
his native country, fifty-six years ago, he 
became an Odd Fellow, and has ever since 
been devoted to the order. He has attended 
his own and other lodges not less than 8,250 
times. Now, and for forty years past, 
he has been entrusted with the care and su- 
pervision of the halls. 

EvansviUc Encampment., JVo. 20, insti- 
tuted January 23d, 1850, with seven charter 
members, among them Joseph Turnock and 
William Hunnell, who are still living, the 
others having all passed away. The first 
officers were: Daniel Woolsey, C. P.; Will- 
iam Hubbell, S. W.; WilHam Wandell, H. 
P.; Dr. Laycock, J. W.; H. Q.Wheeler, 
scribe, and Louis Hows, treasurer. Pres- 



ent officers: J. C. DeBar, C. P.; Amos 
Clark, S. W.; John Barrows, J. W.; Joseph 
Turnock, H. P.; J. C. McAlpin, scribe, and 
D. B. Norcross, treasurer. Present mem- 
bership, 40. 

Evansville Lodge, lYo. Sj, was instituted 
September 14, 1850, and chartered January 
5, 185 1. After six or seven years, for many 
causes, it surrendered its charter and went 
out of existence. For a time it prospered, 
having about sixty members. 

Crescent Lodge, jYo. 122, was instituted 
July 7, 1853, with the following eleven 
charter members: James Jones, Robert 
Boyd, R. S. Ruston, H. D. Allis, D. S. An- 
derson, Thomas M. Archer, John Greek, 
Isaac White, John Gregg, Charles Churchill, 
and James Laughlin, jr. From this begin- 
ning the membership has grown, until it 
now numbers 100. The present officers 
are: Charles Bycus, N. G.; J. L. Catlett, 
V. G.; William Barton, secretary, and 
W. B. Wright, treasurer. 

Schiller Lodge, A"o. ijS, was instituted De- 
cember 10, 1853, and organized January 
18, 1854. The charter members were: 
Philip Deusner, Jacob Sinzich, Henry Lutz, 
Henry Wingert, Valentine Wetzel, Jacob 
Fix, John Karsch, L. Daum, M. Renschler, 
G. Wolflin, John Emerich, August Uhl, 
L. W. Steinecker, W. Mock and L. 
Schmidt. Its first officers were: M. 
Renschler, N. G.; Philip Deusner, V. G.; 
George Wolflin, secretary; H. Wingert, 
treasurer. Its membership now numbers 
18S, and its present officers are: J. G. 
Junker, N. G.; John Stroebel, V. G. ; 
George Denker, secretary; John Dannettell 
treasurer. 

Schiller Encampment, A\k 6S, was insti- 
tuted June 7, 1865. Its charter members 
were: H. L. Dannettell, Eugene Kappler, 
Louis Ulmo, John Karsch, Charles Schaum, 
Christ. Wilhelm, George Wolfin, and Fred, 



ODD FELLOWSHIP. 



S87 



Kroener. The first officers of the encamp- 
men were: Christ. Wilhehn, C. P.; Henry 
Dannettell, H. P.; Charles Schaum, S. W., 
Eugene Kappler, scribe; Fred Kroener, 
treasurer; John Karsch,J.W. The present 
officers are: Bernhardjacobi, C. P.; George 
Denker, H. P.; John Stroebel, S.W.; Franz 
Best, Scribe; John Dannettell, treasurer; 
Frank Peters, J. W. 

J^ising- Star Loilgc, jVu. 5^^, was insti- 
tuted March 16, 1877, with eighteen char- 
ter members and the following officers: 
Alexander Maddux, N. G. ; William Alex- 
ander, V. G.; Louis Langhoff, secretary, 
and James M. Johnson, treasurer. The 
others of the charter members were : 
William Koch, George Koch, George Hall, 
Herman Kley, A. Wood, W. B. Rogers, J. 
S. Wills, E. L. Cody, J. T. Woodruff, J. W. 
Stark, John Wesley, George Wound, W. 
Stinchiield and M. Stinchfield. The present 
membership is -75, and the present officers 
are: W. H. McDowell, N. G.; R. A. Dick- 
enson, V. G.; J. H. Webster, secretary and 
William Alexander, sr., treasurer. 

Eciific Lodge, jVo. S79i was instituted 
May 7, 1S80, with twenty-eight charter 
members, among them Capt. J. W. Wart- 
mtin, Thomas J. Groves, Edward Tabor, 
Charles T. Jenkins, John J. Hays, J. J. Mar- 
lett, and other prominent citizens. The 
first officers were: J. W. Wartman, N. G.; 
J. S. Cameron, V. G.; Joseph Hennel, Sec, 
and Edward Tabor, Treas. The present 
membership is about seventy, and the pres- 
ent officers are: Mike Jungling, N. G. ; 
Frank Henn, V. G.; W. D. Andrews, Sec, 
and Horace Plummer, Treas. 

Colfax Lodge, J\'o. J/, Dang /iters, of Ke- 
bcka/i, was chartered, upon application of 
fourteen persons, September 12, 1864. 
Among the number were : Joseph Turnock, 
Elizabeth Turnock, Alex. Maddox, Susan 
Maddox, Hiram Nelson, W. H. Smith and 



wife, and Thomas J. Graves and wife. The 
first officers were: Ronald Fisher, N. G. ; 
Elizabeth Turnox, V. G. : Mrs. C. Geissler, 
Sec, and Lydia Smith, Ti-eas. Present 
officers: Lydia Smith, N. G.: Amanda Bald- 
win, V. G.; Mrs. DeBarr, Sec, and Mrs. 
Hulvershorn, Treas. Present membership, 

125- 

Sarah Lodge, J\'o. Jp, Daughters of 
Rebekah, was instituted March i, 187 1, and 
organized November 16, of the same year, 
with eighteen charter members. Its first 
officers were: H. L. Dannettell, N. G.; 
Caroline Dannettell, V. G.; Susannah 
Hirschmann, secretar\', and Maria Miller, 
treasurer. Present officers: S. Wissing, 
N. G.; C. Hast, V. G.; Maria Heil- 
man, secretar}-, and Louisa Meyers, treas- 
urer. 

Diana Lodge, Xo. 2j6, Daughters of 
Rebekah, was instituted by D.D. G. M., Jo- 
seph Turnock, March 22, 1886, with 
eitrhteen charter members. Its first officers 
were: Joshua Beale, N. G.; Rickey Wood- 
ruff, V. G.; Mary Beale, secretary, and 
J. T. Woodruff, treasurer. Present officers: 
Nancy E. Webster, N. G.; Carry Wills, V. 
G. ; Jennie Geddes, secretary, and Mary 
Beale, treasurer. Present membership, 68. 

Vanderburgh Lodge, Xo. 1702, G. U. O. 
of O. F. (colored Odd Fellows), was insti- 
tuted in December, 1875, and organized in 
the following January. Those chiefly in- 
strumental in establishing the order were: 
Philander Cooper, Thomas Brown, Will- 
iam H. Beecher, William H. Rowen, R. T. 
White, H. K. Adams and others. It began 
with about thirty members and now has 
seventv-five. Among its noble grands have 
been: Philander Cooper, Adam Rose, 
John Coffee and Benjamin Paxton. The 
lodge has been prosperous, its affairs having 
been conducted by some of the best of 
Evansville's colored citizens. Its present ofH- 



388 



SECRET AND BENEVOLENT ORDERS. 



cers are : Andrew Wooden, N. F. ; P. Cooper, 
N. G.; John Catlett, V. G.; Ben Paxton, 
Sec; Robert L. Babb, Treas.; Esic Roach, 
chaplain. 

Pride of Hope Lodge, No. ig72, G. U. 
O. of O. F'., was instityted September i, 
1879, with fifty-five charter members. The 
lodge has been prosperous and now has 
eighty members. Its present officers are: 
David Kellogg, N. G.; John McCauley, 
V. G.; Peter O. Calhoun, Sec; Robert 
Franklin, Treas.; E. A. McWhorter, Adv. 

Past Grand Mastcr''s CoiDicil, No. Jc?, G. 
U. O. of O. F., was organized September 
15, 1880, with ten charter members. The 
council is next to the highest branch in the 
gift of the order. It is made up of the most 
prominent members of Vanderburgh and 
Pride of Hope lodges. It now has thirteen 
members, and has been moderately pros- 
perous. The first worshipful grand master 
was Philander Cooper, who has served 
most of the time since the council was or- 
ganized. His successor, the present W. G. 
•M., is Granville Waddill. 

Household of Ruth Lodge, No. S43, G. U. 
O. of O. F. (ladies), was instituted in Sep- 
tember, 1 887, with twenty-two charter 
members. Its first officers were: Maria 
Griffith, M. N. G.; Maggie B. McWhorter, 
P. M. N. G.; Hester Hathaway, R. N. G.; 
Sarah T. Green, W. R.; Harriet Snyder, 
W. T.; and Mary Calhoun, W. P. These 
officers are still officiating. The lodge is 
prosperous and now has thirty-three 
members. 

Knights of Pythias. — The wonderful 
growth of this order is almost without a 
parallel in the history of secret organizations 
in this country. Its three cardinal principles 
are: Friendship, Charity and Benevolence. 
Its aim is to alleviate the sufferings of a 
brother, succor the unfortunate, zealousl}- 
watch at the bedside of the sick, soothe the 



dying, perform the last sad rites at the 
grave, offer consolation to the afflicted, and 
care with all of a brother's love for the 
widow and orphan. It is no wonder that an 
order founded upon such virtues should 
have had a phenomenal growth, and no- 
where is the fact more fairly demonstrated 
than in the city of Evansville, where there 
are now three lodges with an active mem- 
bership of about 400 of the most prominent 
and enterprising young men in the city. 
The remarkable success achieved and the 
high social standing enjo^-ed, are the results 
of combined and intelligent effort. Orion 
Lodge, A^o. J5, is the oldest lodge and leads 
in point of membership. It was instituted 
June II, 1873, with thirty-four charter mem- 
bers and the following first officers: T. J. 
Groves, C. C; H. W. Cloud, V. C; James 
D. Riggs, P.; Charles Hinks, M of F.; 
James E. Lilly, M. of Ex.; H. S. Bennett, 
K. ofR. andS.; E. P. Elliott, M. at A.; 
I. M. Hall, I. G. It was instituted by Grand 
Chancellor C. P. Cart}', assisted by Ivy 
lodge. No. 21, of Henderson, Ky. Its mem- 
bership has increased rapidly and now num- 
bers 172. Its present officers are: A. M- 
Hayden, P. C; W. E. Barnes, C. C; J. W. 
Gleichman, V. C. ; Henr}' Kraft, P. ; George 
Stanfield, M. at A. ; B. M. Zaff, K. of R. and 
S.; C. C. Roser, M of E.; George Muth, 
M. of F.; J. S. Corkle, jr., I. G.; Adolph 
Rasch, O. G. This lodge was the parent 
of the lodge at Poseyville, Ind. 

^V. George Lodge, N'o. /yj, was instituted 
July 12, 1886, with forty-three members. 
The growth of the order had been so rapid 
in the citv that the necessity for a new lodge 
had been felt for some time, but it was not 
until the spring of 1889 that any organized 
effort was made to accomplish that result. 
hX that time Sir Knight J. G. Owen under- 
took the work and achieved a signal success. 
The first officers of the new lodge were: R. 



KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS. 



389 



M. Millican, P. C: J. G. Owen, C. C; A. 
D. Tenny, V. C: W. S. Feller, .P.; J. H. 
Rohlender, M. at A.; C. J. Morris, K. of R. 
and S. ; F. J , Ehrman, M. of E. ; C. C. Tenny, 
M. of F. ; Elwood Moore, O. G.; George 
Skinner, I. G. This lodge prospered, and 
now has 119 members. Its present officers 
are: L. Worsham,P. C; Willis Howe,C. C; 
A. R. Tanner, M. of E.; A. W. Munson, K. 
of R. and S.; James Foster, P.; C. C. 
Tenny, M. of F.; W. P. Willis, V. C; J. C. 
Selzer, M. at A., and C. A. Weaver, O. G. 
This lodge was the parent of lodges estab- 
lished at Princeton and New Harmony. 

Ben I fur Lodgx, No. rgj. — This is the 
youngest lodge in the cit}', and was also 
brought into e.xistence chiefly through the 
efforts of Sir Knight J. G. Owen, the well- 
known lawyer, popular in P3-thian circles 
because of his earnest and successful efforts 
to enlarge the usefulness of the order. It 
was instituted June 28, 1888, with the largest 
charter membership of any K. of P. lodge 
in the state. It now has about 105 mem- 
bers. Its first officers were : Charles Laval, 
P. C: James G. Owen, C. C: Mort J. 
Compton, V.C.: William A. Page, K. R. 
and S.; J. C. McClurkin, P.; F. M. Gilbert, 
M. of F. ; Louis H. Legler, M. of E. ; Ed Stin- 
son, I. G. ; Harry Stinson, O. G. Those 
now serving are: Charles Laval, P. C; J. 
G. Owen, C. C; Philip Moore, V. C; Will- 
iam A. Page, K. of R. and S.; F. M. Saun- 
ders, P.; F. M. Gilbert, M. of F.; Louis H. 
Legler, M. of E. ; Thomas Jenner, I. G., and 
Harry Stinson, O. G. 

The Uniform Rank^ Evansi'iUe Division, 
No. ^. — In 1877 thirt3--five members of 
Orion lodge organized what was termed 
" The Drill corps." The members were all 
enthusiastic on the subject, and took hold 
of the work with a determination to become 
leaders in lodge drilling. A few months 
after the organization of this corps, a state 



encampment of the order was held at 
Indianapolis. The Evansville corps attend- 
ed, and bv its splendid drilling, captured a 
second prize. 

On September 2, 1879, the Evans- 
ville drill corps merged into what has since 
been Evansville division. No. 4, of the uni- 
form rank. The same members that con- 
stituted the drill corps composed the new 
uniform rank, although a number of addi- 
tions were afterward made. 

In 1882, the supreme lodge, Knights of 
Pythias of the world, convened at St. Louis, 
and during its session the national encamp- 
ment met there. Evansville division, under 
command of Sir Knight Capt. Charles 
Mverhoff, attended and entered the drill, 
carrying off second prize. Later the mem- 
bers of this rank lost their interests, and it 
came near being abandoned. This, how- 
ever, was prevented by Sir Knight Ehrman 
and a few other m-j-n'jers. The rank is 
now well drilled, and great interest is mani- 
fested in its work. The rank now has 
about seventy members and the following 
officers: A. D. Tenne ,% captain; Frederick 
J. Ehrman, lieutenant; Charles C. Roser, 
herald; Frederick II. Burton, secretary; 
R. E. Graves, recorder; W. L. Swormstedt, 
treasurer. 

Crescent City Rank, No. ^g, was instituted 
July 12, 1S88. It is composed of splendid 
material — knights who take a deep interest 
in its affairs and whose standing in the com- 
munity is such as to insure for the rank a 
high position. It contains thirt\-five mem- 
bers, and its officers are: captain, Charles 
Wunderlich; lieutenant, Joseph Burk; her- 
ald, W. W. Ross; recorder, A. N. Groves; 
treasurer, D. M. Gilbert. The various 
lodges of the P\'thia:i order in Evansville 
are made up of such meritorious men that 
individual mention is not possible in the lim- 
ited space allotted to this subject. How- 



390 



SECRET ANB BENEVOLENT ORDERS. 



ever, a few facts may be properh' 
stated. Sir Knight A. C. Hawkins, is 
the only member of the Grand Lodge 
from this end of the state, being now grand 
prelate of that body. For some time he 
had been district grand deputy, before his 
advancement to the position now held. 
Sir Knight Charles E. Pittman was a mem- 
ber of the grand lodge for two years and is 
now district grand deputy. Sir Knight 
R. E. Graves for several 3'ears has been 
major in the uniform rank, serving in the 
lirst and sixth regiments. Perhaps the old- 
est man in the order in Indiana, if not in the 
world, is Sir Knight Joseph Turnock, now 
in his sevent3'-seventh year. He was 
among the first to enter the order when es- 
tablished in Evansville, and loving its princi- 
ples, has done mucii for its progress. He 
is esteemed bv all members of the order, for 
his worth as a man and a knight. 

Ancient Order United Workmen. — This 
order was founded at Meadville, Pa., Octo- 
ber 27, 186S, by John J. Upchurch. The 
original' object was to unite all classes of 
mechanics, their helpers, and indeed, all em- 
ployed in any branch of mechanical arts, to 
create and foster a friendly and co-opera- 
tive feeling among those who had a com- 
mon interest; to examine and discuss laws 
and usages effecting labor; to adjust differ- 
ences between emloyers and employes; 
to material!}' aid members afflicted or dis- 
tressed and to labor for the mental, moral, 
and social elevation of the mechanic and la- 
borer. The society was established in this 
state in the city of Terre Haute, in 1873. 
Its manifold advantages soon gained for it 
a substantial foothold, and on Ma\' 23, 1877, 
it was introduced into this city by the organ- 
ization of Vanderburgh Lodge, No. 34, 
with fifteen charter members. This was 
followed by the organization of other lodges 
and the order has grown so rapidly 



that it now has in this city six lodges, 
with a total membership of 678. From 
the records of the different recorders 
it is ascertained that the number of deaths 
of persons holding memberships in these 
lodges from the date of institution to Janu- 
ary I, 1888, was sevent\'-three, making the 
total amount of benefits paid to the desig- 
nated beneficiaries of members dying in this 
county, $146,000, at a cost to the individ- 
ual members of $11 per annum on each 
$1,000 for which insured. The office of the 
grand recorder of the order in the state of 
Indiana, now occupied by Mr. Fred. Baker, is 
located in this city, where all business per- 
taining to the order throughout the state is 
transacted. The Indiana A. O. U. W. 
Recorder., a monthly newspaper, is published 
here in the interests of the order. It is 
edited by Mr. George E. Clarke, who is 
one of the most enthusiastic workers in the 
order, and has done much to advance its in- 
terests and promote its usefulness. 
The following is a statement of the lodges 
established here, with data as to member- 
ship and present M. W. of each. Vander- 
burgh Lodge, No. 34, instituted May 23, 
1877; charter membership, 15; present 
membership, 115; S. S. Harvey, M. W. 
Leni Leoti Lodge, No. 43, instituted March 
12, 1878; charter membership, 26; present 
membership, 157; Josiah Kightley, M. W. 
Humboldt Lodge, No. 49, instituted June 
21, 1879; charter membership, 24; present 
membership, 118; Fred Miller, M. W. 
Germania Lodge, No. 52, instituted July 
II, 1878; charter membership, 18; consoli- 
dated January i, 18S7, with Humboldt 
Lodge, No. 49. Lone Star Lodge, No. 56, 
instituted September 8, 1879; charter mem- 
bership,42; present membership, 136; Aaron 
Weil, M. W. Evening Star Lodge, No. 14, 
instituted October 15, 1880; charter mem- 
bership, 29; present membership, 92; F. W, 



BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES. 



391 



Lenfers, M. W. Excelsior Lod<fe, No. 38, 
instituted November 10, 1883; charter mem- 
bership, 14; present membership, 60; C. C. 
Culp, M. W. All of these lod<jes are in a 
flourishing condition tinancially and socially. 

Ro\al Area nil lu, Eviiiisvi/lc Council, A'o. 
4gi, was instituted May 17, 1880, with 
twenty charter members. This benevolent 
and social order was founded at Boston, 
Mass., June 23, 1877. The introduction of 
the order here was due to the efforts of a 
number of prominent, gentlemen, whose 
names appear among its first officers, 
who were: Will Warren, regent; S. B. 
Lewis, vice-regent; J. B. Rucker, ora- 
tor; D. A. Nisbet, past regent; S. B. 
Nisbet, secretary; C. H. McCarer, collector; 
S. W. Douglas, guide; C. E. Pittman, 
warden, Howard Wells, secretary; W. F. 
Ogden, W. H. Keller and Cicero Buchanan, 
trustees. Evansville council is represented 
bv the following officers in the grand coun- 
cil: J. B. Rucker, past grand regent, and 
Dr. b. B. Lewis, grand orator. The council 
is in a flourishing condition and has for its 
present officers the following gentlemen: 
W. H. Keller, regent; H. H. Babcock, vice- 
regent; James M. Davidson, orator; R. M. 
Millican, past regent: J. W. Gleichman, 
secret;\ry; II. J. Pfafflin, collector; P. F. 
Grill, treasurer; W. H. Mushlitz, chaplain; 
W. A. Collett, guide, William P. Clarke, 
warden: John P. Baird, sentry. 

Windcrhnrgh Council, \o. i i2i), instituted 
September 3, 1888, has the following offi- 
cers, who have served from the date of its 
organization: Henry Davis, regent: William 
Ilalwes, vice-regent; George Gottman, ora- 
tor; Jacob Spir\', past regent; Ilarrv Hitch, 
secretary; G. W. Rose, collector; John 
Stover, treasurer; H. S. L3-nn, chaplain; 
Jacob Elmeier, guide; Otto Weiss, warden; 
Henry Meeink, sentry: L. W. Lucas, Jacob 
Elmeier, E/nst Ludwig, trustees. 



Knights of Honor. — This order, origin- 
ated at Louisville, Ky., June 30, 1873, was 
established in this city but a little more than 
ten 3-ears ago. There are now three lodges, 
all in a prosperous condition fmancially and 
numericallv. 

Red Cloud Lodge, \o. 640, was instituted 
May 7, 1877, with seventeen charter mem- 
bers. It was organized by E. J. McBride, 
acting under an appointment from the 
supreme lodge. Its first officers were : 
George W. Lightner, past dictator; John S. 
Snyder, dictator; F. F. DuSouchet, re- 
porter; William H. Minch, treas.; Robert 
Langsdale, chaplain. Its president mem- 
bership is 250. It has had a sound, healthy 
growth from the start, always paying bene- 
fits promptly. Its membership comprises 
some of the best citizens of the cit}-, and are 
from all classes. George L. Daum was 
financial secretary of the lodge for eight 
years, and helped mat j:\ally to build up the 
order in the city. The present officers of 
this lodge are: James H. Foster, P. D.; 
Thomas E. Dunn, D.; M. J. Clark, R.; H. 
Fink, T.; N. H. Wheeler, C; trustees, 
Thomas Kerth, H. A. Mattison and David 
Nisbet. 

Silver Cloud Lodg\ A^o. 1548, was insti- 
tuted March 31, 1879, with twenty charter 
members. W. F. Ogden, a printer, was in- 
strumental in founding this lodge. Its 
present membership numbers 190, and com- 
prises many prominent citizens. The present 
officers are: Nathan Myers, P. D.; Edward 
Heddericli, D.; Charles Weyand, R.; Fred 
Tinnemeyer, T. ; F. A. Sturtevant, C. 

Silver Star Lodge, At'o. 3041, was insti- 
tuted in February, 1S84, with twenty-one 
charter members. Its first officers were: 
Jacob Kastner, P. D.; Adam Lutz, D.; 
Henrv Stolz. R.; Henrv Lutz, T. ; Geor<fe 
Nestor, C. The present membership num- 
bers sixtv-nine, and the officers now officiat- 



392 



SECRET AND BENEVOLENT ORDERS. 



ing are Joseph Riedy, P. D.; Gustave 
Weber, D.; H. Stolz, R.; G. Ritt, T.; L. 
Bachle, C. 

Knights and Ladies of Honor. — The prin- 
ciples and purposes governing this order, 
which originated at Louisville, K}-., in 187S, 
are similar to those of the Knights of Honor. 
The chief difference between the two or- 
ders lies in the fact that to the one ladies 
are admitted and from the other they are 
excluded. Capt. J. W. Wartmann as grand 
protectorate for the state of Indiana has 
been the chief instrument in establishing the 
order here. The following lodges have 
been instituted: Otto Lodge, No. 814, or- 
ganized 1882; present protector, Elizabeth 
Babbitt; Olive Lodge, No. 842, organized 
1884; present protector, John M. Geddes; 
Lily Lodge, No. 1015, organized 1885; 
present protector, Adam Schweitzer; Martha 
Lodge, No. 1 107, organized 1885; present 
protector, L. D. Yagla; Crescent Lodge, 
organized 1888; present protector, Mrs. J. A. 
Stembridge; Germania Lodge, organized 
1 888; present protector, Thomas Ranes. 
The order is in a very flourishing condition, 
having upward of 600 members in the city. 

United Order of Honor.-- In 1886 and 
1887 three lodges of this order were insti- 
tuted in this city, and for a time prospered, 
but they have ceased to work. Their names 
were Beulah, Union and Mercantile. 

FratcrnjI Leo-ion. — This beneficiary or- 
der, intended to promote the cause of benevo- 
lence, charit}' and fraternity, was organized 
in Baltimore, Md., July, 1881. Three 
camps have been established in this cit}'. 
Smith Gavitt camp. No. 24, organized April 
I, 1884, is officered as follows: Charles 
Weyand, commander, and E. W. Hunt, ad- 
jutant. Evansville camp. No. 37, organized 
October 10, 1884, is officered bv G. Eigen- 
brod, commander, and Jacob Salat, adjutant. 
Lamasco camp, organized September 28, 



1888, is officered by W. G. Hyde, com- 
mander, and W. W. Culbertson, adjutant. 
The Fraternal Legion yoiirnal, published 
in this city by E. W. Hunt, is the organ of 
this order. 

Catholic Knights of America. — This is 
a mutual benefit association, whose member- 
ship is composed exclusively of Roman Cath- 
olics. It was founded in Nashville, Tenn., 
in 1877, by Bishop P. A. Feehan, now arch- 
bishop of Chicago. Three branches have 
been established in Evansville since 1879. 
Evansville Branch, No. 46, organized March 
I, 1S79, an English speaking branch, is 
composed of members of the different con- 
gregations of the citv. It has 120 members 
and the following officers: Michael Gor- 
man, Pres.; Sebastian Heinrich, Rec. Sec; 
August Schmitt, Fin. Sec; A. J. Schue, 
Treas. St. Maria Branch, No. 77, organ- 
ized September 8, 1879, is composed of 
members of St. Mary's church. It has 
eighty-two members, and its present officers 
are: Henry Thorbeck, Pres.; J. Seiler, Cor. 
Sec; John B. Cole, Treas. St. George 
Branch, No. 511, organized October, 1879, 
is composed of members of St. Boniface 
church. It has thirtj'-six members, and the 
following officers: Frank H. Bloomer, Pres., 
and John M. Schramm, Rec. Sec. 

Druids. — An account of the Druids as 
they existed among the ancient Britons, 
Gauls, and Helvetians, cannot be undertaken 
in this local work. The Ancient Order of 
Druids was organized in the city of London 
in 1 78 1. The first Grove in America was 
established in New York city in 1823. It 
is now estimated that there are 100,000 
members of the order in this countr}' alone, 
two-thirds of them being Germans. The 
cardinal principles of the order are honesty, 
benevolence and patriotism. Lincoln Grove, 
No. 14, the pioneer in this city, was insti- 
tuted in September, 1872. Among those 




OrA^^iD /Oc^a^^ 



BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES. 



39.5 



instrumental in establishing the order here 
were: Louis Koehler, George Lorenz, An- 
drew Christ, Daniel Werstaell, John Camp- 
haussen, John V. Stroebel, Jacob Fach- 
ney, and Jacob Winder. The grove now 
has eighty-live members, and its pres- 
ent officers are: William Francke, E. E.; 
Jacob Victor, U. E. ; Jacob Russman, Sec; 
Henry W^olff, Treas.; Paul Shatz, Dist. 
Deputy ; and Paul Aker, Ex. Erts. Wash- 
ington Grove, No. i8, was instituted in 
October, 1885, but is now defunct. 

Deiitichc Order of Hartigciri. — Benevo- 
lent and beneticiary in its purposes, this 
order originated in New York city in 1847. 
Deutsche Eiche (German Oak) Lodge, No. 
247, was instituted in this city November 
28, 1871. The tirst officers were: August 
Pfafflin, O. B.; Fred Kruck, U. B.; 
Louis Koehler, secretary; Fred Bohn, 
financial secretary; Christ. Sihler, treas- 
urer. The present officers are: Andy 
Maurer, O. B.; Frank Thalmueller, U. B.; 
Henry Bunge, secretary; John Wiegand, 
treasurer. There are now sixt}^ members, 
and the order is in a very flourishing condi- 
tion. 

Independent Order of B'nai B'rith i^He- 
drczv) . — This organization was first designed 
to effect a grand union of all Israelites in this 
country, and later adding benevolent andben- 
eficiar}' features, was founded in New York 
city in 1S40. Thisbe Lodge, No. 24, Inde- 
pendent Order of B'nai B'rith was instituted 
May 9, i860. Many of the most prominent 
Jewish citizens of Evansville are included in 
the membership, and the order is not only 
weallhv, but has effected man\' commenda- 
ble works of benevolence. Number of mem- 
bers,io5. The present officers are : A. Roth- 
schild, president; P. W. Frey, vice-president ; 
Joseph Brentano, financial and recording sec- 
retary; A. Loewenthal, sr., treasurer; L. 
Ichenhauser, monitor; J. Bonn, guardian. 
23 



Kcsher S/iel Barscl (^Iroii Bound) Hcbrezu 
— This order was first organized in San 
Francisco, Cal., in 1S62. Spinoza Lodge, 
No. 132, instituted July 27th, 1874. 'This 
lodge occupies one of the highest ranks in 
the order for the intelli<jence and influence 
of its members, who are mainly the foremost 
Jewish citizens in the city. It has furnished 
two presiding officers to the grand lodge. 
There are forty-six members and the follow- 
ing gentlemen are the present officers: Leo- 
pold Scholem, president ; Leopold Roser, vice- 
president; S.I. Lowenstein, secretary [and 
treasurer; A. Strouse, past president. Cen- 
tennial Lodge, No. 157, instituted July 1876. 
This lodge has about thirty members and is 
in a prosperous condition. The present 
officers are: Robert Paul, president; B. 
Levin, V. P.; L. Ichenhausen, R. and F. 
secretary; A. Morris, treasurer; M. Weir, 
conductor; N. Wolf, assistant conductor; E. 
Horn, I. G.;M. Levi,0. G. 

Iron Hall. — This is a fraternal, benevolent 
and mutual benefit association, working 
under the supreme sitting at Indianapolis, in 
which city the order was founded, in 1881. 
Although the Iron Hall is a young institu- 
tion, its aims and objects are so popular that 
it is in universal demand and is growing 
rapidly. It is already established in thirty- 
four states, and is rapidly extending its bor- 
ders. It now has 150 members here, and 
its branches have been instituted since 1885, 
as follows: Branch No. 28.^, organized 
November 10, 18S5, with thirty-one charter 
members, by H. F. W. Fisher, past chief 
justice. It now has fiftj- members. Present 
otEcers: Jacob Schneider, chief justice; 
J. W. Beck, accountant. Branch No 729, 
organized April 20, 1888, with sixteen char- 
ter members, b\' W. J. Jones, chief justice, 
of Centralia, 111. Tiie present officers are: 
C. H. Baets, chief justice; J. W. Lither- 
land, vice-justice; Q. W- Meyers, accountant; 



sm 



SECRET AND BENEVOLENT ORDERS. 



John Rittinger, cashier. Membership about 
thirty. Branch JVo. 75g, was organized May 
15, 1888, with twenty-two charter members, 
by H. F. W. Fisher, past chief justice. 
It has twent} -eight members with the fol- 
lowing officers: H. F. W. Fisher, P. C. J.; 
G. H. Weekamp, C. J.; J. H. Bergess, 
accountant; R. F. Schor, cashier. Branch 
No. 764 (ladies), organized in 1888. Mrs. 
W. Beck is chief justice. 

K)iights and Ladies of the Golden Rule. — 
Instituted at Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1879. This 
order has the usual social and beneficiary 
qualities of secret organizations. Castle 
Rising Sun, No. 189, was erected in this 
city November 22, 1888, with twenty char- 
ter members. The first and present officers 
are: A. P. Aucker, district commander; 
Dr. D. A. Moore, C; John Payn, V. C; 
L. F. Williams, M. at A. ; A. P. Ancker, sec- 
retary and treasurer; Hannah W. Pace 
prelate; Dr. George W. Vamer, medical 
examiner; F. W. Rentz, herald; George 
Muntzer, warden; Isaac Friedman, sentinel; 
and C. Rhoades, trustee. 

Brotherhood of St. Andrew. — This broth- 
erhood is confined to members of the Prot- 
estant Episcopal church, and was founded 
in Chicago, Ills., in 1880. It was first estab- 
lished in the state of Indiana in March, 
1887, the first chapter being organized in 
this city at that time. Rev. Charles Mor- 
ris, pastor of St. Paul's church, was made 
president of the brotherhood of the state, 
and E. N. Viele, general secretary. The 
Evansville chapter is presided over by M. 
J. Bray as dictator, and is in a very flourish- 
ing condition. 

United Brothers of Friendship {colored'). 
— This order, benevolent and charitable in 
its purposes, originated in Louisville, Ky., 
in 1861. Messrs. Frank Washington, Ferd 
Ferguson, John Johnson, Israel Glenn, James 
Finley and Alfred Carter, were the leaders 



in founding the order in this city. Asbury 
Lodge, No. I, was established in 1S65 with 
about twenty-five charter members, and 
Frank Washington as worth}' master. It 
now has forty-eight members; A. Wooden, 
W. M. Enterprise Lodge, No. 5, established 
in 1878, worked several 3'ears and surren- 
dered its charter. Luther Asbury was its 
first and last W. M. Young Men's Hope 
Lodge, No. 9, was organized in 1880 with 
about thirty-five members; Henry McCrary 
first W. M. Its membership now numbers 
sixty ; Luther Asbury, W. M. Mt. Carmel 
Temple, No. i (ladies), organized 1868; 
first worthj' princess, Mrs. J. M. Townsend; 
present membership, over 100. Golden 
Rule Temple, No. 4 (ladies), organized, 
1S78; first W. P., Luella Grandison; present 
membership, fift}'. Mt. Olive Temple, No. 
8 (ladies), organized, 1878; first and only 
W. P., Mrs. Patsy Woods; present mem- 
bership, seventy-five. Mt. Bethel Temple, 
No. 10 (ladies), organized, 1879; ^''^'^ ^• 
P., Mrs. Julia Webster; present membership, 
thirt}'. Some members of the E\-ansville 
lodges have attained more than local dis- 
tinction. For four years F. D. Morton was 
national grand master. Charles L. Asbury 
is now grand master; Frank Washington, 
grand lecturer; and Albert Priest, past grand 
treasurer, for the state of Indiana. 

Besides the societies mentioned in detail, 
recent years have witnessed the establish- 
ment here of almost every form of associa- 
tion that can well be conceived. Connected 
with all the churches are organized bodies 
for charitable and religious work. Trade 
and labor unions have been numerous. The 
Knights of Labor have done much effective 
work in alleviating distress among wage 
workers of all classes and m securing erj^ual- 
ity and personal rights to individual work- 
men. The order was first organized in this 
cit}- during the unusual and serious agitatio 



PUBLIC CHARITIES. 



397 



among die working classes wl^ich took 
place !i iS86. For a time, numei icallv, it 
had remarkable success, attaining a mem- 
bership, which exceeded 2,500. Ten as- 
semblies were organized and exhibited 
great activity for a time, but for various 
causes the interest waned and the assemblies 
disbanded until, at the present time, but one 
of them remains witii, perhaps, less than 200 
members. The Woman's Exchange, the 
Humane societ}', the Game and Fish Pro- 
•tective association, the Gun club, the Cycle 
club, the Turn Verein V^orwaerts, other 
vereins, the Commercial Tra\elers' associa- 
tion, scientific and literar)- circles, musical 
and operatic clubs and social organizations 
of various kinds, are among the vast num- 
ber of societies which, representing organ- 
ized effort in every branch of human en- 
deavor, suggests the thought that org-aniza- 
tioii is believed to be the sine (jiia iioii of 
success in all important undertakings. 

Benevolent Inst i/ 11/ ions. — The Evansx'ille 
Orphan Asylum. This humane institution 
stands as a monument commemorating the 
benevolence of the women of Evansville 
toward the whole human family. Here they 
have builded a refuge for the homeless and 
parentless little ones, whose untrained hearts 
drifting without anchorage and unguarded 
by the sacred ties that should gather around 
them, so often yield to besetting sins, till in 
the silence of some drear}' night, crime 
numbers another wretch and virtue weeps 
bitter tears over another wasted life. 

It was in a spirit of the broadest benevo- 
lence that the Evansville Orphan Asylum 
was founded: and to no one is more credit 
due for it than to Mrs. Jacob Sinzich, a well- 
known philanthropic lady, whose life was 
full of good works. One cold blustering 
morning in the winter of 1866, she found 
two wretched little orphans, thinly clad and 
without friends, home or food, seated on the 



wharf shivering and neglected. She took 
them in charge and procured comfortable 
homes ior them, and immediatelv concluded 
to interest herself in the establishment of an 
asylum for orphans. The matter was sug- 
gested to Colfax Lodge, No. 34, I. O. O. F., 
Daughters of Rebeka, who in going around 
among the poor that winter found ten or- 
phan children without homes or proper pro- 
tection, and on April i, 1866, the asylum 
was started with eleven children, placed in 
care of Misses Seelej- and Hahn, at their 
residence on Mulberry street, near the old 
cemetery. The first officers were : Presi- 
dent, Mrs. N. W. Plumer; vice-president, 
Mrs. W. F. Reynolds; recording secretary, 
Mrs. C. Geissler; corresponding secretary, 
Mrs. F. Fisher; treasurer, Mrs. E. Turnock. 
Managers: Mrs. E. Sinzcih, Mrs. M. 
Archer, Miss T. Feast, Mrs. Ann Davidson, 
Mrs. Kate Sanders, Mrs. A. Chute, Mrs. C. 
Dannettell. In the summer of 1866 the 
ladies of Evansville, representing all of the 
churches, held a festival for the benefit of 
the asylum, and realized $1,400 profit. Sep- 
tember, 1866, the county commissioners 
bought a suitable house, corner of Mary and 
Sixth streets, and established the institution 
there. Mrs. Stewart was the first matron. 
She was followed by Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Cole- 
man, Mrs. Kearney, Mrs. Brasher, Mrs.Roy- 
ster and others. The present matron is Mrs. 
Pauline Knauth. The institution was incor- 
porated September 12, 1866, but ownigtoits 
incompleteness, b}' advice of ex-Gov. Conrad 
Baker, it was reorganized and chartered by 
the legislature, March 23, 1S71. The fol- 
lowing ladies were the original incorpora- 
tors: Sarah Lowry, Jane Morgan, Eliza- 
beth Sinzich, Mary A. Archer, Sarah K. 
Foster, Sinai Harrington, Margaret Urie, 
M. A. Semonin, Fannie Nisbet, M. L. Nex- 
sen, J. Johnson and W. C Knox. October 
27, 1872, the county i^ommisioriers having 



398 



SECRET AND BENEVOLENT ORDERS. 



purchased an admirable building and prem- 
ises, the asylum was formally dedicated and 
instituted. The surburban home of Dr. 
John Laval, on West hidiana street, was se- 
cured for $16,000. The purchase included 
a very comfortable and commodious brick 
building situated in the center of twenty 
acres of land. In addition the managers 
have also founded a colored orphan asylum, 
on premises adjoining, Mrs. Daffney Carr 
being the present matron. Both depart- 
ments are under the same government but 
are separate institutions. Since the asylum 
was founded many children have been cared 
for and many placed in good homes. There 
are now forty white and thirty colored chil- 
dren in the institution. The asylum receives 
a weekly stipend from the city council and 
board of county commissioners. The trus- 
tees are: WilHam E. HoUingsworth, J. M. 
Shackelford, D. A. Nisbet, William H. 
Caldwell and John Gilbert. The officers of 
the board of managers are: Mrs. J. W. 
Nexsen, secretary; Mrs. S. M. Barton, su- 
perintendent. Managers: Mrs. S. M. Bar- 
ton, Mrs. H. E. Blemker, Mrs. W. F. Nisbet, 
Mrs. WiUiam H. Caldwell, Mrs. Samuel 
Bayard, Mrs. H. M. Lindley, Mrs. A.John- 
son, Mrs. Nancy Casselberry, and Mrs. W. 
A. Heilman. 

St. Maryh Hosfital. — This noble and ad- 
mirably conducted charitable institution 
justly challenges admiration, and the phil- 
anthropist can but be pleased to learn of 
the great good it has done for this commu- 
nity. It is located on Vermont street between 
Wabash and Tenth avenues. The premises 
embrace two and one-half acres of valuable 
city property and originally cost $25,000. 
The building was erected in 1855-6, b}- the 
United States government, through the in- 
fluence of Judge James Lockhart, then the 
member in congress from this district. It 
was designed especially as a national marine 



hospital, and is therefore admirably suited to 
its present use. The building is 110x90 
feet large, including wings and recesses, 
and three stories high, built of brick and 
trimmed with buff stone. After the late war 
the government sold the institution to private 
parties, who in turn sold it in 1870 to the 
Sisters of Charity of the order of St. Vin- 
cent De Paul. Sister Maria, the first su- 
perioress, left the mother home at Emmetts- 
burg, Md., to become its supervisor, and 
nobly performed her duty. She is now in 
Baltimore, from which city came the pres- 
ent superioress. Sister Mary Agnes, who 
has been in charge of the hospital for the 
past four years. She has eight assistants. 
Since the discontinuance of the United 
States Marine hospital, the patients 
formerly attended there are received 
at St. Mary's. The hospital has a 
capacity for 100 patients, and has never 
been in better condition for the care of ward 
and private patients, being equipped with all 
the modern appliances for the successful 
ti^eatment of all forms of disease. The fol- 
lowing physicians of Evansville compose the 
medical staff: Drs. J. B. Weaver and T. E. 
Powell, visiting physicians; Dr. A. M. Hay- 
den, surgeon; Dr. G. M. Young, diseases of 
women; Dr. C. H Gumaer, diseases of the 
eye and ear; Drs. R. M. Corlew, C. V. 
Wedding, W. J. Reavis, C. P. Cosby and 
W. B. Rose, consulting physicians. Because 
of the encroachments of the railroads and 
the changing of the surroundings of the hos- 
pital to a manufacturing district, the sisters, 
contemplating a removal of the hospital, 
have purchased a site for a new building on 
the corner of First avenue and Columbia 
street. It comprises several acres, and cost 
$10,500. They propose selling Ihe present 
hospital and grounds for manufacturing pur- 
poses. Rev. Father Pepersack is chaplain 
of the hospital. Mrs. Robert Fergus has 



PUBLIC CHARITIES. 



Sd9 



given over $15,000 toward the hospital. 
She also gave the tirst home to the Little 
Sisters of the Poor, and has been most 
charitable toward the churches, the needy 
and the fatherless. She is a life patient in 
the hospital at present, and is about seventy- 
two years old. 

Home for the J*riciid!ess.^T)neve is many 
a good work that Gotl has entrusted to the 
hands of woman, especially those of love, 
charity and mercy- But in no station, in no 
labor, does her gentleness and Christian 
forgiveness shine forth more beautifully or 
conspicuously than in that pitying kindness 
expressed for the repentant Magdalenes of 
her se.x — Pariahs, in the sight of God 
and man, fallen from an estate once pure, 
stainless and lovely. 

The Evansville Home for the Friendless 
was founded in 1869, chiefly through the 
work of Miss Eleanor E. Johnson, its lead- 
ing object, as stated in its constitution, being 
" to assist women who have wandered from 
the path of virtue and who are desirous of 
leading better lives; also, to. aid those who 
are in circumstances of peculiar temptation; 
to surround them with the blessed influence 
of the religion of Jesus, and to teach them 
the glad tidings of salvation." When 
the association was regularly organized Mr. 
Willard Carpenter conveyed to its trustees 
a house and lot on Ann street, capable of 
accomodating tifty inmates. The home was 
flrst occupied in May, 1870. Miss Johnson 
was appointed matron, and under her 
eflicient and capable management the great 
value of the charit\- was speedily made 
manifest. Applications for admission were 
made as soon as it became known that a 
house had been secured, and from that time 
on its noble work was pushed forward. It 
was maintained whollv by private subscrip- 
tions at tirst, but to these were soon added 
regular stipends from the county and citv- 



In addition to his former generous gift, in 
1872, Mr. Carpenter donated to the associa- 
tion, two and a half acres of land in the 
lower part of tlie city where a suitable house 
was soon afterward erected. The board of 
managers from time to time has been com- 
posed of many of the best known ladies of the 
city, who have been prominently connected 
with the Christian work of the city in other 
fields. Wisely conducted and endeavoring 
with true Christian spirit to save souls, 
the association has accomplished a good 
which is beyond human ability to 
reckon. For some time past the 
matron has been Mrs. John C. Wade. 
Miss Eleanor E. Johnson, to whose efforts, 
more than to those of any other person, 
Evansville is indebted for this institution, 
was born in Southborough, Mass., in 1830. 
In early life she engaged in teaching, and 
did much good work as a city missionary in 
Worcester, Mass. In 1859, ^'''*^ came to 
Evansville, and soon became known as a 
faithful Christian worker in neglected fields. 
For nearly seven years she taught a school 
composed of colored children; for a time 
was engaged in city missionary work; was 
at the head of the orphan asj-lum, and after- 
ward did heroic work in providing the 
means of rescuing hundreds of fair lives 
from that pit of degradation which yearly 
engulfs so many daughters of the land. 

U. S. Marine Hos^pital. — -The need of an 
institution sustained by the general govern- 
ment, for the care of those unfortunates who 
became disabled by disease or accident 
while engaged on the waters of the Ohio 
and its tributaries, has long been pressinglj- 
felt. Through the active efforts of the Busi- 
ness Men's Association, ably assisted by 
Gen. A. P. Hovey, member of congress 
from this district, a bill appropriating $100,- 
000.00 for the construction of such an insti- 
tution has become a law. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

Personal Mention — A List of Many Worthy Citizen? of Evansville Not 

Elsewhere Noticed. 




HE recording of the history of 
nations and communities can not be 
divorced from the narration of per- 
sonal achievement. The later school of his- 
torians has wisely discarded the ancient 
formulas and neglected the records of poten- 
tates who may have been but the figure- 
heads of their reigns, or gilded drift-wood 
in the currents of events; but in the com- 
monwealth of the new world, and in 
great municipalities like that of Evansville, 
those who have become conspicuous are so 
by virtue of their own deeds, and having 
influenced and directed the evolution of the 
present civilization, deserve mention in any 
account of it. Indeed, an}- attempt at pre- 
senting the history of such a count}' as Van- 
derburgh, and such a city as Evansville, 
would be incomplete without a narration of 
the lives of some of the prominent inhabit- 
ants. Already in the course of this work 
the careers of men who have been factors 
in the progress of the county and cit}^ have 
been described in connection with the 
accounts of those lines of effort to which 
they were most closely allied. There 
remain, however, many more not yet men- 
tioned, or only incidentally referred to, and 
to brief accounts of some of these, this chap- 
ter is devoted. 

David J. Mackey. — It is a well-worn 
observation that "labor conquers all things," 
but occasionally there is a man whose splen- 
did activities give the old. proverb a new 
luster and fresh significance. Notable among 
Evansville's workers there is one such man, 



of whom this work would be incomplete 
without some mention. To give it is, how- 
ever, a task of some difficultv and delicacy, 
as in the character of David J. Mackey, to 
his capacity for making history is added a 
notable distaste for public notice and a 
modest slirinking from any form of contem- 
poraneous fame. For what is said of him 
here this work is indebted to a brief sketch 
published recently in the Evening Tribune, 
without his knowledge, and the excellent 
engraving reproduced here is from a family 
picture in the possession of his nephew, F. 
M. Gilbert, of that paper. Mr. Mackey is 
tersely and accurately described as " Evans- 
ville's most public-spirited citizen." He is 
the most prominent railway owner and man- 
ager in the state. He is president of, and 
owns a large interest in, the Evansville & 
Terre Haute, Evansville & Indianapolis, 
and Peoria, Decatur & Evansville railroads, 
the branch road to Mt. Vernon, the Belt 
road, and is a prime mover in the Evansville 
& Richmond road, and has recently acquired 
still more extensive railroad properties. It 
is well nigh impossible to enumerate his in- 
terests in and about the cit}-, whicii he has 
grown up with from bovhood, with continual 
opportunities offered for the exercise of his 
rare business talent. There are few exten- 
sive manufacturing plants which have not 
his aid. He owns a principal interest in the 
great cotton mills at Independence. He 
built the St. George hotel, possesses large 
coal mining interests, extensive shares in the 
mills at Mt. Vernon, is a partner in the great 



CITIZENS OF EVANSVILLE. 



]fil 



wholesale boot and shoe house of Dixon, 
Mackey & Co., is the principal owner of the 
magnificent new dry goods building of 
Mackey, Nisbet & Co., and is building a 
large house for the Armstroncj Furniture 
Co. He has aided magnificently the new 
building of the Business Men's Association. 




David James Mackey was born in this city, 
December, 1S33, the only son of James E. 
and Eliza Mackey. His father, a man of 
little means, and liberal with what store 
he had, helping others, without thought of 
himself, died in 1834, David J. being then 
but eleven months old. His mother was 
left practically without resources, and as 
soon as he was old enough, instead of going 
to school, he began to earn a small salary 
for her assistance, in the general store of 
Robert Barnes. His salary gradually in- 
creased until he finally received a share of 
the profits in addition to his salar\', and most 
of the business was left in his hands. In 
1857 he became the junior partner in the 
firm of Archer & Mackey, wholesale dealers 
in dry goods. A few years later, August 
28, 1861, he married Caroline, the youngest 
daughter of the late John Law. Two of 
heir children are living, James Law Mackey 



and Anne Newell Mackey. In 1864 Mr. 
Archer retired from the firm in which Mr. 
Mackey was interested, and Mr. Hennmg 
came in, making the firm name Mackey, 
Henning & Co. Afterward Mr. Mackey 
was alone for a time, until he was associated 
with the late W. F. Nisbet, with the firm 
style of Mackey, Nisbet & Co., which is still 
used by this house, which does a business 
in dry goods unexcelled in the state. Mr. 
Mackey's wonderful energy and endurance 
were first fully manifested when he engaged 
in the wholesale trade. First at the store 
in the morning and last to go at night, he 
was most happy when filling orders, and 
would enthusiastically add to his mental 
duties an amount of muscular effort that 
would discourage a porter. Genius has 
been defined as industry, and Mr. Mac- 
key's career certainly proves that it is 
at least true that genius is inseparably 
connected with rare powers of application. 
Even in his later years he takes breakfast 
at six, and earlier in the summer, and works 
hard the entire day. He may be seen going 
to his otBce at the time when most people are 
thinking of rising. Himself a great leader in 
business affairs, he evidently joins with those 
great generals who believed that the man who 
succeeds is he who gets into action first. Of 
simple habits, never tasting liquor or using 
tobacco, he does not know ill health, and 
possesses a rugged constitution. In politics 
he is disposed to be generous of the opin- 
ions of others, and though he is an earnest 
republican, and believes in the principles of 
his party, he has faith in the patriotism of 
all his fellow-citizens. To the industrious 
and deserving he is generous and open- 
handed, but as might be expected from those 
traits of character which have been spoken 
of, he has no time to waste upon idlers. 
There is about him no affectation or mag- 
nificence, or desire to impress his fellows 



Jf02 



PERSONAL MENTION. 



with his ability to Hve without continual and 
patient exertion. In all the avenues of hon- 
est effort in which he is interested, he leads 
in the toil, knowing that example is more 
effective than command. The life-work of 
every man must be in a large degree of 
personal aggrandizement, for hope of per- 
sonal success is the most powerful motor in 
the activities of business life; but where the 
exertions of a man are in such broad fields 
as have been those of Mr. Mackey, where 
he has shown himself so ready to aid in 
every effort which increases the avenues of 
general industry, where every new venture 
gives work and happiness to hundreds of 
men, then however much the efforts of such 
a man may accrue to his own well-being, he 
must also be considered as a great benefactor. 
Erastus p. Huston, the popular man- 
ager of the St. George hotel, is a native of 
Ohio, born in Miami count}-, February i8, 
1852. His father, David Huston, is still 
living, and is a resident of Illinois. The 
mother, whose maiden name was Susan 
Darst, died February 17, 18S4. In his 
youth Mr. Huston attended school at Paris, 
111., and at the commercial college at Terre 
Haute. To the latter city he moved at the 
age of seventeen, and engaged in the hotel 
business, which has been his life occupation; 
wisely chosen, let it be said, as thousands 
who have enjoyed his hospitality will un- 
hesitatingly pronounce. Two years after 
engaging in this business he was manager 
of the Terre Haute house, and remained 
there until 1873, when he came to Evans- 
ville, and became connected with D. J. 
Macke}- in the conducting of the St. George 
hotel. The firm name of the proprietorship 
is Mackey & Huston, but the entire man- 
agement is in his hands. The demands of 
such a position are exacting, and none but a 
man of the highest talent adapted to this vo- 
cation could fill the place with such entire 



satisfaction to the public; but Mr. Huston, 
as a host or business man, is never found 
wanting. He is a distinguished member of 
the F. & A. M., La Valette commandery. No. 
15, Knights Templar, and is past emi- 
nent commander. He is also a prominent 
member of the Grace Presbyterian church, 
having been an elder in this denomination at 
the age of nineteen years. 

Hon. Thomas B. Byrnes, a native of 
New Jersey, was born in the city of New- 
ark, August 24, 1844. His father was a 
native of Ireland and his mother, although a 
native of the Empire state, was of Irish an- 
cestry. The father died when the subject 
of this sketch was but five j^ears old, and 
with his mother he returned to her old 
home in New York, where the latter re- 
mained till her death which occurred in 
1873. Mr. Byrnes received his early educa- 
tion and elementary training in the public 
schools of New York city, which was sup- 
plemented bv the completion of a part of 
the college course of what is now the col- 
lege of the city of New York, he having 
left that institution at the close of his sopho- 
more year to enter the extensive business 
concern of Fatman & Company, tobacco 
dealers. He remained with this firm in 
New York until 1862, when he had acquired 
sufficient knowledge of the business to 
accept the responsible position of represent- 
ative of said firm, in the tobacco growing 
states bordering on the Ohio river, with 
headquarters at Evansville. He continued 
in this capacity until 1869, when he em- 
barked in the business for himself. He has 
since continued in the business and is now 
one of the extensive buyers of the state. 
Although prominent in business circles, it is, 
perhaps, in the field of politics that Mr. 
Byrnes is most widely known. He was b}- 
birth and education a believer in the princi- 
ples of the democratic party, and from the 



CITIZENS OF EVAN8VILLE. 



ios 



first evinced a lively interest in public affairs, 
and early became an active worker in the 
politics of his adopted cit}' and county. He 
was, however, not long confined to such 
narrow limits, and soon became an impor- 
tant factor in district and state politics, and 
so valuable were his services that he was 
made a member of county, district and state 
committees, in which capacity he served for 
manj' years. So well-known and popular 
had Mr. Byrnes become that, in 1886, he 
was the unanimous choice of his party for 
the office of treasurer of state. To receive 
a nomination for a state office of such re- 
sponsibility, without a dissenting voice, is a 
compliment seldom paid by a party to one 
of its members. . Although he went down in 
the general defeat of his party, to him 
belongs the honor of leading his ticket. He 
was unanimously re-nominnted for the same 
office in iSSS, but witl\his party again suf- 
fered defeat. Mr. Byrnes is possessed of 
many excellent social qualities, is pleasing in 
his manners, uniformly kind and courteous, 
and with his associates genial and compan- 
ionable. 

H. M. SwEETSER, the leading wholesale 
notion dealer of Evansville, has had a career 
wonderful in the contrast between its begin- 
ning and culmination, and instructive and in- 
spiring to every ambititious youth who be- 
lieves, as Mr. Sweetser's life indicates, that 
" there is no such word as fail " in the histor}' 
of one who courageously devotes himself to 
steadfast and intelligent endeavor. Born at 
Hartford, Conn., in 1839, ^'^ parents both 
died while he was a child, leaving him with- 
out resources and dependent upon his own 
exertions. At the age of nine }"ears he 
worked upon the farm of his uncle, and at- 
tended school in the winters. So he lived 
until reaching the age of sixteen, when, in 
1855, he came to the city of Evansville, ac- 
companying E. S. Alvord. He became a 



porter in the general store of Willard Car- 
penter & Co., and remained with them in 
that capacity-, and with their successors, 

Jewell & Benjamin, until he became em- 
ployed b}' Archer & Macke}'. About this 
time the development of the jobbing trade 
led to the establishment of more specialized 
establishments, and in 1862, he started the 
first wholesale notion house in the city, in 
connection with W. H. McGar}^ and S. C. 
Woodson, in the second stor\' of the house 
later occupied by Nolle, Brinkmeyer & Co., 
on Main street. Six months later they 
changed their quarters, and at the end of 

I the year Mr. Sweetser retired from the firm 
and formed a new partnership with A. H. 

' Edwards, bu\-ing out the hrm of Miller & 
Witt. A year later, Mr. Sweetser became 
sole proprietor, and did business at the 
stand they then occupied until Febru- 

j ary 9, 1872, when he removed to his 
elegant and commodious building on 
first and Sycamore streets, the four floors 
of which are devoted to the threat business 
he has built up. In this model estab- 
lishment the sales immediately increased to 
a remarkable degree, and the prosperity 
then began has in no wav diminished to the 
present time. In spite of the inauspicious be- 
ginning of his career, Mr. Sweetser's talents 
and persistent attention to business have won 
him fortune and fame, and his achievements 
have not onlv benetitcd himself, but aided 
greatly in advancing the prosperitv of the 
city, for he has carried his trade to remote 
points, and by selling goods in competition 
with the greatest cities of the west, has 
spread the fame of Evansville as a commer- 
cial center. In the most enterprising man- 
ner he has aided all movements for the good 
of the city, and has joined to business 
shrewdness a wide and well-placed generos- 
ity. He was one of the original movers 
toward the building of the St. Louis & 



m 



PERSOISfAL MENTION. 



Southeastern railway, and was one of the 
committee that went over the route to esti- 
mate its importance and locate it. He has long 
been an active stockholder in the Evansville 
& Cairo Packet company, having been for 
a number of years its secretary and busi- 
ness manager. He is also a director in the 
German National bank and the Evansville 
Street Railwa}' company. 

Epiirai.m W. Patrick, agent of the Star 
Union Freight Line, was born in Saratoga 
county. New York, June 22, 182S, son of 
Isaac and Anna (Wt)od worth) Patrick, of 
Scotch-Irish and English descent respect- 
ively, his father being a native of New 
York. His earl}- mental training was ob- 
tained in the schools of his native county. 
When twent\--two years of age he- left 
home, and going to Oneida countv. New 
York, embarked in the business of a general 
merchant. Three years later he moved to 
Springlield, Ohio, where he was engaged 
for some time as a civil engineer. From 
1S58 to 1867 he was in the service of the 
Ohio & Mississippi railroad company, princi- 
pally as general agent at Vincennes, Ind., 
and East St. Louis, Ills. Coming to Evans- 
ville in 1868, he accepted the position which 
he now holds. For a time he was connected 
with the wharf boats and was enjiao'ed in 
the insurance business, but his chief employ- 
ment has been in the capacity which he 
now fills. The social phase of his career 
has been pre-eminently bright. For many 
years a Mason, he has obtained an 
exalted rank in the order. In 1S68 
he attained the degrees of templar- 
ism. As generalissimo and eminent com- 
mander of La Valette commanderv he 
rendered dignified and honorable service. 
In the grand commandery of the state of In- 
diana he was first appointed grand sword 
bearer, and passing through all the chairs 
between 1S70 and 1886, in April of the last 



named j-ear was elected grand commander, 
which position he occupied with credit to 
himself and profit to the order. In Septem- 
ber, 1S50, he was married to Miss Frances 
Amelia Ostrander, a native of Saratoga 
Springs, Saratoga county, N. Y. Of this 
union rive children have been born: Charles 
H., Walter J., Wilham H., Mary A. (Mrs. 
E. O. Hopkins, deceased) and Carrie E. 
(now Mrs. H. B. Gates, of Indianapolis, 
Ind.) Mr. Patrick and his wife are members 
of St. Paul's Episcopal church. 

Capt. G. J. Grammer, traffic manager of 
the Evansville & Terre Haute, Evansville 
& Indianapolis, and Peoria, Decatur & Evans- 
ville railroad companies, was born in Zanes- 
ville, Ohio, November 11, 1843. His early 
education was necessarily meager, being 
limited to a few years' study in the public 
schools of his native place. Earlv thrown 
upon his own resources the strength of his 
character was developed in the rough expe- 
riences common to all men who make their 
own wa3' in life. He began to maintain 
himself when but twelve 3'ears of age. His 
first trip from home was in the summer of 
1856, when he went, in a subordinate posi- 
tion, on the steamer " Emma Graham," to 
Pittsburgh. He then worked on different 
steamers in the Muskingum river, between 
Zanesville and Marietta, and Zanesville and 
Parkersburg, until November, 1S58, at which 
time he came to Evansville. From 1858 to 
1882 he was directlv connected with the 
river, most of the time between Evansville 
and Cairo, making various trips as captain 
in charge of different steamboats to 
the Cumberland, Tennessee, Mississippi, 
and Arkansas rivers. During the civil 
war he rendered valuable service to 
the government, though not as an 
enlisted soldier. He commanded the 
sanitary and relief steamer sent to Fort 
Donelson from this place, and reached there 



CITIZENS OF EVANSVILLE. 



Jfio 



the day after the surrender of the fort to 
Gen. Grant. When, after the tight at Shiloh, 
Gov. Morton, his staff, and others, went to 
the scene of action to relieve distress and 
care for the disabled, Capt. Grammer was in 
charge of their steamer. He was also in 
command of the steamer "Superior" in 
February, March, and April, 1863, when 
engaged as a transport, the steamer being 
the headquarters of Gen. John A. Logan, 
and the flag-ship of the transportation fleet 
of the Seventeenth corps during the concen- 
tration of Grant's army at Young's Point, 
La., that invested Vicksburg, and at the 
time the batteries were run at Vicksburg 
by Gen. Grant's command, after which the 
" Superior " was the bearer of the dispatches 
to the north announcing the successful run- 
ning of the batteries. In various other 
ways as a skilled steamboat master he ren- 
dered efficient service. In July, 1S72, he 
was elected a director and superintendent of 
the Evansville, Cairo & Memphis Packet 
Co., which position he retained for ten 
years. In the conduct of the company's 
affairs his capacity for management and his 
business qualifications were amply demon- 
strated. As a result, the position of general 
freight agent of the Evansville & Terre 
Haute railroad was offered to him and 
and accepted. This position he held until 
1 886, when appointed traffic manager of the 
E. & T. H., P. D. & E., E. & I. and Belt 
Line railroads. In 1S86 he was elected a 
director in the Evansville & Richmond rail- 
road, and in 1887, president and superin- 
tendent of the Evansville, Cairo & Memphis 
Packet company, which position he still re- 
tains. From 1862 until 1882 he was most 
prominently connected with the river busi- 
ness, always in commanding and prominent 
positions as captain, director, superinten- 
dent or president. He prepared the statistics 
and data and contributed more than any one i 



person toward securing the legislation 
which inaugurated the snag-boat s3-stem 
and extension of the hghthouse'system to 
the western rivers, thereby promoting their 
navigation, and reducing the risks to its 
present improved condition. As manager 
of the Mail Packet company between 
Evansville and Cairo, he orisnated and 
maintained a svstem of litrhts in the several 
shoal and dangerous places, which svstem 
was fully recomized bv the ireneral irovern- 
ment by their assuming possession of the 
same in 1874, which has been fully main- 
tained by it ever since. Throughout his en- 
tire career the name of Capt. Grammer has 
been prominently connected with the com- 
mercial interests of this city. His vigor, 
straightforwardness, and public-spiritedness 
have made him a valuable citizen. April 22, 
1 866, he was married to Miss Irerte Drieter, 
whose death occurred May 16, 1873. He 
was married a second time October 17, 1878, 
when Miss S. A. Nisbet became his wife. 
Capt. Grammer became a Master Mason in 
1868, and throughout his manhood has allili- 
ated with the democratic partv. 

Capt. Lee Howell, general freight 
agent of the St. Louis and Henderson divis- 
ion of the L. & N. R. R., is a native of 
Lauderdale county, Ala., his parents having 
settled in that locality in earl}- daN-s, as emi- 
grants from the Carolinas. He was born 
near Florence, earl\- in the forties. His 
bo\'hood was passed on his fatlier's farm, in 
the manner usual to countrv lads in the pio- 
neer era. He went through the routine of 
farm work, and in the winter seasons, and 
when the crops were all laid b}-, attended 
the neighboring country school. When 
fifteen years of age he entered a large coun- 
try store as clerk and book-keeper, acting 
as salesman during the day and keeping the 
books of the concern at night. He contin- 
ued at this occupation until the breaking out 



m 



PERSONAL MENTION. 



of the civil war. Enlisting in 1862 in the 
cavalry service of the confederate army, he 
served faithfully until the close of the war. 
His record as a soldier was honorable in all 
its details. Great fidelity to convictions, and 
never faltering valor in their support, char- 
acterized this epoch in his career. For some 
time after the war he engaged in steamboat- 
ing on the Ohio and Tennessee rivers, acting 
first as chief clerk and, later, as master of vari- 
ous steaniers on those rivers, running between 
Upper Tennessee river points and Evans- 
\-ille. While so occupied his acquaintance 
with those interested in the commerce of 
this city gradually extended itself, and his 
popularity, as well as the recognition of 
his worth as a manager of business inter- 
ests, grew in proportion. April i, 1872, 
he entered the service of the Louisville 
& Nashville railroad compan}-. as contract- 
ing agent, and continued in that capacity 
until 1880, when he was appointed general 
agent for the company at Evansville. June 
I, 1882, he was appointed division freight 
agent of the Henderson division, and on 
November i, of the same year, was ap- 
pointed to his present position, with head- 
quarters in this city. His capacity, integ- 
rit}' and fidelit}' to trust make him an efficient 
and valuable officer. As an aggressive, 
public-spirited citizen, Capt. Howell has 
done much to advance the general welfare of 
tEvansville, and has taken a prominent part in 
he recent awakening among the busi- 
ness men which seeks to develop the great 
natural resources of the city. He was one 
of the originators of the Evansville, New- 
burgh & Suburban railroad, and is promi- 
nentl}- connecti;d with ^•arious other enter- 
prises. His candor and congenial manners 
have made him popular, while sagacity and 
qualifications have gained him prominence 
as a useful citizen. He was married to Miss 
Emma Ottavvay at Tuscumbia, Ala., in 



1867. Of this union four children have been 
born, only two of whom survive, as follows: 
Lee, jr., aged sixteen, and Emma, aged nine 
years. 

William D. Ewixg, general manager of 
the Evansville & Terre Haute railroad, of 
Scotch-Irish descent, is a native of Pennsyl- 
vania, born January 16, 1846. He was ed- 
ucated in the common schools of his 
native place, and commenced to learn the 
trade of a printer. While so engaged, civil 
war was begun between the north and the 
south. In 1861, he enlisted in the regi- 
mental band of the Eleventh Pennsylvania 
reserves, then being but fifteen years of age. 
One year later he enlisted in the lOO-days' 
service, and at the expiration of the term 
was enrolled for an additional six months. 
His last enlistment was in the Independent 
Cavalry company, known as J. K. Weever's 
companv, Penns3-lvania troops, m which he 
was commissioned first lieutenant at the age 
of eighteen, and served in that rank until the 
close of the war. He rendered effective 
service in the seven days' fight and else- 
where. After the war, he was engaged 
for a time in the drug business, and as a 
school teacher in Pennsylvania and Illinois. 
He commenced his career as a railroad 
man in 1868 at the bottom round of the lad- 
der. He was first a freight brakeman on 
the Illinois Central, and then station baggage 
master at Odin, 111. Later he was station 
agent for the O. & M. R. R., at Trenton, 
111., and in turn, telegraph operator, private 
secretary to the general superintendent, and 
fuel ajjent for the same road at Vincennes. 
Ind. From 1874 'o 1878 he was agent at 
Vincennes for the E. & T. H. R. R., and 
through the two succeeding vears was agent 
at Terre Haute. His promotion as secretarv 
and treasurer then followed. This office he 
held four years. From it he was advanced 
to the general superintendency of the road. 



CITIZENS OF EVANSVILLE. 



m 



In May, 1886, as general manager, he was 
placed in charge of all lines operated by the 
Evansville & Terre Haute Co. His capacity, 
integrity, and thorough familiarit\- with all 
the details of railroad management, gained 
by actual experience in nearly- every possi- 
ble branch of emplo3'ment, give him especial 
fitness for the responsible position which he 
holds. Col. Ewing became a resident of 
Evansville in 1881, since which time his 
genuine qualities of manliness have attracted 
to liim manv friends. He is a popular and 
prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, 
and belongs to LaValette commandery of 
Knights Templar. He is also a member of 
Farragut Post, G. A. R. In the state militia 
organizations he holds a high rank. He is 
colonel of the First Regiment Indiana 
Legion, and president of the Evansville 
Light infantrv. He was married in 1865 to 
Miss Emma Wott, daughter of Judge I. M. 
Wott. His onl\^ son, John W., is a clerk in 
the Evansville & Terre Haute railroad 
oflices. He and his wife are members of 
Grace Presbyterian church. 

E. B. Cooke, auditor of the E. & T. H. 
and P., D. & E. R. R's, is a recent acquisi- 
tion to the business circles of this city. He 
was born at Norwalk, Ohio, May 7, 1862. 
His boyhood was spent in his native state 
and in Rhode Island, where he pursued an 
academic course of study. His father, Allen 
Cooke, now a resident of Danville, Ills., 
being a railroad man, the boy drifted into 
the railroad business at an early atje. Beintr 
honest and efficient, he rose rapidlv- He 
began as a station agent when a mere lad, 
but gave up this employment to enter 
school. After two years with his books, he 
entered liie office of his father, then master 
mechanic of the C. & E. I. R. R. In 1880 
he went to Chicago, where he was soon 
recognized as an expert accountant. At Chi- 
cago, Ills., Alexandria, Va., and Washing- 



ton, D. C, he was prominently connected 
with the Chicago & Eastern Illinois, Chica- 
go & Western Indiana, the Virginia, Mid- 
land & Richmond and Danville railroads. In 
Januarv, 1887, he became auditor of the E. 
& T. H. R. R., and three months later of the 
P., D. &.E. R. R. His discharge of the im- 
portant duties entrusted to him has been en- 
tirely satisfactory. In 1S83 he was married 
to Miss Jessie M. Anderson, daughter of 
William B. Anderson, of Danville, Ills. 
They have one child, Allen B. 

Dr. Allen C. Hallock was born on the 
i6th day of September, 181 1, in Westches- 
ter countv, N. Y., and was the son of John 
and Lydia (ColHns) Hallock, of EngHsh de- 
scent. His early j-ears were spent in his 
native county, but after reaching maturity 
he removed to New York city, where in the 
year 1838, he was joined in wedlock to Miss 
Elizabeth Stoddard. The year before the 
doctor graduated wilh high honors in the 
college of pharmacy in that city. Nine 
years later, in 1846, he left his native state 
and started westward, settling in Evansville 
in September of the same year, and entering 
into business with his brother-in-law, Dr. 
W. H. P. Stoddard, by establishing the first 
wholesale drug house i:i this city. No in- 
surance companies had been established here 
at that time. Dr. Hallock added this im- 
portant branch to his other business, and 
havin<r the first agencv here his business 
increased to such an extent that he disposed 
of his interest in the drug business to Dr. 
Stoddard, and then devoted his energies to 
his insurance business, with his son Walter, 
up to the time of his death. He held a 
number of offices of trust in Evansville, 
among them being township trustee, coroner 
and councilman. Daring a small-pox epi- 
demic he had charge of the government 
hospital and served with great ability and 
fidelity, not losing a single patient. He was 



m 



PERSONAL MENTION. 



a Quaker and his life was as pure and spot- 
less as that of the people of that belief. He 
was also a prominent spiritualist. He was 
ever liberal in his views and generous to a 
fault, often doing acts of benevolence to the 
poor, in many instances to his own great 
pecuniary disadvantage. By such acts he 
endeared himself to those of all stations in 



pany. He was honorably discharged April 
19, X 866, at Ft. Morgan, Ala. On account of a 
severe wound received in the rear of Vicks- 
burg, he was in hospital for a short time, 
but otherwise he was always ready for duty 
with his command. After the war he re- 
turned to Missouri, but soon came to Evans- 
ville and entered the furniture business. He 



life. Dr. Hallock died at his residence in was at first connected with the Union Furni 



this city, September 22, 18S6. His was a 
noble character, and words cannot add to the 
public estimation in which he was held, or 
increase the respect with which his memory 
will ever be cherished by those who knew 
him. 

The firm of L. Puster & Co. occupy a 
prominent place among the manufacturers 
of furniture. Organized in December, 1881, 
it is composed of Louis Puster, John H. 
Ortmeyer, Herman G. Menke and Leo 
Kevekordes. Its present buildings were 
erected in the fall of 1887, those previously 
occupied having been destro^'ed by fire in 
September of that vear. The buildings now 
in use are commodious and well adapted to 
the purposes which the}' serve. The com- 



ture company, and later was with the 
well-known Armstrong Furniture com- 
pan}', where he remained until the 
formation of the firm of L. Puster & Co. 
He is a progressive, public-spirited citizen, a 
member of the Business Men's association 
and identified with the growth of the cit}'. 
He is a member of Farragut Post, G. A. R. 
At Keokuk, Iowa, in 1856, he was married 
to Hermina Menke, a native of Germany, 
who died in January, 1862, at the age of 
twent^'-one years, leaving three children. 
March 27, 1864, he married Louisa Menke, 
and to this union four children have been 
born. John H. Ortmej^er, superintendent 
of the finishing department and shipping 
clerk, was born in Evansville, December 20, 



pan}' employs about 100 men, and manu- j 1852, and is the son of John B. and Helen 
factures furniture exclusively. An exten- 1 (Meyer) Ortmever. His parents, natives 



sive business, principally in the south, has 
been built up by this industrious, pushing 
concern. Its senior member, Louis Puster, 
was born in Germanv, Julv 25, 1832, and 
came to America when eighteen years of 
age. The five years following his arriyal 
were spent in St. Louis, Mo., where he 
learned the trade of a wood-turner. He then 
spent some time in Keokuk. Iowa, Quincy, 
Ills., and Cincinnati, Ohio. When the civil 
war broke out he returned to Missouri, and 
on July 15, 1861, enlisted in Co. K, Twenty- 
first Missouri infantry, as a private. His 
bravery and efiiciency as a soldier gained 
him rapid promotion. He soon became 
first sergeant, and later captain of his com- 



of Germany, came to Evansville in 
1848. Seven years later his mother 
died. His father is still living at an 
advanced age. John Ortmeyer was reared 
and educated in this city, and when fifteen 
years of age began to learn the trade of a 
cabinet-maker in the employ of the xArm- 
strong Furniture company. With this com- 
pany he remained twelve years, and after- 
ward for some time was variously employed 
in the planing-mills and furniture factories 
of the city. Since 1881 he has been a part- 
ner in the firm ofL . Puster & Company, first 
as traveling salesman, and during the past 
five years in the position he now occupies. 
He was married in 1875 to Wilhelmina 



CITIZENS OF EVANSriLLE. 



100 



Becker, daughter of John Becker, an early 
citizen of this city. Of this union five 
chiklren have been born, four of whom sur- 
vive. Mr. and Mrs. Ortmever are members 
of Zion's Evangelical church. 

Herman G. Menke, foreman of the cab- 
inet department, was born in Ciermany, De- 
cember 17, 1847, and is the son of Edward 
A. and Caroline (Blume) Menke. The 
family came to America in 185 1 and located 
in Evansville. Later they went to Quinc}', 
Ills., thence to Keokuk, Iowa, and after- 
ward to La Grange, Mo. The father, 
though an old man, when the war began, 
enlisted in Company K, Twenty-tirst Mis- 
souri, infantry, in 1861; was wounded 
and captured at Shiloh, Tenn.; was pa- 
rolled and returned to La Grange where 
he died in 1862. The mother survived her 
husband sixteen years. In 1865, at Quinc}", 
Ills., Herman Menke joined the Union army, 
enlisting in Company A, Sixty-fifth Illinois 
infantry, and served for about four months. 
After the war he came to Evansville with 
his brother-in-law, Mr. Puster, and learned 
the cabinet-maker's trade at the old Union 
Furniture company's works. Later he was 
with S. Meyer & Co., and the Armstrong 
Furniture Co. He took part in the organ- 
ization of the firm of L. Puster & Co., and 
has since been identified with that company- 
He was married in 1872 to Lizzie Reimer, 
daughter of John Reimer, a well-known citi- 
zen of Evansville. To this union six child- 
ren have been born, four of whom survive. 
Mr. and Mrs. Menke are members of the 
German Methodist Episcopal church. 

Leo Kevekordes, foreman of the machin- 
ery department, was born in German}-, 
August 7, 1S49, and came to America when 
eighteen years of age. He had learned the 
trade of a cabinet-maker, and locating in 
Cincinnati, Ohio, spent two years working 
in that voc ition. In 1869 he came to Evans- 



ville and for ten years was employed first at 
his trade and then as foreman in the furni- 
ture factory of Joseph F. Reitz. For two 
years he was empio\ed at various places in 
Missouri, Tennessee, and this state. Return- 
ing to this city in 1881, he became a member 
of the tirm of L. Puster & Co., and was at 
once made foreman of the department now 
under his charge. He was married in 1875 
to Catherine Schrader, daughter of Charles 
Schrader, a prominent citizen. Mrs. Keve- 
kordes died in December, 1885, leaving four 
children. He was again married in June, 
1886, Louisa Tapper, daughter of E. Weber, 
saddler, of this city, becoming his wife. To 
this union one child has been born. Mr. 
Kevekordes is a member of Orion Lodge, 
K. of P., and Lessing Lodge, F. & A. M. 
Joseph R. Sample, local freight agent of 
the Louisville & Nashville railroad, was 
born in Jacksonville, Iils.,Februar3- 27, 1848. 
His father, Charles G.imple, is one of the 
oldest natives of Jacksonville, 111., having 
been born there over seventy years ago, and 
is yet a prominent citizen of Jacksonville. 
He rendered effective s.irvice to his country 
in the One Hundred and First regiment, Illi- 
nois Infantr}^ volunteers. Joseph Sample 
w'as reared and educated in the public 
schools of his native place. Since twenty 
years of age he has been employed as a tel- 
egraph operator, express agent, and in vari- 
ous forms of railroad service at Pekin, lU.s, 
St. Louis, Mo., Guthrie and Norton ville,Ky., 
Carmi, Ills., and other places. For two years, 
from 1S82, he was employed in this city. 
After a two years' service as station agent at 
East St. Louis, Ills., he returned to this city, 
and is now in charge of the yards and freight 
depot of the Louisville & Nashville railroad. 
By industry, economy and attention to busi- 
ness he has accumulated some property and 
earned the favor of all with whom he has 
been associated. He is a member of the 



^0 



PERSONAL MENTION. 



K. of P. and K. & L. of H. He was mar- 
ried at Carmi, Ills., in 1877, to Miss Mollie 
Patrick, to whom two children have been 
born: Lena Howell and Joseph Earl. 

R. E. Graves, manager of Dunn's Com- 
mercial agency at Evansville, Ind., was 
born in Boone county, Ky., February 27, 
1855, and is the son of Rev. R. K. and 
Sarah E. (Mothershead) Graves. The 
father was born in Boone county, Ky., 
March 15, 1826, and died September 11, 
1877. The mother, a native of Owen 
county, K)'., born January 3, 1S30, died 
June 25, 1881. The marriage of Rev. R. 
K. and Sarah Graves was solemnized May 
15, 1849. '^^^ paternal grandfather, Ab- 
salom Graves, was a native of Virginia, 
born September 13, 1791, and the maternal 
grandfather, Alvin Mothershead, was born 
January 8, 1789. The paternal great- 
grandfather. Rev. Absalom Graves, was 
born in Culpeper county, Va., November 
28, 176S, removed to Kentucky in 1797, 
settled in Boone county, and was the 
founder and pastor of the first Baptist 
church organized at Bullettsburg, in that 
county. His death occurred August 17, 
1826. The ancestors of Mr. Graves for 
man}- generations were distinguished and 
prominent people in the localities where 
they resided. Until about seventeen j'ears 
of age the immediate subject of mention 
resided on his father's farm and received his 
early mental training in the public schools of 
the county. Later his studies were pursued 
at Burlington academy at Burlington, Ky., 
and at Warsaw College, Warsaw, Kv. He 
taught school in 1872-3 in Kentucky, and 
then went to Cincinnati, where he was en- 
gaged for three years as a traveling sales- 
man. On October 18, 1877, he entered the 
Cincinnati office of R. G. Dunn & Co. as re- 
porter, and was transferred to Evansville, 
on January i, 1883, as manager, which po- 



sition he has since occupied. The skill and 
uniform fairness with which he has con- 
ducted the affairs of the agenc}', have won 
him a high place in the esteem of the busi- 
ness public. His social position is equally 
gratifying. In 1877 he joined M3'rtle Lodge, 
No. 5, Knights of Pythias, at Covington, 
Ky., and in 1883 identified himself with 
Orion Lodge, of this city. In the same 
year he entered the uniform rank, and in 
June, 1887, was made major of the First 
Regiment, Indiana Brigade, Uniform Rank, 
Knights of Pythias. He has been trans- 
ferred to the same position in the Fifth reg- 
iment. He is also a Master Mason, being a 
member of Reed Lodge, No. 316, of this 
city, and belongs to La Valette Com • 
mandery. No. 15, Knights Templar. He 
has passed all the chairs in Orion Lodge. 

R. W. Hardon, traveling freight agent 
for the L., E. & St. L. and C. & O. railroads, 
is a native of Boston, Mass., born June i*], 
1862. He was educated in the schools of 
his native city, and at the Technological In- 
stitute of Massachusetts, where he gradu- 
ated in 1883. He first engaged in mming 
for a year, and later entered the service of a 
railroad companj', and has since occupied 
various positions in that branch of business. 
He first came to Evansville in 1883, and re- 
mained but a short time. He again located 
here in 18S7, and has since occupied the po- 
sition which he now holds. He is thorough 
in his business methods and has won, through 
the character of his conduct, the esteem of 
railroad men and shippers. Having trav- 
eled extensively in this country and abroad, 
and possessing the polite accomplishments 
which adorn the polished gentleman, he has 
been received with favor into the highest 
social circles of the cit}-. 

Ed\\'Ard Grill, of the firm of Grill 
Bros., manufacturers and wholesale dealers 
in cigars, was born in Rheinhess, Germany 







&x- 




CITIZENS OF EVANSVILLE. 



m 



December 6, 1848. His father, Col. John 
F. Grill, was a well-known citizen of this 
place for many 3ears. He was a native of 
Germany, and in the revolution of 1848 
took up arms a<^ainst the king. He rose to 
the rank of captain and fought valiantly. 
Upon the success of the crown he was 
forced to leave his native country, and 
coming to America, settled in Evansville in 
the spring of 1849. He was a tanner by 
trade, and establishing a tannerv in the sub- 
urbs of the city, conducted the business 
successfull}' until the war of 1861. He 
went out with the Twenty-fourth Indiana 
infantry as a captain, was promoted to the 
lieutenant colonelcv of the regiment, 
because of heroism displa3-ed on the fields 
of battle, and returned home after achieving 
an honorable record. He then organized 
the One Hundred and Forty-third Regi- 
ment Indiana infantry, and went to the front 
as its colonel. He served with distinction 
until the close of the war, and was mustered 
out October 15, 1S65. His military career 
brought him into a close intimacy with 
with Gens. U. S. Grant, Lew Wallace, and 
A. P. Hove_v, and everywhere he com- 
manded the respect and confidence of his 
superiors, as well as the devoted lovaltv and 
esteem of the officers whom he ranked. 
Returning to Evansville, he was engaged in 
merchandising for many years, and accumu- 
lated a fair competence. He was an ardent re- 
publican, attained an influential position in the 
party's councils, was several times trustee of 
Pigeon township, and was recognized as a 
good officer and valuable citizen. His death, 
which occurred April 6, iSSo, when he was 
fifty-six years old, was generally lamented. 
He was a member of St. John's Presbyterian 
church, and of the Harugari lodge. Be- 
fore leaving his native country, he was mar- 
ried to Margaret Kloninger, whose death 
occurred in this city, April 11, 1886. His 
24 



famih' comprised six children, all of whom 
reside in this city, as follows: Edward, 
Philip F., John F., Minnie, Amelia (now 
the wife of Councilman F.J. Scholz), and 
Lizzie. 

Edward Grill was reared in this city 
and educated in its public schools. He 
graduated in Behm's Commercial College. 
In 1864, when but fifteen 3-ears of age, he 
joined the federal army as quartermaster 
sergeant in the One Hundred and Forty- 
third Indiana infantrj', and served faith- 
fully until honorabl}- discharged, in October, 
1865. For three years, during the adminis- 
tration of Col. Jolin W. Foster as postmaster, 
he served as a clerk in the city postoffice and 
then accepted a position as traveling sales- 
man for I. & D. Heiman, wholesale grocers. 
He was next employed by Col. John Rhein- 
lander, and later by Bement & Seitz, as a 
salesman of cigars and tobacco, and was so 
engaged for several years. His experience 
on the road, his extensive acquaintance, and 
possession of a good trade, induced him to 
go into business for himself. In 1S84, in 
partnership with his brothers, Philip F. and 
John F., he became a manufacturer and 
wholesale dealer in cigars and tobacco, the 
firm being styled Grill Bros. This business 
has since been successfully conducted. Mr. 
Grill is public-spirited, and has taken an ac- 
tive part in advancing the welfare of the 
city. He is a prominent member of the G. 
A. R., and was instrumental in bringing 
about the re-union of the Blue and the Gray 
in this city, in the summer of 18S7, an oc- 
currence which attracted national attention. 
The part he took in the matter elicited the 
hearty commendation and praise of many 
distinguished ofiiccrs. He was married in 
July, 1877, to Mattie, daughter of Alfred 
Kirkpatrick, a pioneer citizen of this city, 
who received a mortal wound while engaged 
in battle for his country. 



^2 



PERSONAL MENTION. 



Harrison & Harrison. — The manufac- 
ture of jeans pants and bags was begun in 
Evansville ten years ago. At that time the 
firm of Harrison, Peckenpaugh & Harrison 
was formed and the work of manufacturing 
was commenced on a very small scale. The 
business has increased constantly until now 
it amounts annually to at least $250,000. 
The works give employment to about 
300 hands, and the capacity is for 
2,900 pairs of pants daily. Six j-ears ago 
ago the original firm was dissolved, and 
the present firm name is that which heads 
this paragraph. 

Maj. J.\mes B. H.\rrison, senior member 
of the firm, was born in LaFaj^ette, 
Christian county, Ky., in 1840. His father, 
J.J. Harrison, was a native of Virginia, and 
located in Kentucky, at an early date, where 
his death occurred about 1S68. His 
mother was Sarah A. White, also a native of 
Virginia, who died in 1855. To his parents 
seven children were born, three of whom 
survive. James B. was reared in Christian, 
Trigg and Ohio counties, Ky. He was 
educated in the subscription schools, secur- 
ing a good education. In 1861, five days 
after the firing on Fort Sumter, he enhsted 
in Compan}^ A, Seventeenth Kentuckj^ in- 
fantry, U. S. A., and was made second lieu- 
tenant in the same year of his enlistment. 
On account of ill health he resigned in 1862, 
after the battle of Pittsburg Landing, and 
returned to Ohio county. The same year 
he organized a company for the Twelfth 
Regiment of Kentucky- cavahy, and was 
made captain; was elected major of the 
regiment in 1863, and was in command two 
and a half years of the regiment's service. 
The regiment veteranized, and he continued 
with it, serving altogether four and a half 
years, and was honorablv discharged at 
Louisville, Ky. After the war he went to 
New Albany, Ind., and engaged in the gro- 



cery business, and next removed his business 
to Paducah, Ky., where he remained until 
1S66. He then engaged in the 
river mail service, with his headquarters 
fixed at Evansville for six years. His 
attention was next devoted to the manufac- 
ture of hominy, meal, grits and bags in 
Evansville. In 1S7S the firm of Harrison, 
Peckinpaugh & Harrison was formed for the 
manufacture of pants and bags. Peckinpaugh 
was bought out in 1882, and the firm became 
Harrison & Harrison in that branch, Mr. 
Ed Harrison being the other member. 
Mr. Harrison was married in 1881 to Miss 
Fannie Rudd, daughter of Capt. Rudd, one 
of the prominent citizens of Evansville. To 
this union one son and one daughter have 
been born, as follows: J. B., born April 16, 
18S2, and Lucy Rudd, born November 10, 
1884. Major Harrison is a member of the 
G. A. R., and of the Royal Arcanum, and 
Mrs. Harrison is a member of the C. P. 
church. Major Harrison has been a pro- 
gressive, prosperous and public-spirited 
man. He has not followed in beaten paths, 
but has established new industries and given 
employment to manv people. He estab- 
lished the first hominy mill in the city, the 
first bag factory, and the first star overall 
factor}'. His executive abiHty, and his un- 
tiring energ\- have made his business ven- 
tures successful, while the integritv and sjen- 
eral fairness which have characterized his 
conduct have made him popular with his 
employes and the business public generally. 
Ed Harrison, junior member of the 
firm, was born in San Antonio, Texas, May 
31, 1S60, and is the son of Thomas S. and 
Mary Ann (Peckinpaugh) Harrison. His 
father was a native of La Favette, Christian 
county, Ky., where he was born in 1833, 
and is now a resident of Evansville. His 
mother was born in Crawford county, Ind., 
in 1833 and died in 1864. Mr. Harrison 



CITIZENS OF EVANSVILLE. 



US 



was reared in San Antonio, and was educat- 
ed in that city and Evansville. He came 
to Evansville in 1877, joined his uncle, Maj. 
J. B. Harrison, and in 187S became a mem- 
ber of the firm of Harrison, Peckinpaugh 
& Harrison. He is now a full partner, own- 
ing a half interest in the business. He was 
married in December, 1S80, to Miss Pauline 
Wilson, daughter of Joseph Wilson, of Mi- 
ami, Mo., formerly of Texas. To this union 
two children have been born as follows: 
Thomas S., born August 27, iSSi, and Ed 
McMahan born December 26, 18S6. Mr. 
Harrison is a member of the Royal Ar- 
canum, and is president of Red Ribbon club, 
a temperance organization. 

F. J. CoNLE.N', foreman and cutter for the 
firm of Harrison & Harrison, was born in 
Philadelphia. Penn., November 30, 1855, and 
is the son of Alex F. and Annie (Toner) 
Conlen. His father was born and raised 
in Philadelphia, and his mother was born in 
Ireland. His father died in i88r, and his 
mother is now a resident of Philadelphia. 
Mr. Conlen was educated in the public 
schools, and the commercial college of his 
native place, and there, about 1870, began 
to work at the trade which now engages his 
attention. He came west in 1879, and lo- 
cated in Cincinnati. In 1882 he removed to 
Evansville, and engaged with the firm of 
Harrison & Harrison, with which he has 
since been connected. He is a night cutter 
and is considered one of the best in the west. 
He was married August 4, 1872, to Martha 
W. Pearson, who was born in Philadelphia, 
October 12, 1854. To this union four child- 
ren have been born. 

Alfred Berxardix, president of the In- 
diana Canning company, and also of the 
Bernardin Bottle Cap company, two of the 
leading industries of Evansville, Ind., and a 
prominent citizen, is a native of France, 
born in 1845. Coming to America in 1856, 



he located at Portsmouth, Ohio, where he 
remained until 1873, and then came to 
Evansville, since when he has been a citizen 
of the place. He was married in 1870, to 
Emma Keough, of Ohio, and to their union 
two sons and one daughter have been born. 
Upon locating in Evansville, Mr. Bernardin 
engaged in the manufacture of mineral 
waters. Having invented an ingenious bot- 
tie cap, and having secured a patent for the 
same in 1885, he established the Bernandin 
Bottle Cap companv, for the manufacture of 
the same. This invention is in the nature of 
a metallic cap and fastener combined, to re- 
tain corks that are under pressure, avoiding 
the old method of wire fastenings, and at 
the same time putting on an attractive finish 
to the bottle. The machinery for the man- 
ufacture of the bottle cap is of Mr. Ber- 
nardin's own devising and is also patented. 
The plant and products are the only ones in 
the United States. The machinery is most 
remarkable, and its operation partakes 
of the marvelous. It is constructed on 
scientific principles, and while it was 
in course of construction, Mr. Bernardin 
made twenty-two trips to Brooklyn, N. Y., 
to secure its perfection. The capacity of 
the plant is 75,000 complete caps per day, 
and thirty-five hands, principalh' girls, are 
employed. The Bottle Cap company is a 
stock concern with A. Bernardin as presi- 
dent and treasurer, and F. W. Cook as sec- 
retar}'. About $25,000 capital is invested 
in the plant and business. The bottle cap 
is in general use in Evansville, Cincinnati, 
New York, Boston, New Orleans, St. Louis, 
San Antonio, Dallas and all the cities 
throughout the United States. The canning 
company was organized and opened in March, 
1887. This industry is the only one of the 
kind in the city, and has a daily capacity 
of 20,000 cans. All kinds of vegetables 
and fruits are canned, and from 250 



4U 



PERSONAL MENTION. 



to 300 hands are employed during 
the season. About $60,000 capital is 
invested in the establishment, and the 
stock company is as follows: A. Bernardin, 
president: L. Seitz, vice-president; F. W. 
Cook, jr., secretary and treasurer; Ezra 
Lyon, manager. Other stockholders are: 
Dr. A. M. Owen, D. J. Mackey, F. W. 
Cook, sr., C. R. Bement, Theo. R. 
McFerson and M. W. Foster. 

Philip Spiegel, trustee of Pigeon town- 
ship, was born in Bavaria, near the river 
Rhine, on the 17th of January, 1832. His 
parents, Paul and Cleopha (Bogenshuetz) 
Spiegel, lived and died in Germany, their 
native country. At eleven years of age he 
was "bound out" for two years, according 
to the custom of the country. At the early 
age of fifteen years he left his native land, 
and making his way to America, settled in 
Evansville, where he has since remained, a 
period of fort\--one years. His early edu- 
cation was not wholly neglected, but it was 
necessarily meagre. When he reached here 
he began learning the cooper's trade, and 
having served his apprenticeship continued 
at that work until 1854, when he entered 
the employ of Babcock Bros., the well- 
known hardware dealers, where hs remained 
until 18S2. For a time he engaged in the 
grocery business. In 1886 he was nomi- 
nated bv the democratic part}-, with which 
he had long affiliated, for the office of town- 
ship trustee of Pigeon township, and was 
elected by a majority of 185. In 1888 he 
was re-elected to the same office by a ma- 
jority of 766 votes. He is a popular and 
efficient officer, and a good citizen. He has 
been four times married and is the father of 
four children. 

John J. Farrar, general manager at 
Evansville for the Singer Manufacturing 
company, was born in Louisville, Ky., Feb- 
ruary 28, 1853, and is the son of John M. 



and Caroline J. (Jarvis) Farrar. His fa- 
ther, born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1825, at 
the age of eight years, moved with his par- 
ents to Louisville, where lie has since re- 
sided, for many 3'ears past being a promi- 
nent member of the bar at that place. His 
mother was born at Brighton, England, in 
1S32, came to the United States when a 
child, and died in Louisville, K}\, in 1865. 
John Farrar is the oldest of ' five children, 
four of whom are living. He was educated 
in the private school of Prof. B. B. Hun- 
toon, now superintendent of the Kentucky 
State Asylum for the Blind. Finishing his 
studies in 187 1, in December of that year 
he entered the emplov of the Louis\-ille In- 
surance and Banking company. About a 
year later he entered the sewing ma- 
chine business, and for twelve }-ears 
past has been with the Singer Manufactur- 
ing company. He has held several import- 
ant positions, and assumed charge of the 
compan3''s offices at this place in 1888. 
His capacity and executive ability have al- 
ready exhibited themselves. . The fine art 
displa}- made in the company's offices soon 
after his arri\-al liere attracted general no- 
tice and favorable comment. Mr. Farrar is 
a membei' of Preston Lodge, No. 281, 
F. & A. M., of Louisville, Ky. Fie was 
married in 1S76 to Miss Clarissa J. Hertsch, 
a native of Leipsic, Saxony, born October 
9, 1857. Of this union one child, Walter 
T., has been born. 

The Indiana Stove Works, located on 
Seventh avenue between Indiana and Illinois 
streets, is one of tlie leading institutions of 
its kind in tiie city of Evansville. It was in- 
corporated in 1887, being the successor of 
the firm of Schrader, Fischer & Boehne, 
which firm was established in 1881, made 
up in the first place of substantial citizens 
and practical workmen. 

Jacob Fischer, president of the com- 



CITIZENS OF EVANSVILLE. 



U15 



pany, was born in Germany in 184S, and 
coming to x\merica, settled in Evansville in 
December, 1869. He was a moulder by 
trade, and, upon coming to Evansville, went 
to work in a foundry and continued so en- 
gaged until 1S81, when he became a mem- 
ber of the firm of Shrader, Fischer & 
Boehne. Upon the incorporation of the firm 
in 1 88 7, he was made president, and now 
holds that position. In 1S71 he was mar- 
ried to Lena Martin, who was born in Ger- 
many, and is the daujihter of William Mar- 
tin, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Fischer are 
members of St. Boniface Catholic church, 
of Independence. He is a member of St. 
Boniface Benevolent society and the Catho- 
lic Kniyhts of America. 

J. WiLLi.\M BoEii.NE, secretary, treasurer, 
and general manager of the works, was born 
on a farm in the northern part of Vander- 
burgh county, October 28, 1836, and is the 
son of Gerhard II. and EHzabeth Boehne. 
His father emigrated from Germany to 
America, in 1842, and came direct to the 
west, settling on a farm in what is now Scott 
township, \'anderburgh count\'. 1 le followed 
farming all his life, and died in 1886, at the 
age of si.\t}--£vvo years. His mother was 
also a native of Germany and came to Amer- 
ica in 1S45. His parents were married in 
1847. Mrs. Boehne is still living, residing on 
the old home place in Scott township. To 
these parents eight children were born, of 
whom six sur\i\e. J. William Boehne was 
reared on the farm until his sixteenth year, and 
during his boyhood attended the public and 
church schools. In i873hecameto Evansville 
and for two years clerked for his uncle in a 
grocery store, during which time he attended 
commercial college at night. Completing 
his course of studies, in the fall of 1S75 he 
took a position with Tliomas Scantlin & Son 
as book-keeper, and remained with that firm 
until December, 1881, when, in company 



with Charles Schrader, Jacob Fischer, and 
Mrs. A. Vermilion, organized the firm of 
Schrader, Fischer, Boehne & Co., and began 
the manufacture of stoves and ranges. 
When the firm was incorporated in 1887 he 
became secretary, treasurer, and general 
manager. Much of the success of the com- 
pany is due to his ability as a manager and 
his close attention to business. He was mar- 
ried in 1880 to Louise Karges, a native of 
Evansville, and the daughter of Ferdinand 
Karges. Mrs. Boehne died June 23, 1883, 
at the age of twent3'-four j'ears. In 1885 he 
was again married to Emilie Ide, who was 
born in Evansville, and is the dau<rhter of 
Henry Ide. To this union one son has been 
born. Mr. and Mrs. Boehne are members 
of the Lutheran church (Trinit}-). 

Charles Schrader was born August 6, 
182 1, in Prussia, Germany. He farmed in 
his native country- until 1846, when he came 
to America, landing at Galveston, Texas, 
thence he went to New Orleans, and then 
participated in the Mexican war as teamster, 
being so engaged two years. Returning to 
New Orleans, he went into the dairy busi- 
ness for two years — then he moved to 
Perr}' county, Ind., and settled upon a farm, 
where he remained until the spring of 1864. 
He then moved to Evansville, and was 
employed by Brinkmever, Helbling & Co., 
in their store, and remained in their service 
one year; then for three j'ears he was book- 
keeper for J. B. Mesker. After leaving the 
employ of Mr. Mesker he engaged in the 
manufacture of vinegar, which he left to 
become traveling salesman for Thomas 
Scantlin & Son. At this lie was occupied 
until the organization of the firm of Schrader, 
Fischer & Boehne, which has now adopted 
the name of the Indiana Stove Works, with 
the same membership. He was married in 
1848 to Elizabeth Ubricii, who was born in 
Germany in 1819. The}' are the parents of 



416 



PERSONAL MENTION. 



four cliildren, only one of whom, Minnie, 
survives. She married John H. Rosen- 
berger. The family are members of St. 
John's Presbyterian church. Politically Mr. 
Schrader is a republican. 

Charles A. Slayback, chief engineer of 
the "Mackey system, "was born November 2, 
1829, in Hamilton count}^ Ohio. His father 
Dr. Abel Slayback, was a prominent phy- 
sician in Cincinnati, Ohio. He recei\'ed a 
good common school education and com- 
pleted his studies at Woodward college. For 
five years he was employed as a civil en- 
gineer on the Wabash & Erie canal, and for 
some time as a railroad contractor. His 
work causing him to make Princeton, Ind., 
his place of residence, he was postmaster of 
that town from i860 to 1865. He has been 
entracred as an engineer on the Cincinnati 
Southern and other railroads, and for several 
years has satisfactorily filled his present 
position. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. 
and in politics a republican. In 1857 he 
was married to his first wife, Eva, a native 
of New York, whose death occurred in 
1883. Of this union two children were 
born Clinton S. and Susan L., both mar- 
ried. January 25, 1887, he was married to 
Miss Lida O. Steel, a native of Philadelphia, 
Penn. Mr. and Mrs. Slayback are mem- 
bers of the Presbyterian church at Prince- 
ton, Ind., their place of residence. 

The firm of Kiechle, Brentano & Ober- 
dorfer, whose foundry is located at the cor- 
ner of Ohio street and Seventh avenue, 
employ's about seventy-five men, and trans- 
acts a large business, principalU' with the 
south. The senior member of the firm, 
Frederick Kiechle, was born in Baden, 
Germany, March 2, 1831. His parents were 
George and Mary (Wieninger) Kiechle, 
both natives of Germany. At six years of 
age he lost his father by death, and was 
early thrown upon his own resources. His 



meagre schooling was obtained in Germany, 
and while there he was variously employed 
until 1846, w'hen, hearing of the splendid 
opportunities in the new world awaiting en- 
ergetic and ambitious men, he decided to 
leave the land of his nativit}-. Upon reach- 
ing America he proceeded to Buffalo, N. Y., 
where he remained three years industri- 
ously appl3'ing himself and learning the 
founder's trade. From Buffalo he jour- 
neyed to Akron, Ohio, thence to Cincinnati, 
and from there, in 1858, came to Evansville. 
From that time to the present he has been 
engaged in foundry work, except during 
three 3ears of the civil war period, when he 
conducted with profit the business of a retail 
grocer. Endowed with an active and pro- 
gressi\e spirit, and possessing much busi- 
ness tact and ability, he has achieved 
success. In 1852 his marriage occurred. 
Miss Catherine Loch, a native of Germany, 
born in 1828, who came to the United States 
in 1849, becoming his wife. Of this union 
eight children have been born: Frederick 
W., Mary C, Charles, Louisa, Henry, Ed- 
ward, Emma and Carrie. 

Evansville is situated in the center of a 
great tobacco-growing countr)-. That the 
manufacture of this natural product should 
be early engaged in, was to be expected. 
From a small beginning it has grown to 
large proportions. One of the leading 
cigar manufacturers and wholesale dealers 
in tobacco at this time is George Lennert, 
w^io was born m Germany, March 4, 
1840, being the fifth in a family of ten 
children born to Peter and Catherina 
(Schmittinger) Lennert, natives of Ger- 
many. His father was born in 1801, and 
died in this city in the present year; his 
mother was born in 1802, and died in 
Evansville in 1885. The Lennerts came to 
the United States in 1852, and after a 
sojourn in Pennsylvania of one year's du- 



CITIZENS OF EVANSVILLE. 



m 



ration, they settled in Newburgh, Warrick 
county, Ind., then a very promising town. 
After a two years' residence at that place 
they removed to Evansville, where through- 
out a long residence they were highly re- 
spected people. George Lennert received 
a common school education, and when 
eighteen years of age, began learning the 
trade of a cigar-maker in the factory of 
William Koenig. Si.v years later he began 
business for himself, and has since con- 
tinued, meeting with much success. At 
the present time his business is quite ex- 
tensive. Ten or fifteen men are regularly 
employed, .and from 1,000,000 to 
1,500,000 cigars are annually made. In 
1874 h*^ was married to Henrietta 
Schmoll, who was born in this cit}- in 
1850, the daughter of Martin and Elizabeth 
(Colp) Schmoll. Four children, Hettie, 
William, Edward and Oscar, compose his 
family. He and his wife are prominent 
members of the Catholic church, and are 
worthy and highly respected people. 

For more than forty years the name of 
Edward Bowles has been recotrnized as that 
of a leader in the livery business in this city. 
He descends from good pioneer stock. The 
Bowles family came to Exansville from 
Maine, in 1839. Joshua and Lucy (Water) 
Bowles, the parents of Edward, were born 
in Maine in 1785 and 1789, respectively. 
They were well-known as early residents of 
this city, and died here, the father in 1849, 
the mother in 1875. Edward Bowles was 
born at Wayne, in his father's native state, 
January 14, 1822. He received a good com- 
mon school education in the town of his nativ- 
ity. He was variously employed until 
twenty-five years of age, by which time he 
had accumulated enough capital to embark 
in business on his own account. His first 
stable, as remembered by the older residents 
of Evansville, was located on the alley be- 



tween First and Second streets, and Main 
and Locust streets. In 1852 he moved over 
on Division street; in 1863 he built the house 
now occupied by Vickery Bros., and three 
years later moved into his present spacious 
and convenient quarters. Mr. Bowles is 
one of the oldest livery men in this part of 
the state, and his stable has always been 
recognized as one of the best to be found 
anywhere. In 1873 his stables were 
rebuilt. The building is of brick, two 
stories high, 51x150 feet. Mr. Bowles 
is a member of the I. O. O. F., and polit- 
ically a republican. He was married in 
1852, to Tabitha S. Holland, who was 
born in Kentucky in 1825, and died in this 
city in 1883, leaving two children, Joseph, 
born 1855, and William, born 1865. Mrs. 
Bowles was a resident of the city for forty- 
nine years. As a consistent member of the 
Methodist Episcopal church, and as a lov- 
able type of womanhood, she is kindly 
remembered by many friends. 

In 1849 William Rahm and his wife, 
Johanna M., whose maiden name was 
Schmachtenberg, nati\es of German}', came 
to the United States and settled in this county. 
Their family consisted of nine children, 
all of whom are now living. Tv^'o of these, 
Emil and Ernst, are now proprietors of one 
of the principal shoe stores of the city. 
Emil was born in the town of Huekeswagen, 
near Ebberfeld, Prussia, May 16, 1842. 
Ernst was born in this city October 12, 
1852. Emil attended the public schools 
here until fourteen years of age, and for 
^ight years thereafter worked on the farm 
where his father now resides. Then for 
two years he taCight a German Protestant 
congregational school. From 1S64 to 1877 
he was employed as book-keeper for Mat- 
thew Dalzell, at that time in the wholesale 
grocery trade. Being popular and compe- 
tent, in 1876 he was elected treasurer of the 



^18 



PERSONAL MENTION. 



county, as the candidate of the democratic 
party, bj- a majorit}- of 485 votes. His term 
of office expired October i, 1879, from 
which time until 1881 he was employed as 
a book-keeper. Then in partnership with 
F. W. Herrenbruck,he engaged in the retail 
boot and shoe business. His partner dying 
in 1884, he carried on the business alone 
until 18S7, when his brother Ernst was ad- 
mitted to partnership. He was married in 1864 
to Miss Selma Duchmann, born in Alsatia, 
Germany, in 1843, and is the father of one 
£hild, Selma E., born 1878. He is a mem- 
ber of the K. of H. and A. O. U. W. frater- 
nities, and he and his wife are members of 
the German Evangehcal church. The 
younger brother, Ernst, was educated in 
the private and public schools of the cit}', in 
the high school, and at the commercial col- 
lege of Wells and Kleiner. From 1871 to 
1887 he was employed as clerk and book- 
keeper in the business houses of his brothers, 
William, jr., and Emil. Since 1SS7 his 
course has been indicated above. He was 
married May 4, 1876, to Miss Mary Els- 
felder, born in Vanderburgh count}-, Ind., 
May 12, 1855, daughter of Leonhard Els- 
felder, a native of Germany. His family 
contains five children: Wilham E., Albert, 
Victor, Mary, and Oliver W. Mr. Rahm 
is a Knight of Honor. He and his wife are 
members of the German Evangelical church. 
Both Emil and Ernst Rahm are enterpris- 
ing and careful tradesmen and enjoj- a high 
standing in business and social ciixles. 

In the front rank of the enterprising retail 
merchants of Evansville stands Peter 
Marker, who for many years has been 
closety identified with the business growth 
of the city, and particularly that of the boot 
and shoe trade. Mr. Marker was born in 
Ellweiler, Birkenfeld, Germany, November 
9, 1843, and is the son of John Charles and 
Sophia (Brenner) Marker, both natives of 



Germany, who lived and died in the father- 
land. His youth was spent in the land of 
his birth, and there were laid the founda- 
tions for his mental development. In 1859, 
then indeed but a mere boy, he emigrated 
to the United States with a view of better- 
ing his condition, the new world at that time 
offering many allurements to the energetic 
and ambitious. Upon reaching America he 
proceeded with little delay to Rockport, 
Spencer county, Ind., and later moved from 
there to Boonville, in Warrick county. In 
1862, when the nation needed men to put 
down armed rebellion in the south, young 
Marker responded to his country's call, 
and enlisted for three years' service or 
during the war, in Company E, Sixt)'- 
fifth Indiana Infantry volunteers. Going 
to the front he served faithfully until 
the close of the war, being honorably 
discharged in 1865. Returning from the 
war to engage in the pursuits of civil life, 
he located in Evansville, and for a time was 
engaged as a clerk. In 1867 he formed a 
copartnership with Mr. George Miller for 
the purpose of dealing in boots and shoes. 
The new house soon became popular, and 
because of the probity and energy of its pro- 
prietors, for tw ent}- years maintained a high 
place in public esteem. Mr. Miller's death 
occurred in 1887. In January, 1S88, a new 
partnership was formed by Mr. Marker 
and Gustave Wevand, which was terminated 
July 10, 1 888, and the business is continued 
by Mr. Marker alone. Peter Marker was 
united in marriage in 1S67, with Miss Lina 
Miller, of German descent, the daughter of 
George and Christina Miller, and of this 
union seven children have been born: Anna 
S., Charles G., Emil L., Arnold P., Oliver 
P., Walter S. and Zelda L. Mr. Marker 
affiliates with the republican party, is a mem- 
ber of the G. A. R. and I. O. O. F. frater- 
nities. 



CITIZENS OF EVANSriLLE. 



419 



John N. McCoy, paymaster Louisville & 
Nashville railroad, is a native of Mississippi, 
born December 17, 1S49. His parents, F. 
B. and Lovey (Capell) McCoy, natives 
of South Carolina, of Scotch-Irish des- 
cent, lived on a cotton plantation in 
Mississippi and died there during the 
civil war period. John spent his boyhood 
on the plantation and received his education 
in the public schools of his native state and 
in an academy at Clinton, La. For a short 
time he was engaged as a clerk in a gro- 
cery store at Clinton, but soon went into the 
service of a railroad company, first as a 
brakeman and later as conductor. This he 
continued until 1872, when he came north 
and entered the service of the Pullman 
Palace Car company, as a conductor, run- 
ning between Chicago and New York 
cit}'. After two years he was employed in 
the office of the superintendent at the cen- 
tral depot in Chicago, 111., remaining there 
until 1S75, when he was appointed assist- 
ant superintendent of the company's office 
at Detroit, Mich. From there he was 
transfered to Cincinnati, Ohio, and later to 
Louisville, Ky. In August, 18S0, he left 
the Pullman company, and became associ- 
ated with the Louisville & Nashville rail- 
road company, lirst as chief clerk in the 
office of the superintendent, then as paymas- 
ter of the line between St. Louis, Mo., and 
Decatur, Ala. The duties of his position 
have been discharged with great faithfulness 
and efficiency. In 1872 he was married in 
Chicago, 111., to Miss Jennie A. Covert, a 
native of Seneca county, N. V., and 
daughter of David H. and Ann (Van Dorn) 
Covert. Of this union two children have 
been born; Emma and Frank. 

One of the enterprising business men of 
Evansville, in the boot and shoe trade, and a 
representative of a leading family- of earlier 
times, is Frederick J Ehrman, bom in 



York, Penn., June 12, 1846. Dr. Frederick 
Ehrman, his paternal grandfather, who 
emigrated from Germany, his native coun- 
try, to the United States, in 1833, and died 
at Liverpool, Penn., some sixteen years later, 
was well advanced in the science of medi- 
cine, and was one of the first advocates of 
homeopathy in this country. Five sons of 
this man were all successful homeopathic 
physicians. The youngest of these. Dr. E. J. 
Ehrman, well known here for many 3-ears, 
was born at Jaxthausen, Wurtemberg, Ger- 
many, October 29, 1819. He was educated 
in the schools of his native country, and in 
Pennsylvania, and at twenty years of age, 
commenced the study of medicine under his 
father's direction, and continued it for five 
years. In 1844, he entered upon the prac- 
tice of his profession in Liverpool, Penn., 
where he continued for some time. After 
attending lectures at the Homeopathic Med- 
ical College of Pennsylvania, at Philadel- 
phia, he graduated in 1852, and in the 
same 3-ear came to Evansville. He was 
the first physician in this cit}' practic- 
ing in the new school. Because of 
strong prejudices then existing, several 
years elapsed before the foundation 
for homeopathy could be laid, but his 
practice grew, and in time he became one 
of the most successful practitioners in the 
city. . His death occurred in this city No- 
vember 24, 1879. His wife, whose maiden 
name was Elizabeth Churchill, born in 
Switzerland in 1821, is still living. The im- 
mediate subject of this mention is the eld- 
est of eight children, four of whom are now 
living. His education was obtained in the 
schools of this cit}-, and at Asbury Univer- 
sity (now DePauw University), at Green- 
castle, Ind., where he spent three years. 
For twenty years, from 1863, he was em- 
ployed in one of the leading boot and shoe 
business houses of the city, and here ob- 



}fiO 



PERSONAL MENTION. 



tained valuable practical training. In 18S3, 
he embarked in the boot and shoe business, 
where he is now located, in partnership 
with Mr. D. T. MacClement. This firm, by 
steady industry and honorable methods, 
have won prosperitv- Mr. Ehrman was 
married at Cincinnati, Ohio, October 22, 
1872, to Miss Hattie Scott, who is a native 
of Montreal, Canada. Three children, 
Charlotte E., Hattie E., and Ernst J., have 
been born of this union. Though pursuing 
his business interests steadfastly, Mr. Ehr- 
man has never neglected his social responsi- 
bilities. He is a charter member of St. 
George Lodge, No. 143, K. of P., and for 
many years has been one of the most ac- 
tive members of the order in this part of In- 
diana. He is a charter member of the 
Uniform Rank, and also a member of the 
Royal Arcanum. In all social relations he 
is deservedl}- popular. 

The junior member of the firm of Ehr- 
man & MacClement, boot and shoe dealers, 
David MacClement, was born in Philadel- 
phia, Penn., December 29, 1845. His pa- 
ternal grandfather, Thomas MacClement, 
was a native of Gallowa}' shire, Scotland, 
moved to County Down, Ireland, settled in 
Bangor, in that county, there married Sarah 
E. Jamieson, a native of the place, and 
raised a respectable family. His father's 
name was also Thomas, born at Bangor, in 
181 1. When t\vent3'-two years of age, he 
came to America, and was for a time engaged 
as a merchant tailor in New York and Phila- 
delphia. In the latter citj', early in 1845, he 
married Catharine J. R. VanDerslice, and 
eight years later, moved to Dayton, Ohio, 
having meanwhile lived one year at Read- 
ing, Penn. D. T. MacClement was edu- 
cated in the public schools of Dayton, Ohio, 
and at Philadelphia, Penn. At twelve years 
of age he started out in life to maintain him- 
self, and for some time was employed in a 



wholesale book and stationery house in 
Dayton. When the war broke out he 
offered his services, and was accepted. 
His name was entered on the muster rolls 
of the First Ohio Volunteer infantry, 
but being under lawful age, his father 
had him released. He enlisted again 
in the Ninety-third Ohio infantry with the 
same result. Being determined to enter the 
service he finall}' enlisted in the OneHundred 
and Thirty-first Ohio infantry, under the 
name of T. V. Clement, and served faith- 
fully until August, 1864, when honorabl}' 
discharged. Returning to Dayton, he en- 
tered the employ of the Grover & Baker 
Sewing Machine company, where he con- 
tinued as book-keeper until 1868, when 
forming a partnership with his brother-in- 
law, B. N. Rowe, he took the agency of the 
Howe Sewing Machine compan}- at this 
place. He continued in this business until 
1875. April 15th of this j-ear he was mar- 
ried to Miss Annie E. Bennett, daughter of 
Bylers Bennett, and then occupied various 
positions as an accountant and book-keeper 
until 1886, when he purchased the interest 
of H. W. Lauer, in the firm of Lauer & 
Ehrman, and formed the partnership with 

F. J. Ehrman already mentioned. Fie is a 
member of the I. O. O. F., K. of P., 

G. A. R. and Royal Arcanum. 

Harry Stinsox, deputy auditor of Van- 
derburgh county, v^'as born in Evansville, 
January 5, 1858. His parents, William H. 
and Elizabeth (McCorkle) Stinson, came to 
Vanderburgh countv in the pioneer era. 
Indeed, the Stinson name is inseparably con- 
nected with the early annals of the city and 
county. William H. Stinson was a Ken- 
tuckian, and for many 3'ears was a well- 
known steamboat captain on the Ohio and 
Green rivers. His death occurred in this 
city in 1876. His wife, Elizabeth, an 
estimable lady, with the heroic qualities of 



CITIZENS OF EVANSVILLE. 



Ifil 



the old-time folk, was born in North Caro- 
lina in 182 1, and after a long and useful 
life, died in this cit)' in 1885. Harry Stin- 
son is the eighth child in a famil}- of eleven 
children. His home has always been in the 
city of his nativity. Though thrown upon 
his own resources early in life, he received 
a good common school education, and this, 
with good health and active intellect, fairly 
equipped him for the battle of life. His 
career has had only its commencement, and 
what the future ma\' hold in store for him, 
none can sa}' with certaintj-, but favorable 
predictions are justified by the achieve- 
ments of the past. At the earh' age of 
twelve years he began to make his own 
way, and seeking employment, found a po- 
sition as a clerk, which he held for some 
time. As he grew older the thought of 
becoming a skilled artisan occurred to him, 
and with commendable industry he served 
an apprenticeship as a carpenter. Having 
learned the trade, he worked as a journey- 
man for about three years. About this 
time he attained his majorit}-, and being 
deeply interested in politics, took an active 
part in the campaign of 1880, working for 
the success of the republican party. Leav- 
ing the workman's bench, he was connected 
with the public offices of the city for a few 
years, and in 1S84 was appointed to a posi- 
tion in the railway mail service of the gov- 
ernment, which he held until October, 1SS6. 
Upon the ascent to power of the democ- 
racy he was removed for political reasons 
solelv, no complaint having been made 
against his conduct as an official or his worth 
as a man. In June, 1887, he was appointed 
to his present position by County 
Auditor J. D. Parvin. His ability and po- 
liteness make of him an efficient and popular 
officer. In the local military companies he 
has held manv commissions, attestinjf the 
esteem in which his associates amongf the 



young men of the city hold him. At pres- 
ent he is first lieutenant of the Evansville 
Light Infantr\', and is recognized a good 
officer. His marriage to Miss Julia Langley 
of Evansville, occurred August 20, 1885. 
She possessed many admirable traits of 
character, and her death in 1887 was greatly 
lamented. 

Geor(;e Lafayette Masters, a well- 
known business man of this city, was born 
on a farm near Boonville, August 1^, 1845. 
He received his education in the schools at 
Boonville, and was yet within school age 
when the outbreak of the rebellion occurred. 
In September, 1861, in the sixteenth year 
of his age, he enlisted in the Forty-second 
Indiana Volunteer infantry, and served gal- 
lantly until near the close of the war, receiv- 
ing his discharge in February, 1865, on ac- 
count of a wound through the right lung. 
Returning home he went into business at 
Boonville in 1866. In 1877 he was ap- 
pointed postmaster at Boonville, and after 
eight years of service, highly satisfactory to 
the people, resigned March 5, 1S85. He 
immediately assumed the management of 
the Cumberland Telephone and Telegraph 
company, making his home at Evansville. 
After a year's service in this position, he 
retired, and in August, 1886, engaged as a 
travehng salesman in Indiana, Illinois, Ken- 
tucky and Missouri, with headquarters at 
Evansville. 

John W. Asiibv, proprietor of the Evans- 
ville wharf-boats, was born in Madison 
county, 111., May 7th, 1846. His paternal 
grandfather, Robert Ashby, was a Virgin- 
ian, who, coming west, was for a tmie en- ' 
gaged as a contractor on the Waba.sh & 
Erie canal, and in 1846 moved to Illinois, 
where he died, after a long and useful 
career, in 1852. His parents were Joseph 
R. and Mary (Crabb) Ashby, sturdy peo- 
ple, who first came to Vanderburgh county 



J^2 



PERSONAL MENTION. 



in 1844. The father was born near Har- 
per's Ferr\', Va., about 1820, and died in 
Evansville in 1866. The mother was a na- 
tive of Mansfield, Ohio, where she was born 
in 1827, and her death occurred in this city 
in 1865. John W. Ashb}^ is the second in a 
family of nine children, five of whom are 
now living. His youth was spent in St. 
Louis, Mo., Henderson county, K}^, Madi- 
son count}-. 111., and in this cit)-, his fathers 
business interests having caused his resi- 
dence in all of these places. The father's 
prosperity was not such as to prevent the 
necessity of efforts at self-maintenance on 
the young man's part at a verj- earl}' age. 
He received a good common school educa- 
tion, and at the age of thirteen 3'ears com- 
menced the battle of life for himself. His first 
employment was on the steamer Greenville 
as clerk, at which he was engaged for some 
time. While thus occupied he learned the 
trade of a steamboat engineer, and was 
licensed as an engineer in 1863. Four 3'ears 
later he left the river and for six years was 
employed as book-keeper ia the well-known 
houses of Baird & Start and White, Dun- 
kerson & Co. Later with the firm of George 
H. Start & Co., and continued in that relation 
about three years. After a two years' ser- 
vice as book-keeper for the Evansville Courier 
Co., he returned to the river, accepting a 
position on the wharf-boats of Bingham & 
Page. A few years later Mr. Page retired, 
and some time afterward when Mr. Bingham 
withdrew from the wharf-boat business on 
account of failing health, Mr. Ashby made 
the necessary purchases and assumed con- 
trol. He had now two wharf-boats, and no 
effort was spared not onl\' to maintain the 
popularity gained by the old firm, but to in- 
crease it. In such a thorough, business-like 
way were the wharf-boat interests promoted 
during the following eight years that, at the 
end of that period, he was in a position to 



purchase a half interest in the large 
modern wharf-boat which had but recently 
been brought to the cit}' bv that 
enterprising citizen, Capt. Frank Hop- 
kins. The firm was then known as 
Ashby & Hopkins, and it did business under 
that name until April 5, 1888, when Mr. 
Ashby bought the entire interests, and now 
owns the three wharf-boats. The progress 
maintained in his successful business career 
has been gratifving to the manv friends who 
have watched him with devoted interest. 
His prosperity is the result of honorable 
methods and untiring effort. Always cour- 
teous, his pleasing manners have made him 
exceedingl}- popular in business and social 
circles. He was married in 1865, to Miss 
Lucy A. Noll, of Kentucky, who was born 
in 1844, and is the father of one child, 
Edgar K. 

Henry W. Lauer, dealer in real estate 
and an aggressive citizen, was born in Cincin- 
nati, Ohio, on the 27th of September, 1836. 
His father. Rev. Henry W. Lauer, spent 
fifteen years of his life in the ministr}- of the 
German Lutheran church. He was born at 
Lustnau, German}-, in 1807, was educated 
at the University of Tuebingen, came to 
Evansville in 1836, and after a well-spent 
life died here in 1850. His mother Caro- 
line (Grissinger) Lauer was a native of 
Little York, Penn., born in iSoS, and after 
rearing a family in respectability died 
in this cit\' in 1874. Henrv W. Lauer 
was the second in a familv of nine children, 
five of whom are yet living. His }-outh was 
spent in this cit}-, in the schools of which he 
obtained a good practical education. The 
spirit of enterprise and adventure early de- 
veloped itself and' finding no adequate field 
for its display in the well advanced city of 
Evansville, in 1858 he removed to New 
Mexico. There for a time he engaged in 
the arduous business of transporting freight 



CITIZENS OF EVANSVILLE. 



JfiS 



across the plains from Kansas City to New 
Mexico. IJeing i[uick in his perceptions and 
of retentive memorv, he soon mastered the 
various languages used in the section fre- 
(juented by the peoples of the two countries, 
Mexica and the United States. This posses- 
sion secured liis cmplo\ment in i860 
and 1S61, as interpreter and otlicial trans- 
lator for the territorial legislature of 
New Mexico, under Governor Connelly, 
in which capacit\- he rendered elRcient and 
\aluable service. His experience on the 
plains also litted him for useful military ser- 
vice. In September, 1863, he was commis- 
sioned first lieutenant in the First Infantry of 
New Mexico volunteers, and was detailed 
as recruiting olHcer for the territory. His 
promotion soon followed. In 1S64 he re- 
ceived a captain's commission, and was 
detailed as recruiting otBcer and acting pro- 
vost marshal for the territory, under Gen. 
James H. Carlton. He continued in the 
service until September, 1866, when he was 
honorably mustered out. Returning to 
Evansvillc 'n the following year, he began 
the business of a merchant, which he 
abandoned in 1869 to accept an appoint- 
ment as deputy sheriff of Vanderburgh 
count}'. One }"ear later he commenced the 
operation of a mill, which was continued 
successfully for three years. From 1S75 to 
1886 he was engaged as a boot and shoe 
dealer, giving up which he entered his 
present occupation. Through a long career 
he has been an active and progressive busi- 
ness man. In the Masonic order he has at- 
tained a worthy prominence, early receiving 
the rank of Knight Templar. He has served 
the public acceptably in \arious relations, as 
a school trustee for three years. His mar- 
riage occurred May 2, 1867, to Miss Eliza- 
beth Willc}-, of Louisville, Ky., who was 
born in 1842. 
Albert W. Harwood, local freight 



agent of the E. & T. H. railroad, was born 
in Evansville, October 18, 1858. He is the 
son of John W. and Sarah Harwood. He 
was reared and educated in the public 
schools of this city. At the age of fifteen 
years he was employed as a messenger by 
the E. & T. II. company. Being attentive 
to his duties and capable of doing clerical 
work, he was soon made entry clerk, then 
bill clerk, and at length cashier in the gen- 
eral freight office of the road. From the 
responsible position of cashier he was pro- 
moted to the chief clerkship, and eventually 
was assigned the duties of local freight 
agent. He has been efficient and trust- 
worthy in every position, and has earned, b\' 
good work, the advancement made. April 
27, 1880, he was married to Miss Mollie E. 
Rowland, daughter of Robert Rowland, a 
well-known resident of this city. They 
have two children living, Bessie M. and 
Grace, their first child. Ruby Belle, having 
died at the age of eleven months. Mr. 
Harwood is a K. of P. and a member of the 
State Association of Railroad Agents; also 
a charter member and secretary of Vander- 
burgh Council, Royal Arcanum. An esti- 
mate of his career cannot be made at this 
time, with justice. It is but well begun, 
but the past augurs well for the future. 

William E. Barnes, a trustworthy 
young business man of Evansville, was 
born October 24, 1859, at Lockport, N. Y., 
being the son of Alphonso and Eliza 
(Stevens) Barnes, natives of Vermont. His 
parents came to Indianapolis about 1862, 
and subsequently removed to Terre Haute, 
where the father was eiuploved as agent for 
the American Express company. His death 
occurred in that city in 1867. William E. 
Barnes received the rudiments of his edu- 
cation in the public schools of Terre Haute, 
but because of his father's death, was early 
thrown upon his own resources. At seven- 



Jfi], 



PERSONAL MENTION. 



teen 3'ears of age he entered the service of 
the Vandalia raih-oad, and remained with 
that corporation six years. From 1883 he 
was employed by the Adams Express com- 
pany, first at Terre Haute and since 18S5 
in this city, until November, 1888, when he 
resigned his place, and accepted the position 
of entry clerk with Macicey, Nisbet & Co. 
His fidelity to every trust has raised him 
from time to time in the confidence of his 
employers and the business community. 
Possessing an unsullied reputation and the 
elements of popularity, a career of useful- 
ness may safely be predicted for his achieve- 
ment. He belongs to Orion Lodge, No. 
34, K. of P., and stands high among the 
members of the fraternity. 

Walter Ruston, a wortJiy representa- 
tive of a well-known pioneer family, and a 
popular young business man, was born in 
this city October 4, i860. His father, Rob- 
bert S. Ruston, was a native of Cambridge- 
shire, England, where he was born in 1815, 
and came to Vanderburgh county in 1838, 
settlincr on a farm near the citv limits. He 
subsequently removed to the city, and for 
many years was engaged in the commission 
business. Later he was connected with the 
lire department during a long period. He 
died in this city in 1882. The wife of this 
pioneer, Miriam (White) Ruston, was born 
in London, England, in 1844, and still re- 
sides in Evansville, much respected by all 
with whom slie has been associated, as 
friend or nei^libor. Walter Ruston is the 
eldest of five children, four of whom are yet 
livintx. His education was obtained in the 
public schools of the city. In 1882, he en- 
tered the service of the Adams Express 
company, and by fidelity to trust and busi- 
ness ability rose rapidly in his employer's 
favor. Commencing as a messenger, he 
soon became money deliverer; then in 1884 
money clerk, and since 1885 has rendered 



satisfactory service in the responsible posi- 
tion of cashier. Jul}- 9, 1885, he was united 
in marriage to Mary L. Bateman, born in 
Hawesville, Ky., in 1861, the daughter of 
Charles B. and Maria Bateman, prominent 
people of that place. Mr. Ruston, his wife 
and mother, are members of St. Paul's Epis- 
copal church. 

In 1854 Christopher and Amelia (Knip- 
ping) Hulvershorn came to Evansville from 
Prussia, their native countr}-. For a time 
they remained here, then removed to the 
neighboring town of Newburgh, where 
they were well known, and at length 
returned to this cit}^ The\' died in this 
city, each at an advanced age. Christopher 
was a cabinet-maker and undertaker. His 
family consisted of six children, four of 
whom, all natives of Prussia, still survive. 
Emil Hulvershorn, the oldest son, was born 
September 5, 1840. He was educated in 
Prussia, and learned the trade of his father. 
When his father left Newburgh he con- 
tinued in business there until his property 
was destro3'ed by fire in 1884, at a loss of 
$1,500. Since that time he has worked at 
his trade in this city. He was married in 
1867 to Sophia Mountell, a native of Ohio. 
They have six children: Eleanor, Edmond, 
Emma, Edith, Edgar and Eva. Mr. Hul- 
vershorn is a member of the I. O. O.F., and 
in politics a democrat. The second son, 
Louis Hulvershorn, who now resides 
in Newburgh, contitming the business earl\' 
established by his father, is a man of family 
and of high standing in business circles. 
Fred W. Hulvershorn was born June 13, 
1845. Educated in the public schools and 
at Wells & Kleiner's Commercial College, 
he was well equipped for a business career. 
He learned the trade of a blacksmith, and 
worked at it for some time : then clerked in 
a grocer}- store; and later entered the em- 
ploy of A. Reis, who, in addition to his bus- 



CITIZENS OF EVANSYILLE. 



425 



iness as a general merchant, conducted a 
tannery. After several years' service as a 
book-keeper and general manager, Mr. Hul- 
vershorn, forming a partnership with J. M. 
Kuebler, a tanner and prominent citizen of 
Newburgh, established a leather store in 
this city. After four years the partnership 
was dissolved. The Evansville Leather 
and Belting company, with Mr. Hulvershorn 
as its leading spirit, was then formed, since 
which time the business has been greatly 
extended thrt)U<rh his able manasjement. He 
was married in March, 1S70, to Lena Muth, 
a native of Germany, daughter of Conrad 
Muth. Thev have live children: Matilda, 
Marv, Louisa, Amelia and William. Mr. 
Hulvershorn is a member, in high standing, 
of the I. O. O. F. fraternity, is a democrat in 
politics, and with his family belongs to the 
German Methodist Episcopal church. Hugo 
E. Hulvershorn, the 3-oungest son, was born 
August 2, 1850, received his early training 
in the schools of this city and Newburgh, 
learned the cabinet-maker's trade under his 
father, and for many j'ears worked at it in 
partnership with liis brother Louis at New- 
burgh. Sellincr his interests to his brother 
he came to Exansville about ten years ago, 
was engaged as a traveling salesman for his 
brother, F. W., and then learned the trade 
of a belt-maker. By dint of industry and 
close attention to business he has attained 
the position of superintendent of the belt 
factory. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. 
fraternity, and in politics is a democrat. He 
was married in May, 1875, to Louis Prinz, 
a native of Ohio. They have two children: 
Arthur and Edwin C. 

The fashionable shoemaker of the citj' is 
Stephen Exz. He makes a specialty of 
men's, ladies and misses shoes, and does an 
annual custom trade of more than $15,- 
000.00. He was born m Germany, De- 
cember 25, 1 85 1, and when fifteen years 



of age came to the United States. After 
visiting several cities he settled in Evans- 
ville and began business here on a small 
scale, in 1876. By industr}' and close at- 
tention to business, he prospered, and was 
soon compelled to leave the small house in 
which he had commenced, for larger quar- 
ters. The extent of his trade has constantly 
increased, and by economically- husbanding 
his earnings, he has accumulated a comfort- 
able competence. His parents, Clement and 
Genevieve (Kern) Enz, were natives of Ba- 
den, German}-, and respectable people, 
who came to this country in 1S66. April 
15, 1873, he was married to Miss Mary 
Schweizer, a native of Louisville, Ky. They 
have eight children : Lizzie, Anna, Joseph, 
George, Kate, Frank, Lena and Celia. Mr. 
Enz and his family are members of the Ro- 
man Catholic church. 

Prominent among the dealers in stoves, 



tinware and like goods, is the tin 



of 



Blemker & Weaver. Henry Ernest Blkm- 
KER was born in Westphalia, Prussia, May 
31, 1S33. Ten years later his father, Ernest 
J. Blemker, came to Indiana and set- 
tled in Dubois county. He was a suc- 
cessful farmer and highly respected as a cit- 
izen. At the age of eighty-two years he 
died upon his farm. His wife attained 
the advanced age of seventy-six \-ears. 
Henry is the second son in a family of si.v 
children. The rudiments of his intellectual 
training were obtained in the common 
schools of Dubois county. At the age of 
eighteen years he entered the State Univer- 
sity at Bloomington, Ind., and there pursued 
his studies for two years. He then took a 
course of commercial training in Cincinnati, 
Ohio, at the school of John Gundry, gradu- 
ating therefrom in 1857. It was in the 
next year that he came to Evansville, where 
he was employed as as a book-keeper. He 
then went into the live-stock business, and 



PERSONAL MENTION. 



through the ravages of disease met serious 
losses. For two years thereafter he was 
engaged as a salesman in the Louisville 
(Ky.) rolling mills, and in i860 established 
a stove foundry in this c\iy. Since 
that time as a merchant and manufacturer, 
he has been closely identified with the 
progress of the cit}'. His career has been 
characterized by enterprising activity, able 
management and an unyielding devotion to 
honorable methods. In the city council he 
has rendered valuable services to the public, 
and in the work for the advancement of re- 
ligion and temperance, he has ever been in 
the forefront. His efforts for the better- 
ment of humanity have been well directed 
and productive of good results. In 185S his 
marriage was solemnized with Miss Mary 
Wetstein, a native of Jefferson county, Ky. 
Of this union six children have been born, 
two of whom died in infancy. The sur- 
vivors are: Laura M. (wife of Louis 
Brooks, of Jackson, Tenn., editor), Henri- 
etta L. (wife of Rev. Clayton Clippinger, of 
Salem, Ind., minister Methodist 'Episcopal 
church), Ida A., Ella M., and Henry E., jr., 
all of whom possess the beauties of charac- 
ter, and polite accomplishments, which adorn 
the highest social circles. 

Charles A. Weaver was born at Louis- 
ville, Ky., July 4, 1858, being the youngest 
son of Joseph and Gertrude (Kinsly) Wea- 
ver, natives of Germany, who came to this 
country in 1832, settHng at Richmond, Va. 
At this place his father was a merchant 
for manv 3'ears, and moving to the west, 
continued in business for a time at Cincin- 
nati, Ohio, and Louisville, Ky. He came 
to Evans ville in 1840, and for man}- years 
was clerk in a shoe store. When the 
war of the rebellion was begun he en- 
listed in the Union armv and rendered effect- 
ive service. His death was the result of a 
railroad accident, and occurred near Dayton, 



Ohio. Charles Weaver received a 
limited education and earl}' began the work 
of self-maintenance. He began service as 
a collector for Blemker, Tillman & Company, 
then learned the trade of a tinner in the 
shops of that firm, and was variously em- 
ploj'ed about the store and foundr)-. In 
September, 1884, he was admitted to part- 
nership with H. E. Blemker. He is a K. of 
P., having attained the uniform rank in that 
order, a member of the K. and L. of H., 
and belongs to Trinity Methodist Episcopal 
church. In every social and business relation 
he commands the respect of all. 

Joseph B. Walker, superintendent of the 
Bradstreet Mercantile Agency in this cit\-, 
was born at LaFayette, Ind., June i, 1844. 
His paternal grandfather, Jacob Walker, a 
native of Pennsylvania, was a mill-wright, and 
died of lockjaw, the result of an accident, 
when Jacob, his son, the father of Joseph B. 
Walker, was a child. This boy was en- 
trusted to the care of a friend of his father, a 
distinguished lawyer, who was no less a person 
than the father of the illustrious Shermans, 
Gen. William T. and the present senator from 
Ohio. He grew up in the Sherman house- 
hold, and when of age married Sarah J. 
I Olden, an estimable lad}', belonging to one 
of the best families of New Jersey, her 
native state. Jacob and Sarah Walker early 
moved to Indiana and were among the 
pioneers of Tippecanoe county. In the war 
against the Black Hawk Indians Jacob ren- 
dered distinguished service and won the 
rank of general. He was a merchant at 
LaFayette, was a very prominent citizen, and 
for thirteen years held the office of postmaster. 
He died there in 1S575 his wife having died 
eight years earlier. Joseph B. Walker, the 
youngest of seven children born to these 
pioneers, received a good education, and at 
the age of sixteen years enlisted in the Union 
army. He joined Company H, Tenth Indiana 




^0^. z^^^::;^.^^..^^ 



CITIZENS OF EVANSVILLE. 



429 



infantry, under Col. M. D. Manson, and served 
three years and seven months, at no time 
being absent from his regiment, e.xcept when 
on detached dut\-. He became orderly ser- 
geant under Col. Taylor. When mustered 
out he embarked in business at Richmond, 
Ind., and from there moved to Cincinnati, 
Ohio, where he unfortunately met with ser- 
ious reverses. Entering the employ of the 
Consolidated Street Railway company, of 
that city, he became cashier and then super- 
intendent. Leaving here he accepted a 
position with the Union Stock Yards and 
Belt railroad compan}', of Indianapolis, 
where, as weigh-master and assistant super- 
intendent, he remained four j-ears. He was 
then employed in the public offices of Mar- 
ion county, when invited by the Bradstreet 
Mercantile Agency to take charge of their 
business here. He is a member of the 
K. of P. and G. A. R. orders. He was mar- 
ried in 1865 to Miss Carrie Jones, a native of 
Wayne county, Ind., daughter of Stephen 
Jones, a prominent citizen of Riciimond, Ind. 
They have one son, William A., now twentv- 
two years of age. 

William Dean, assessor of Pigeon town- 
ship, was born in England, June 11, 1828. 
His father, William Dean, sr., came to the 
United btates in 1S36, and labored in the 
ministry of the Baptist church until his death, 
which occurred July 2, 1848. Mr. Dean's 
education was obtained in the public schools 
of his native country, but, bv force of cir- 
cumstances, was necessarily meagre. When 
old enough to enter upon a business career, 
he established himself at Millersburirh, Ind., 
but remained there only three years, when, 
in company with Reuben Hart, he purchased 
a grocery store and pottery in this city. 
When the canal was completed, he ran a 
freight boat for two seasons. During the 
war he rendered effective service in the 
quartermaster's department, being charged 
?5 



with the duty of buying horses and mules at 
this place. For a time he was superintend- 
ent of the street railway, and has been en- 
gaged in many private and public enterprises. 
At present he is a stockholder and director 
in the Evansville National Bank. In public 
life he has occupied many important posi- 
tions of trust and honor, and in every such 
relation has acted with zeal, ability jind in- 
tegrity. He has ser\-ed the people as a 
member of the city council, superintendent 
of the water-works, county commissioner, 
city assessor and township assessor. He 
was married March 16, 1848, to Miss Eliza- 
beth R. Leavenworth, a native of Bethel, 
Sullivan county, N. Y., to whom nine chil- 
dren have been born, five of whom are liv- 
ing: Laura A., Emma C. (now Mrs. Will- 
iam 11. Greiss), Jennie M. (now Mrs. Ira 
Scandin), Alice P. (now Mrs. Frank J. 
Slaughter) and Allen E. 

Among the architects who have done 
much to adorn Evansville by the introduc- 
tion of artistic stvles and the exercise of cul- 
tivated tastes in the architectural art, the 
Rkid Brothers are conspicuous. They are 
descendants of William J. and Lucinda J. 
(Robinson) Reid, natives of Canada, where 
the latter still resides, the death of the 
former having occurred in 1S85. The two 
brothers, J. W. and M.J. Reid, who consti- 
tute the firm, were born at Harvey, New 
Brunswick, November 29, 1S51, and Janu- 
ary 20, 1854, respectiveh'. Both were 
reared in Harvey and were given common 
school educations. Later they went to 
Boston, Mass., and studied architecture, first 
in the office of a prominent architectural firm 
of the cit}-, and afterward in the Massachu- 
setts Institute of Technology. Coming 
west the elder brother located in Terre 
Haute, and in 1877 came to Evansville. 
Purchasing Mr. Boyd's interest in the firm 
of Boyd & Brickley, architects, he estab- 



JtSO 



PERSONAL MENTION. 



lished himself permanently. In the following 
year the younger brother came to this 
city, and buying Mr. Brickley's interest in 
the then existing partnership, became a 
member of the firm, which was then given 
its present style. Some of the best and 
hiandsomest structures in the city, public and 
private, were designed in the office of these 
gentlemen. Among them are the E. & 
T. H. depot, Willard Librar}', Canal street 
school building, St. Paul's Episcopal church, 
the Gilbert-Miller dry goods company's 
house, the Orr building, or Masonic block, 
the Mackey, Nisbet & Co. and D. J. Mac- 
key buildings. Their work also comprises 
many buildings in other cities, the magnifi- 
cent hotel Del Coronado, at San Diego, Cal., 
being among the number. Their intelli- 
gence and enterprise have made them valu- 
able acquisitions to Evansville. The elder 
Mr. Reid is a member of F. & A. M., La 
Vallette commandery. No. 15, and the 
younger of the Royal Arcanum, K. of P. 
and F. & A. M. orders, having attained in 
the latter the degrees of Templarism. 

Frank B. Emery, agent of the Empire 
Fast Freight line, is a native of Tioga county, 
Penn., born September 15, 1855. He is the' 
j'oungest son in a family of eleven children, 
most of whom reside in Williamsport, Penn. 
His father, Josiah Emery, a distinguished 
citizen and eminent lawyer, of Williamsport, 
is the oldest school director in the state of 
Penns)-lvania. He is a native of New 
Hampshire and is now eighty-seven 3'ears 
of age. Frank Emer}' was reared in his 
native town and received a liberal education 
in the public schools of the state. When 
nineteen years of age he connected himself 
with the company which he is now serving. 
For ten j-ears he was stationed at various 
places in Pennsylvania, and in 1SS3 came to 
Evansville in the interests of the company. 
His ability, energy, and good business quali- 



fications have enabled him to build up a 
splendid patronage for his line. Fair in his 
dealings, always courteous to shippers, and 
possessing the attributes of a true gentle- 
man, his personal popularity has increased 
with each year of his residence here. He 
is a prominent K. of P., being a past chan- 
cellor and representative to the grand lodge. 
He is also identified with the Royal Arca- 
num. In November, 1S79, '^^ ^^''^^ married 
at Corr}', Penn., to Miss Rosa Holden, a 
a native of Ohio, daughter of (J. C. Holden. 
Prof. Samuel N. Curnick, principal of 
the Evansville Commercial College, was 
born at Bristol, England, October 27, 1837, 
and is the son of Theophilus and Mary A. 
(Leaker) Curnick, both natives of Bristol. 
The father came to Evansville in 1855, was 
a book-keeper and accountant, and died 
May I, 1887, in his seventy-third year. 
Throughout his long residence here he was 
known as a good man and valuable citizen. 
The boyhood of Samuel Curnick was spent 
in his native place, and there in the public 
schools he received his earl}- mental training. 
At the age of twenty-one he left England, 
and coming to America reached Evansville 
in May, 1858. For twenty-five 3-ears he 
was engaged in the wholesale dry goods 
and notion trade, during the time having 
charge of every department of the business: 
office, finance, buying, selling, etc. In the 
spring of 1SS4 he connected himself with the 
Evansville Commercial College. His ex- 
perience of a (juarter of a century had fitted 
him especially for the instruction of young 
men and women in practical business meth- 
ods. In the conduct of his wholesale 
business affairs Mr. Curnick was recognized 
as verv competent and thoroughly informed 
in all matters connected with the business. 
The affairs of the commercial college are 
now under his sole management, as princi- 
pal. This institution has attained a high 



CITIZENS OF EVANSVILLE. 



431 



rank among the colleges of its kind in the 
country. It was established in 1850 by 
Jeremiah Behm, and under different admin- 
istrations has continued to the present time, 
being one of the oldest commercial col- 
leges in the United States. It has, during 
its existence, sent out over 10,000 students 
who have by the proficienc}' of their work 
maintained the high reputation of the insti- 
tution in this and neighboring states. The 
average attendance during the fall and win- 
ter months is from 100 to 150, of both 
sexes, and of ages ranging from fifteen to 
forty. The college building is located on 
the corner of Third and Main streets. 
The third floor, devoted to the uses of the 
college, was arranged, in the construction 
of the building, especially for the purposes 
which it now serves. The main school 
room is 70x37x20 feet, well lighted by 
twelve large windows; the adjoining room 
is commodious and so arranged as to be 
easily thrown into communication with the 
main school room; and a conveniently ar- 
ranged oflice and reception room completes 
the suite. The walls are decorated with 
pictures and elegant specimens of pen- 
work of unusual merit, executed by 
teachers and students. Prof. Curnick's 
specialty is book-keeping in all of its 
phases, rapid business calculation and actual 
business practice. Penmanship and rapid 
business calculations are given daily as class 
exercises. In all other branches the students 
are instructed individually, this practice be- 
ing one of the noted features in the plan of 
instruction. The shorthand and type-writ- 
ing departments are under the management 
of the Misses Hoffman and Burch, compe- 
tent instructors. The social and religious 
relations of Prof. Curnick form a part of his 
career, no less important than that con- 
nected with his business pursuits. For 
many years he has occupied a prominent 



part in the religious work of the city, and 
has done much to elevate and improve the 
general social condition. For thirteen years 
he was superintendent of one of the largest 
Sunday schools in the city, and during the 
fourteen years last past has served as super- 
intendent of the primary department of 
Trinity Methodist Episcopal Sunday-school. 
Frequently, in the absence of ministers in 
charge. Prof. Curnick is called on occupy to 
the pulpits of the Methodist Episcopal and 
other churches. His sermons on these oc- 
casions are presented with ability and 
true unction. As a prominent member 
of Trinity Methodist Episcopal church, pres- 
ident of the state Y. M. C. A., president of 
the county Sunda3--school union, vice-presi- 
dent of the district, vice-president of the 
Y. M. C. A. of this city, and secretary for 
twenty years of the County Bible society, 
he has accomplished much good. He was 
married September 29, 1856, to Miss Caro- 
line E. Hazel. Of this union five children 
— two boys and three girls — have been 
born, as follows: James A., deceased; Paul 
C, pastor Methodist Episcopal church at 
Topsfield; Samuel N., jr., a book-keeper; 
Ada, now Mrs. J. W. Rank, of St. Paul, 
Minn., and Carrie E. 

Joseph Ehret, the chief train dispatcher 
for the E. & T. H. and E. & I. railr oads 
was born in the Grand Duchy of Baden,, 
German}', March 19, 1S52. His father, 
Joseph B. Ehret, a native of Germany, came 
to the United States and is now employed 
as inspector of the E. & T. H. railroad. His 
education was obtained at the common 
schools and in the commercial college of 
this city. Having made himself proficient 
as a telegraph operator, he was engaged in 
this work at Terre Haute for about ten 
years. In 18S3 he was employed as train 
dispatcher by the E. «& T. H. railroad, and 
two years later was promoted to the respon- 



^32 



PERSONAL MENTION. 



sible and profitable position of chief dis- 
patcher. 

T. C. Bridwell, ex-mayor, and a prom- 
inent citizen of Evansville, is a native of 
Lawrence county, Ohio, where he was born 
Februar}' i8, 1841, and is the son of Sam- 
uel and Elizabeth (Combs) Bridwell. The 
father was a native of Virginia, and the 
mother, of Penns3lvania. From Virginia 
the father removed to Ohio, where he 
lived until his death occurred. The 
mother now resides in fronton, Ohio. Mr. 
Bridwell was reared in Lawrence county, 
Ohio, and attended the public schools, 
graduating from the fronton high school. 
In 1859, he located in Cincinnati, where he 
remained for about one year, and then re- 
moved to Owensboro, Ky., where he 
remained for six years, the two first of 
which were spent in the drug business. In 
1863 he entered the United States Reve- 
nue service as chief clerk, under Col. 
Todd, assessor of internal revenue for the 
Owensboro district. Four years were 
spent in the service, and in 1866 he located 
in Evansville and re-entered the drug 
business on the corner of Third and Main 
streets. He continued so engaged until 1882, 
when he retired from active business. 
In 1875 ^^ ^^''^^ elected trustee of Pigeon 
township, and was re-elected in 1878, hold- 
ing the office altogether five years, when he 
resigned. In 1880, while serving in the 
capacity of trustee, he was elected b}^ the 
democrats as mayor of Evansville, at a time 
when the city politics were decidedly repub- 
lican. He was re-elected in 1883, and held 
the office for a term of six years, giving uni- 
versal satisfaction and doing much to ad- 
vance the general w^elfare. Since leaving 
the ma3or"s office he has been engaged in 
street gravel contracting in Evansville and 
other cities, and now has a large contract on 
hand at Decatur, Ala. He is a charter 



member of Orion Lodge, No. 35, Knights 
of Pythias, in which he has occupied all 
the chairs, and was elected representative 
to the grand lodge. He is also a member 
of La Valette Commander}-, No. 15, 
K. T., and of the A. O. U. W. Lodge, No. 
43. Mr. Bridwell was married September 
22, 1864, to Bettie McFarland, daughter of 
Hon. John S. McFarland, a prominent citi- 
zen of Daviess count}-, Ky. To this union 
three children have been born. 

Charles F. Artes, for many years a 
prominent business man and enterprising 
citizen of Evansville, is the proprietor of one 
of the largest jewelry establishments in the 
city. He is a native of Leimbach, Saxe Mein- 
ingen, Germany, born March 31, 1847, and is 
the son of Prof. Casper Frederick and Cath- 
erine (Bierschenk) Artes. His father was 
also a native of Saxe Meiningen, where he 
was born March 29, 1S16. He possessed 
great natural talent as a musician, and was 
the recipient of a fine education, both in lit- 
erature and art. Beinsf involved in the 
German revolution of 1S48-9, he emigrated 
to America in 1851, and soon afterward 
located at Henderson, K}., there accepting 
a position as teacher in the female academy 
of Prof. C. F. Lehman, who had been a 
colonel in the German army. A few years 
later he was employed as organist of St. 
Paul's church, at Henderson, which position 
he held for over thirty years, missing not a 
single Sunday. He was a master of music, 
and a profound scholar. His death, which 
occurred in Evansville, in November, 1886, 
where he had been brought for med- 
ical treatment, was regretted by all. 
The father of Prof. Artes w^as burgomaster 
of his native place. During a \isit of the 
Duke of Saxony to the town, he dined with 
the burgomaster, and the same day requested 
Prof. Artes to go to the church and play for 
him. The request was complied with, and 



CITIZENS OF EVANSVlLLE. 



JtS^ 



in return the young musician was granted 
royal recognition, and at subsequent royal 
festivals and fetes he was called on to pre- 
side at the organ. Catherine, the mother 
of Charles F. Artes, was also a native of 
Saxe Meiningen, and was born about 1821, 
and is now a resident of this city, having 
removed here after the death of her hus- 
band. The immediate subject of this men- 
tion it will be observed, was but four 3'ears 
old when his parents came to America. His 
boj'hood was spent in Henderson, Ky., and 
he attended the public schools of that place. 
In 1864 he located in Evansville, and entered 
the jewelry business, and has continued 
so engaged up to the present time. He is 
a member of Reed Lodge, No. 316, 
F. & A. M.; of Evansville Chapter, No. 12, 
Royal Arch Masons; Simpson Council, 
No. 2^, Ro3al Select Masters and LaVallette 
Command ery, No. 15, Knight Templars. 
Mr. Artes was married, September 22, 
1874, to Miss Medora Davidson, who was 
born in Evansvile, February 7, 1861, and is 
the daughter of James Davidson. To this 
union three sons have been born. Mr. and 
Mrs. Artes are members of St. Paul's Epis- 
copal church, and were among the founders 
of Holy Innocents Episcopal church. The 
honorable conduct which has always char- 
acterized Mr. Artes' career in every social 
and business relation has gained for him an 
enviable regard on the part of his fellow 
citizens. By a careful study of the wants of 
his patrons, the exercise of rare taste in the 
selection of his ijoods, and an undeviatincj 
adherence to honest methods, he has 
achieved much success in his business life. 
But his entire energies have not been devoted 
to the accumulation of wealth nor the at- 
tainment of social distinction. Much time 
and attention have been given to archcco- 
logical research, and at this time Mr. Artes 
possesses a valuable collection of antique 



curiosities which is considered one of the 
finest private collections in the United 
States. As a student he has given his in- 
tellect a valuable training in many branches 
of literature and art. 

Theodore W. Venem.vxn, an enterpris- 
ing citizen of Evansville, who is thoroughly 
identified with the interests and growth of 
the cit\', is a native of Ohio. His birth oc- 
curred at Cincinnati, June 9, 1826. He is 
the son of Theodore and Elizabeth (Rathers) 
Venemann, natives of Oldenburg, Ger- 
many, born in 1808 and 1805, respectively. 
His parents emigrated to America in 1836, 
and located in Cincinnati, where the}- were 
married. They came to Evansville in the 
fall of 1847. While in Cincinnati his father 
was engaged in merchandising, which he 
continued after arrivinfr at Evansville. He 
was twice elected by the democrats as treas- 
urer of Vanderburgh count}'. In about 1852 
he established a foreign exchange and steam- 
ship agency at Evansville, which was one of 
the leading enterprises of the city. His 
family consisted of six children, four of 
whom survive. Theodore W. V^enemann 
received his elementary mental training in 
the schools of Evansville, and Cincinnati, 
and afterward pursued his studies at St. 
Joseph's College, in Nelson county, Ky., 
where he graduated in 1858, taking the de- 
gree of A. B. In 1859 he attended law 
school in Cincinnati, Ohio, and graduated in 
the same year, taking the degree of LL. B. 
He then returned to Evansville, and for 
three years practiced law. At the end of 
this time he became associated with his 
father in business, and at the death of his 
father, assumed charge of the business, 
which he continues to conduct under the old 
firm name of Venemann & Sons. In 1873 
Mr. Venemann became city ticket agent 
for all the railroads entering Evansville, 
and so continues at present. In April, 



m 



PERSONAL MENTION. 



1874, he established the City Transfer 
Omnibus line, which has become one of the 
well-known institutions of the place. He 
was married in 1859, *° Mary, daughter of 
Capt. Patrick Rogers, of Cincinnati, and to 
that union-three children were born, two of 
whom sur\ive. Mrs. Venemann died in 
1865, and in the following year he was mar- 
ried to Mrs. Britania Able [nee Melbourne), 
of Baltimore, Md., and to this union one 
child has been born. Both Mr. and Mrs. 
Venemann are prominent members of the 
Catholic church, and he was one of the pro- 
moters of the St. Joseph's Cemeterj^ asso- 
ciation. 

George W. Haynie, a prominent young 
citizen of Evansville, and proprietor of a re- 
tail drug house on Upper Second street, was 
born in Newburgh, Ind., February' 22, 1857, 
and is the son of Jefferson and Emma 
(Hastings) Haynie, both natives of the state 
of Indiana. His parents died in 18S0, the 
two deaths occurring within one month of 
each other. George W. Haynie was reared 
1(1 Evansville, his parents removing to the 
city in 1868. His education was obtained in 
the public schools. He began life for him- 
self when about eleven years of age, and in 
1872, engaged in the drug and prescription 
business in the store of T. C. Bridwell, ex- 
mayor of Evansville. In 1884 he withdrew 
from the employ of Mr. Bridwell, and 
opened a drug establishment on Main street, 
where he remained until October, 1887, 
when he sold out to M. J. Compton. 
He then established himself at his 
present quarters on the corner of Sec- 
ond street and Adams avenue, where he has 
one of the neatest and best supplied drug 
stores in the city. Mr. Haynie, though a 
young man, has figured prominently in pol- 
itics, and in 1883 was appointed metropoli- 
tan police commissioner of Evansville, which 
was quite a compliment to one of his age. 



He held the position only a short time, and 
then resigned. He is a member of Orion 
Lodge, No. 37, K. of P., and of Leni Leoti 
Lodge, No. 43, A. O. U. W. He was mar- 
ried in 1880 to Emma Mauntel, who was 
born in H^untingburg, Ind. To this union 
one son, Gilmore M., has been born. 

C. S. LocKwooD, proprietor of one of the 
leading steam laundries of Evansville, is a 
native of Warrick county, Ind., born Janu- 
ary 26, 1849, ^"^ ^s the son of A. W. and 
Mary (Corwin) Lockwood, the former of 
whom is a native of New York state, and 
the latter of Warrick county, Ind. His 
parents are now residents of Evansville, 
having removed here in i860. He was 
reared in Warrick county and in this city, 
and was educated in the public schools. 
August 31, 1880, he was married to Alice 
Ross, of Indianapolis, Ind., and to them four 
children have been born, two of whom — 
a son and daughter — survive. For a num- 
ber of years after leaving school, Mr. Lock- 
wood was connected with the daily newspa- 
pers of the city. In 1879 he engaged in 
the laundry business and established the 
second steam laundry in Evansville. In 
December, 1887, he removed to his present 
handsome quarters in the Orr Masonic 
block, on Locust street, between Second 
and Third streets, where he has one of the 
most complete outfits to be found an\'where. 
Mr. Lockwood has built up from the bottom 
a successful and lucrative business, having 
earned an extensive patronage by careful 
attention to the wants of his customers, and 
by taking advantage at once of every im- 
provement provided for laundry work. He 
was at one time vice-president of the Na- 
tional Laundry association, which of itself 
shows that he is prominent among success- 
ful laundrymen throughout the country and 
is entitled to the position he has made for 
himself. All the machinery used in his 



CITIZENS OF EVAN8VILLE. 



^S5 



establisliment is of the latest improved pat- 
terns, driven by a thirty-horse power engine, 
and arrangetl for the convenience and 
safety of the operators. The entire laun- 
dry' is thoroughly equipped, well managed, 
and by reason of the progressive spirit of its 
proprietor, has become one of the leading 
institutions of its kind in the state. 

Frank Morris, an old and well-known 
citizen of Evansville, was born in Germany, 
December 28, 1S28, and came with his par- 
ents to America when but five years of age. 
His parents were Joseph and Gertrude 
(Beckman) Morris, both natives of Ger- 
many, who came to America in 1S33 and 
located m Cincinnati, Ohio. The mother 
died in Cincinnati in 1844 during the cholera 
epidemic. The father located, in Evansville 
about 1850, and died during the late war. 
To these parents six children were born, 
only two of whom survive. Frank Morris 
located in Evansville in 1856, and for the 
following two years was foreman in William 
Heilman's foundry. He then spent a year 
in the employ of Henry Roelker. In 1859 
he was elected constable of Pig-eon town- 
ship, and for the next twent\' years was re- 
elected and served in that capacity, having 
held that office for a longer period than any 
office was held by a single man in the history 
of the couTty. During the war, when it 
was next to an impossibility for a democrat 
to be elected to an office, Mr. Morris was 
chosen by a large majority when no 
other democrat in the township, count}-, 
or state was elected. This occurred several 
times, and shows the estimation and confi- 
dence in which he was held bv the people. 
After leaving the constable's office he en- 
gaged in merchandising, owning a store in 
Warrick county, to whicli he gave his at- 
tention, but not removing thereto. He was 
again appointed constable by the county 
commissioners, and gave bond, but did not 



serve. He next engaged in merchandising 
in Evansville, continuing also his store in 
Warrick county. He also owns two good 
farms, one in Perry township, Vanderburgh 
count}-, and the other in Campbell township, 
Warrick county. Mr. Morris was married 
in 1847 to Gertrude Tentee, who was born 
in Germany, in 1830, and died December 20, 
1887. To this union nine children were 
born, three of whom survive, as follows: 
Benjamin, Josephine and Joseph. 

Capt. F. p. Carson, a leading citizen, 
long identified with the city, was born in 
Buder county, Ky., July 9, 1822. He is the 
son of Thomas E. and Jane B. (Carson) 
Carson. Thomas E. was a native of Vir- 
ginia, and with his father, Thomas, removed 
to Kentucky at an early date. The mother 
was also a native of Virginia and a daughter 
of Thomas Carson. The grandfather on 
the father's side was a soldier of the revolu- 
tion, and with Gen. Washington crossed 
the Delaware river on that memorable 
Christmas night, and surprised the Hessians. 
A remarkable coincidence in the ancestry of 
Mr. Carson is that, though not related, the 
grandfathers bore the same name, were 
born in the same county in Virginia, and re- 
moved to the same county in Kentucky. The 
father died in 1828, at about the age of 
thirty-five years. The mother died in 1840 at 
about the age of forty-five years. Capt. Car- 
son was reared in Butler county, Ky., and 
then attended the public schools. He left 
home when about fifteen years of age, and 
obtained employment as a clerk at 
BowHng Green, Ky., in the store 
of M. W. Henry, who w-as then en- 
gaged in building the lock in Green river, at 
what is now known fis Woodbury. Later 
he engaged in steamboating on the Green, 
Wabash, Ohio and Mississippi rivers, and 
for ten years was thus occupied as clerk and 
captain, during which time he located in 



iS6 



PERSONAL MENTION. 



Evansville, and built the first steamboat built 
at this place, excepting, of course, the 
" Otsego." In 1852 he left the river, and 
three years later engaged in merchandising 
in Evansville, at which he continued for 
twenty years. During the two years follow- 
ing 1875, he traveled in the interest of a 
wholesale establishment of the city. In 
1877, he entered the merchandise brokerage 
business, in which he is now engaged, with 
his office in the Merchants' National Bank 
building. Captain Carson has always taken 
an active interest in Evansville and her 
affairs, and has always occupied a position of 
prominence and influence. He was married 
July 15, 1845, to Miss Drusilla Duncan, of 
Bowling Green, Ky., the daughter of Ed- 
ward Duncan. To this union four children 
have been born, as follows: Frank Bruce, 
Harriet (now Mrs. H. W. Hand, of Padu- 
cah, Ky.), Edward C, and Jane Bell. 

John J. Casey, sanitary officer of the city 
of Evansville, and member of the metropoli- 
tan police, was born in Louisville, Ky., Au- 
gust 14, 1855, and is the son of William and 
Mary (Ryan) Case}', both of whom were 
natives of Ireland. The father came to 
America in 1844, '^^^ ^^^ mother in 1847. 
They were married in Louisville, Ky., where 
the father resides at present. The mother 
died in 1867. To these parents three chil- 
dren were born, all of whom survive. John 
J. Casey was reared in Louisville, Ky., and 
attended the public schools of that city. 
When young he served three years as er- 
rand boy in a dry goods store in Louisville, 
and then learned the moulder's trade. He 
located in Evansville in 1877, following his 
trade until 1S85, when he was appointed on 
the police force, and was made sanitary of- 
ficer of the city at once, which position he 
has held up to the present. He was married, 
in November, 1882, to Miss Lizzie Hess, of 
Evansville, daughter of Henry Hess. 



William Hacker, a conspicuous Ger- 
man citizen of Evansville, and one of the 
substantial business men of the city, was 
born in Mecklenburg, Germany, Februarj' 21, 
1846, and is the son of Frederick and Mary 
Hacker, both natives of Germany, who emi- 
grated to America in 1854 and located in 
Warrick county, Ind., where the mother 
died. Later the father located in Evans- 
ville, where his death occurred. William 
was but eight years of age when 
his parents came to this country-. 
He worked on the farm in Warrick 
county until the beginning of the war, when 
he came to Evansville and clerked in differ- 
ent wholesale houses until 1870. From that 
time until the present he has been engaged 
in the retail grocer^' business, enjoying a 
large trade and a gratifying measure of 
success. He has alwaj's taken an active in- 
terest in all city affairs, and few men occupy 
a higher place in the esteem of their fellow- 
citizens. He was married in 1870 to Miss 
Barbara Kiser, of Evansville, and to this 
union five children have been born, three of 
whom survive, as follows: Carrie, Mabel 
and Beulah. Mr. and Mrs. Hacker are 
members of the C. P. church. Mr. Hacker 
is a popular member of the republican partv. 
He was the candidate of that part}- for the 
office of township trustee of Pigeon town- 
ship in 188S, but failed of election. 

The superintendent of the L. & N. rail- 
road, Jacob G. Metcalfe, was born in 
Cambridge, Ohio, June 28, 1849. ^^ ^^ ^^^ 
youngest of nine children, born to Jacob G. 
Metcalfe and wife. Until fifteen years of 
age he remained at home and attended the 
schools of his native place. His first em- 
ployment was with the Central Ohio (after- 
ward the B. & O. railroad), with which he 
remained for three years, first as a messen- 
ger and later as a telegraph operator. He 
was then with the P., C. & St. L. railroad, 



CITIZENS OF EVAN8VILLE. 



437 



as a train dispatcher, for five years. In 
187 1 he entered the service of the L. & N. 
at Louisville, Ky., and was variously em- 
ployed as train dispatcher, train master and 
superintendent of transportation. For five 
years, from June, iS8i,he was superintendent 
of the L. & N. short line. May i, 1SS6, he 
came to Evansville, and has since that time 
been superintendent of the Nashville & St. 
Louis division of the L. & N. He is an 
efficient, trustworthy and popular officer. 
His marriage occurred in Louisville, Ky., 
September 25, 1S80, Miss Lucy Garrison, a 
native of that cit)', daughter of James Gar- 
rison, becoming his wife. They have one 
child, James E. 

Otto Knoll, contracting bricklayer, 
residing at No. 316 Indiana street, was born 
in Berlin, Prussia, May 11, 1839, and is the 
son of Gottlieb Knoll, who died about 1875, 
in this city. In 1849 the father and live 
children emigrated to America, where a son 
had come previously, leaving two daughters 
in Germany who afterward came to the 
United States also. Landing at New York 
the family proceeded to Cincinnati, and came 
thence to Evansville. The father was a 
contractor and brickmason in Germany and 
and America, and under him the son Otto 
learned his trade. He began contracting in 
Edwards county. 111., in 1861, and five 
years later returned to Evansville, where he 
has since resided. He was married Octo- 
ber 19, 1864, to Augusta Voight, who was 
born in Saxony, Germany. To this union 
eleven children have been born, five of 
whom survive, as follows: Renate, Rosa, 
Theodore, Harry and Alma. Mr. Knoll be- 
longs to the A. O. U. W. He and his wife 
are members of Zion's Protestant church. 
Through industry and economy he owns a 
comfortable home, and by straightforward 
conduct has won the esteem of his neigh- 
bors. 



The Evansville Furniture compan}- is one 
of the leading establishments engaged in 
manufactures from wood. It was organized 
in 1S70, and is a stock compan}-. One 
hundred men are employed to turn out and 
put upon the market its great product of 
furniture. 

Philip Nonweiler, manager of the 
Evansville Furniture Company, is a native of 
Prussia, having been boiti in the Rhine 
Province, on Februar}- 11, 1840. His par- 
ents were Philip and Johanna (Wegemann) 
Nonweiler, both natives of the Rhine Pro- 
vince. The father was born in 1809 and 
died in 1855; the mother was born in 1815 
and died in 1885. Philip was raised and 
educated in his native land, securing a good 
education. He served an apprenticeship as 
salesman and book-keeper, and in May, 
1857, emigrated to the United States, land- 
ing at New York city. He came direct to 
Evansville, where he took a position as clerk 
with Henry Stockfleth, with whom he re- 
mained until the breaking out of the late 
war. On August 3, 1S61, he enlisted in the 
First Indiana Battery of Light Artillerj-, and 
left Evansville the following month for 
Missouri, being assigned to Gen. Jefferson 
C. Davis's brigade. With the battery he 
was at Springfield, Pea Ridge, Helena, 
and Milligan's Bend, at the latter place 
being assigned to Gen. Grant's army; 
and was in the Vicksburg, Miss., 
campaign. After the fall of V'icksburg the 
battery participated in the fight at Jackson, 
Miss., and next returned to Vicksburg. 
Here he resigned on account of ill health, 
having served over two years, entering as 
quartermaster sergeant, and leaving the 
service as first lieutenant. At the battle at 
Jackson he had command of the batter\- and 
rendered effective service. Returning from 
the war he was engaged for a time as book- 
keeper for Keller & White, wholesale drug- 



J^SS 



PERSONAL MENTION. 



gists of Evansville, and afterward served in 
a like capacity for Roelker, Blount & Co., 
and Henry F. Blount for five years. In 
September, 1870, he took the management 
of the Evansville Furniture company, which 
he has since held. He is the principal stock- 
holder in the company. His energy and 
ability have been the chief agents in build- 
ing up the business which the company now 
enjoys. He is a member of the Business 
Men's association, and has always taken an 
active interest in the advancement of Evans- 
ville. He is a member of Lessing Lodge, No. 
464, F. &. A. M.: he was a charter member, 
and has passed through all the chairs of this 
lodge. He is also a member of Farragut 
Post, No. 27, G. A. R. Mr. Nonweiler 
was married in July, 1867, to Bertha Mueller, 
who was born in the Rhine province, 
in 1847. After leaving the army Mr. Non- 
weiler visited his native land in search of 
health, and while there met his wife, but 
the wedding did not occur until three 3'ears 
later, when he again visited German)'. To 
this union three sons have been born: 
Philip, born in 1868; Gustave, born in 1872, 
and Berthold, born in 1874. 

Herman Grese, a stockholder in this 
company and superintendent of its lumber 
yards, was born in Evansville, Ma}' i, 1852, 
and is the son of William and Catherine 
(Kramer) Grese, both of whom were born 
in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany. His pa- 
rents emigrated to America about 1849, ^"^ 
came direct to Evansville. In 1S52 his father 
erected a residence on the corner of Seventh 
and Division streets, where Herman was 
born, which house stands at present. Will- 
iam Grese was a carpenter by trade, which 
which he followed for several years, and, 
later, was engaged in the manufactory of 
Hon. William Heilman. About 1871 he be- 
came a member of the Evansville Furniture 
company, and occupied himself with that 



concern until his death, which occurred in 
1S76, at the age of sixty-one years. The 
mother died December 27, 1883, at the age 
of sixtv-one years. Both parents were 
members of the German Reformed church. 
They had seven children, five of whom sur- 
vive, as follows: Mar}', now the wife of 
William Hilgedieck; Elizabeth, now the 
wife of Moritz Schelosky; Louise, wife 
of Adolph Schelosky; Catherine, wife of 
John Oslage, and Herman. The only son, 
Herman, was reared and educated in Evans- 
ville. He learned the trade of a wood 
turner, at which he worked until about 1882; 
when he became a stockholder in the Evans- 
ville Furniture compan}', and was made 
yard superintendent. 

William H. Ruston, proprietor of 
Smith's hotel, and an enterprising young 
citizen, was born in Chatteris, Cambridge- 
shire, England, September 26, 1856, and is 
the son of Daniel and Mary (Conquest) 
Ruston, both natives of Cambridgeshire, 
England. The Ruston family came to the 
United States in 1874, ''"*^ '^^ once located 
in Evansville. For a time the father was 
engaged in merchandising, but for twelve 
years past has been in the employ of the E. 
& T. H. R. R. Co. The mother died here 
March 14, 1S87. To these parents three 
sons and one daughter were born, all of 
whom survive. William H. Ruston was 
reared in his native country and obtained a 
fair education. His boyhood was spent on 
a farm, and upon coming to America he be- 
gan farming near Sumner, 111., but soon re- 
moved to St. Louis, Mo., where he remained 
but a short time. Since 1S75 he has resided 
in Evans\-ille. Several vears ago, he em- 
barked in the hotel business in copartnership 
with Charles Roehrig, he purchasing the 
well-known Smith hotel property. In 1S85 
Mr. Roehrig retired, leaving Mr. Ruston 
sole proprietor. The hotel is one of the 



CITIZENS OF EVANSVILLE. 



439 



oldest and best known in the city, and under 
the efficient management of its present pro- 
prietor has attained a large degree of popu- 
larity. Mr. Ruston is a member of the 
Business Men's association and of the A. O. 
U. W. He was married August 4, 1871, to 
Miss Emma Roehrig, a native of Boonville, 
Ind., daughter of Jacob Roehrig. They 
have three children, Helen, Emma and 
Henr}-. 

Henry Heldt, dealer in agricultural im- 
plements at Nos. 917 and 919 Main street, 
was born in Scott township, Vanderburgh 
county, Ind., June 8, 1854, ^^'^ ^^ ^^'^ ^°" °^ 
Anton and Elizabeth (Hahne) Heldt, both 
natives of Northern Germany, born respect- 
ively in 1820 and 1828. His parents emi- 
grated to America at about the same time, 
in 1 85 1, and were married in this country. 
Soon after their marriage they went to 
farming in Scott township, where they pur- 
chased eighty acres of land. There they 
have since resided, prospering and establish- 
inc a good name in the community. Their 
farm, now embracing 160 acres, well im- 
proved, is among the results of their in- 
dustrj^ and frugalit}-. Nine children have 
been born to them, of whom eight survive. 
Henry Heldt spent his boyhood on his fa- 
ther's farm, and attended the district schools, 
where he obtained a fair education. When 
twenty-one 3'ears of age he came to 
Evansville, and began traveling for Hermann 
Bros., continuing in the employ of that firm 
until 1884, when he entered the agricultural 
implement business in copartnership with 
his father. This partnership is continued 
under the firm name of Henry Heldt & Co. 
Mr. Heldt was married May 5, 1881, to 
Miss Annie Bohne, who was born in Scott 
township, December 24, 1859, ^"^^ ^^ ^^^ 
daughter of Gerhardt H. Bohne, a well- 
known citizen. To this union four children 
have been born, three of whom survive. 



Mr. and Mrs. Heldt are consistent mem- 
bers of the Lutheran church. 

Peter Hess, an enterprising, public-spir- 
ited man, was. born in Germany, January 4, 
1826, being the son of Jacob and Catharine 
(Rhumme) Hess. He attended the public 
schools of his native country and then served 
in the army for nine months. In 1848 he 
emigrated from his native land, because of 
the revolution of that year, and coming to 
America, spent two years in the cities of the 
east. Reaching Evansville in 1850, he at 
at once established a meat market, having 
learned the butcher's trade in Germany, and 
has since continued in that business. Indus- 
try and close attention to business brouirht 

,0 

prosperity. His earnings were wisely in- 
vested in real estate in that portion of the 
city known as Independence. In 1887, he 
platted an enlargement to the city of Evans- 
ville, comprising ten acres, which is known 
as " Hess' enlargement." He has always 
been known as a progressive citizen, and has 
contributed much to the building up of his 
end of the cit}-. His abilities and popularity- 
were recognized by his fellow-citizens in 
187 1, when he was elected to the city coun- 
cil from the Fourth ward, where he served 
for three years. He is a member of Schiller 
Lodge, No. 138, I. O. O. F. July 4, 1854, 
he was married to Elizabeth Heilman, who 
was born in German}', November 7, 1833. 
To this union thirteen children have been 
born, nine of whom survive, as follows: Will- 
iam, Mary, Catherine, Elizabeth, Annie, Til- 
lie, George, Charles and Henrj-. 

The extensive stables and yards of the Cook 
brewing company are under the supervision 
of William Baiir, a native of Holstein, 
Germany, born January 21, 1841. He came 
to Evansville when thirteen years of age, 
and worked as a farm laborer. July 11, 
1 86 1, he enlisted in Company C, First Indi- 
ana cavalry, and served until August 22, 



Uo 



PERSONAL MENTION. 



1864, when he was honorably discharged as 
a sergeant. Returning from the war he 
purchased a farm in Pose}' county, Ind., 
where he lived until 1872. At that time he 
removed to this city and was soon emplo_ved 
as superintendent of the Evansville Street 
railway, which position he tilled satisfac- 
torily until 1877, when he connected himself 
with the brewery, where he has since con- 
tinued. He is a member of Farragut Post, 
G. A. R. July 6, 1865, he was married to 
Miss Mary E. Downen, daughter of John 
Downen, of Posey county, Ind. To this 
union four sons and one daughter have been 
born. 

M.\NUEL Bawden, general superintendent 
of the Evansville &. Terre Haute and Evans- 
ville & Indianapolis railroads, was born in 
England, January i, 1838, being the son of 
William and Mar\' (Greenway) Bawden. 
At the age of ten years he left home to 
support himself, having had no educational 
advantages excepting a few months' school- 
ing, when a child, by which he learned to 
read and write. For four years he worked 
on a farm, and then served an apprentice- 
ship with a stone mason. Having learned 
that trade he worked at it in his native 
country until 1869, when he went to Quebec, 
Canada, and there entered the service of the 
Dominion government, as foreman of the 
construction of bridges for the Grand Trunk 
railroad. Later, he was employed in the 
construction of various railroads in the 
United States and, in 1874, became con- 
nected with the Evansville & Terre Haute 
railroad, building bridges, depots, etc. He 
was appointed superintendent of roadway in 
1884, and when the Evansville & Indianapolis 
railroad was completed it was also placed 
under his charge. May i, 1886, upon the 
promotion of Col. W. D. Ewing, he received 
the appointment of general superintendent of 
the two roads. Attentive to duty, skillful 



and efficient, he has become a valuable fac- 
tor in the management of the roads. He 
was married in England, in 1863, to Miss 
Emily Ball, a native of Devonshire. They 
have four children: Edith, Louis, Clara and 
Ada. 

Among the manufacturers of furniture in 
this city the hrm of Stoltz & Karges takes 
high rank. The- senior member of this firm, 
Henry Stoltz, was born in Hesse Darm- 
stadt, Germany, November 18, 1839, and 
came to Evansville in 1858. He followed 
the trade of a cabinet-maker until April, 
1S61, when he enlisted in the Federal army, 
joining Company G, Seventeenth Indiana 
infantry. After about seventeen months in 
the infantry service he was transferred to 
Company E, Fourth Kentucky cavalrj-, and 
was mustered out at Macon, Ga., August, 
1864. At Franklin, Tenn., just after the 
battle of Stone River, he was taken prisoner 
and confined in Libby prison for about one 
month, when he was paroled. Returning to 
Evansville after the war, he went to work 
at his old trade. In 1870, in connection with 
other gentlemen, he established the Evans- 
ville Furniture company, remained with 
that concern ten j'ears, at the end of that 
period entered the service of J. F. Reitz, 
and for five years was foreman for that 
gentleman. In 1885 he purchased the Nov- 
elty Chair Works, and started a bedstead 
factory. In the following year A. F. Karges 
was admitted to partnership. Mr. Stoltz is 
a member of Farragut Post, G. A. R., and 
the I. O. O. F. He was married in April, 
1866, to EHzabeth Mann, a native of Hesse 
Darmstadt, Germany. They have six children. 
The junior member of the firm, Albert F. 
Karges, was born in German township, 
Vanderburgh county, Ind., November 3, 
1861, and is the son of Ferdinand and Rosa 
(Dult}') Karges. Ferdinand Karges was 
born in Germany, in 1833, and emigrated to 



CITIZENS OF EVANSriLLE. 



W 



America when about eif:fhteen years of age. 
He came direct to Evaiisville and followed 
the trade of cabinet-makiny. A short time 
pre\ious to the late war he engaged in the 
manufacture of furniture with Christ. Miller, 
under the lirm name of Miller, Karges & Co. 
Several years later he withdrew from this 
firm and assisted in forming the Evansville 
Furniture conipanv. After ten years he 
withdrew from the company and commenced : 
farming in White county. 111., where he now | 
resides. His wife, Rosa, was born in Ger- 
man}' about 1836, and died in 1868. Sub- 
sequently he married. Albert F. Karges 
was reared in Evansville, and received his 
education in the pubhc schools, and at the 
commercial college. In 1879 he entered 
the employ of William Hughes, the well- 
known merchant. Six years later he en- 
tered the lumber business, and since 1S86, 
has been in the hrm of Stoltz & Karges. 
He is a member of the Business Men's as- 
sociation, is active, progressive and deeply 
interested in this citx's advancement. He 
was married in December, 1885, to Lizzie 
Hauk, of Evansville, Ind., to whom one son, 
Arthur W., has been born. 

Among the foundries established in re- 
cent }ears is that of the F. Grole Manufac- 
turing company at the corner of First 
avenue and Ingle street. It was organized 
February i, 18S7, and does general foundry 
work, but makes a speciality of pumps and 
radiators. The president and treasurer of 
the company, Fred Grote, was born in 
Prussia, May 4, i8.:|7, and is the son of 
William and Laura (Koemann) Grote. The 
death of his father occurred in 1855 in 
Prussia. In the same vear the mother with 
five children emigrated to America, coming 
direct to Vanderburgh county and reaching 
here July 2. She died twenty years later 
in this cit}'. Fred Grote was reared on the 
farm of an uncle until si.xteen years of age, 



except during one 3'ear when he resided with 
his mother in the city and attended school. At 
sixteen he went to work in the Evansville 
Woolen mills, where he remained eight 
years, in the meantime, however, spending 
one and a half years in the employ of 
Christian Decker. He had learnt the trade 
of an engineer, and after " following a 
thresher " for two vears, was emploved in 
the city water-works, as engineer. He was 
so engaged five 3-ears, when, in 1878, he 
established the Novelty Machine Works 
with John H. Maddox. After four years 
this was consolidated with the Hopkins & 
Roberts Machine company. In Februar}-, 
18S7, the F. Grote Manufacturing Com- 
pany was organized and Mr. Grote was 
chosen president and treasurer. He is a 
member of Reed Lodge, No. 316, F.& A.M., 
of the Evansville Stationery Engineers' 
Lodge, No. 7, and of the Business Men's 
association. He is actively interested in 
the city's advancement, and contributes 
largely to that end. He was married in 
1876 to Miss Matilda Rahm, daughter of 
William Rahm, sr. To this union seven 
children have been born, four of whom 
survive. 

The secretary of this company, W. H. 
Miller, was born in Montgomer}' count}', 
Ohio, November 20, 1840, and is the son of 
Richard and Mary A. (Weaver) Miller, na- 
tives of Ohio. He was reared and educated 
in his native county, and receiving a com- 
mercial training, took charge of the books 
of Perine & Co., wliolesale notion mer- 
chants in Dayton, Ohio. In April, 1861, 
he enlisted as a private in Company E, 
Twentv-fourth Ohio infantr}-, and served 
faithfully until September, 1864. He was 
thrice wounded in battle : at Greenbrier, 
W. Va., Pittsburgh Landing, Tenn., and at 
Chickamauga. His entire service was hon- 
orable and praisevvorthy. In September, 



m 



PERSONAL MENTION. 



1864, he came to Evansville, and entered 
the employ of the Evansville & Terre Haute 
Railroad company, where, in the capacity of 
a machinist, he remained fifteen years He 
then entered the foundry business, in which 
he has been since engaged variously con- 
nected. He is an efficient business man and 
a popular citizen. In 1875, he was elected 
to the state legislature from Vanderburgh 
county on an independent ticket put out by 
a fusion of laboring men and democrats. 
He was married March 10, 1S63, to Louise 
Blaulh, of Evansville, Ind., to whom three 
children have been born. 

Adam Bromm, senior member of the firm 
of A. Bromm & Co., manufacturers of 
candies and wholesale fancy grocers, atNos. 
i8and 20 Vine street, Evansville, was born at 
Rauschenberg, count}' of Kirchain, province 
of Hessen, Germany, May i, 1855, ^^d is 
the son of Karl and Clara (Klingelhoefer) 
Bromm, who emigrated to the Uni- 
ted States in 1S81, located in Evans- 
ville, and still reside here. He was 
reared and educated in his native country, 
and at the age of fourteen 3'ears took a po- 
sition in the court-house, which he held for 
more than two years. He next served an 
apprenticeship to a grocer, and in 1873 came 
to Evansville, entering the employ of Louis 
Kollenberg, a dealer in candy, toys, etc., he 
remained over two years, and then engaged in 
the confectionery and fruit business for him- 
self, at the same time traveling for Jacob 
Heblich. In 1880 he formed a co-partner- 
ship with A. W. Henn, and continued in 
business under the firm name of Bromm, 
Henn & Co., until the present firm of A. 
Bromm & Co. was formed, February i, 
1887, to which about a j'ear later, Philip 
Speck and Frank J. Daub were admitted as 
partners. His advancement in the business 
communitv has been continuous, a result of 
his intelligent and energetic prosecution of 



wise plans. Mr. Bromm is a member of the 
Business Men's association, and of the Indi- 
ana Traveling Men's association. He was 
married February 3, 1880, to Lottie C. 
Hoffmann, of Evansville, to whom the follow- 
ing children have been born: Lizzie, Emma, 
i\lbert and Edward. 

Samuel W. Keene, a prominent and 
well-known merchant of Evansville, is a 
native of New Hampshire, born February 
I, 1852, and is the son of William and Eliz- 
abeth (Crawford) Keene, of English and 
Scotch descent, respectively. In 1855 his 
parents left their native state. New Hamp- 
shire, removed to New York state, and now 
reside there. Five children were born to 
them, four of whom survive. Samuel W. 
Keene was reared in western New York, 
and secured a good common school educa- 
tion. Attaining his majority, he started to 
the enterprising west to seek employment. 
He proceeded to Chicago, and there at 
once entered the employ of Field, Leiter & 
Co., then the largest dry-goods firm in the 
west, and now, as Marshall Field & Co., 
probably the largest house of the kind in 
the world. With this firm he remained 
seven years as a salesman, and then located 
in Madison, Jefferson county, Ind., where he 
engaged in the dry goods business for him- 
self during two years. His venture was 
successful, but desiring to establish him- 
self in a larger and more prosperous city, 
he came to Evansville. This was in 1879, 
and upon reaching here he opened 
a comparatively small establishment, at 
No. 322 Main street, where he remained three 
years. His constantly increasing business 
demanded more commodious quarters, and 
in 1883, the large storehouse now occupied 
at No. 327 Main street, was opened. Business 
was then commenced on a scale second to 
no ex'clusively retail house in the city. Fair 
dealing and good management have brough 



CITIZENS OF EVANSVILLE. 



US 



success. The volume of business done in 
this house, ah-eadv large, is constantly in- 
creasing. Mr. Keene is recognized as a 
pushing, progressive, young man, being an 
active member of the Business Men's asso- 
ciation and deeply interested in the general 
advancement of the city. He is a member 
of the K. of H., A. " O. U. W., and K. 
and L. of H. fraternities. He was married 
in 1S79 to Sammie M. Victor, of Maysville, 
Ky., to whom three children have been born: 
Victor, Donald and Amy. 

George W. Goodge, contracting brick- 
layer and builder, was born in Evansville, 
Ind., December 18, 1841, and is the son of 
John S. and Matilda (Beidelman) Goodge. 
His bovhood was passed in this city, in the 
public schools, of which he obtained his ed- 
ucation. He first learned the trade of a 
marble-cutter, which htj followed for two 
years. Ill health caused him to abandon 
this work. He then began as a brick-layer, 
and remained so occupied until i86r, when 
he enlisted in Company A, Forty-second In- 
diana infantry, and served until June, 1865, 
when he was honorably discharged. His 
service was praiseworth}- throughout. He 
participated in the engagements at Perry- 
ville, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, 
Chickamauga, and the Atlanta campaign. 
Returning home after the war, he began 
work at his trade, and soon became a con- 
tracting brick-la}-er and builder, at which he 
has continued to the present time. He is 
now one of the leading contractors in the 
city, having supervised the building of 
Blount's plow factory, Evans hall, Canal 
street school building, Masonic block, the 
Mackey building, the Mackey, Nisbet & 
Co. building, and is now engaged on the 
new opera-house of the Business Men's as- 
sociation. He was married November 21, 
1865, to Miss Sarah G. Ruston, to whom 
five children have been born — three boys 



and two girls — as follows: Marietta, James 
W., Susannah P., Edward B., Samuel B. 
Mr. Goodge is a member of the F. & A. M. 
order, and of Farragut Post, G. A. R. He 
and his wife are members of the Walnut 
Street Presb3'terian church. 

Charles H. W. Otte, a prominent j'oung 
citizen of Evansville, and junior member of 
the firm of Nessler, Nackenhorst & Otte, 
one of the largest wholesale and importing 
firms of fancy goods and toys in Indiana, and 
the only one of the kind in Evansville, was 
born in Indianapolis, this state, April 2, 1859. 
His parents, William and Mary (Heckman) 
Otte, natives of Germany, were born in 
1825 and 1835, respectively. They emi- 
grated to America early in the '50's, were 
married at Pittsburgh, Penn., and now reside 
at Indianapolis, Ind., where the father, as a 
carpenter, is in the employ of the Pan Han- 
dle railroad conipan\', with which company 
he has been employed for twenty-four j-ears. 
Charles Otte was reared and educated in 
the city of Indianapolis. From 1872 to 
1883 he was employed as a clerk in his na- 
tive city. In January of the last named year 
he formed a partnership with Louis Nessler 
and John F. Nackenhorst, and coming to 
Evansville, the three established their pres- 
ent business. With good management and 
fair dealing, an extensive trade and a high 
standing among the business concerns of the 
city have been secured. Mr. Otte is a 
member of Ben Hur Lodge, K. of P., and 
of the Traveling Men's association. He is 
energetic, capable, public-spirited and pop- 
ular. 

E. F. OsLAGE, an old citizen and mer- 
chant of this city, was born in Prussia, Janu- 
ary 26, 1819. His parents, John H. and 
Catherine (Voss) Oslage, never left their 
native country. They were blessed with 
nine children, only four of whom grew to 
manhood, and three of these have since died 



iU 



PERSONAL MENTION. 



Mr. Oslage came to America in 1841, land- 
ing at Baltimore, and going thence to Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio, where he remained thirteen 
years. From Cincinnati he removed to Du- 
bois county, Ind., and after a short time 
came to this county, locating on a farm. In 
1866, he removed to the cit}', and with the 
firm of Blemker, Tillman & Co., started the 
third stove foundry established in Evansville. 
He remained with this company eleven 
years, withdrawing at the end of that 
period, erecting his present store building 
and beginning the business of a grocer. 
Since that time he has continued in the same 
business, meeting with much success. At 
Cincinnati, Ohio, May 10, 1S49, he was mar- 
ried to Dorothea Siekemej^er, who was born 
in Germany, March 11, 1827, and came to 
America when twent}' years of age. Of 
this union eleven children have been born, 
five of whom survive, as follows: Julia A., 
John H., Louisa M., Edward B., and LydiaD. 
John W. Dinsmoor, agent for Adams 
Express company, in this city, was born at 
Lowell, Mass., October 19, 1842. His par- 
ents, John B. and Caroline (Daw) Dins- 
moor, were natives of Massachusetts, and 
were prominent people in the community 
where they resided. His mother died at 
Haverhill, in that state, in 1843, and the 
father, coming west, died at Sterling, 111., in 
1873. His paternal grandfather, William 
Dinsmoor, was also a native of Massachu- 
setts, and died there, after an honorable 
career, about the year 1823. The immedi- 
ate subject of this mention was educated in 
the town of his nativity, and at Galesburg, 
111. When twenty years of age, his patriot- 
ism was appealed to b}- his countr\''s need. 
Responding to that appeal, he enlisted in 
Company D, Eighty-eighth Illinois infantr}-, 
and served faithfull}' for three years, being 
honorably discharged at Nashville, Tenn., in 
1865. At the close of his military service 



he returned to Galesburg, and for a brief 
period was engaged in the hotel business. 
For six years, from 1867, he was employed 
in Cincinnati and St. Louis, principally with 
Sheehan & Lole, railroad contractors and 
builders. In 1873 ^^ entered the ser- 
vice of the Southern Express company 
as a messenger, and at the end of three 
years, was made the company's agent at 
Birmingham, Ala., which position he held 
until 1S81, when he accepted the agency of 
the Baltimore & Ohio railroad company at 
Chicago, 111. Here he remained until 1882, 
when he went to Indianapolis, Ind., as agent 
of the Adams Express company, and two 
years later was transferred to take charge 
of the company's office in this city. In the 
four 3'ears of his residence here his uniform 
politeness and strict attention to business 
have commended Ijim to the favor of all 
coming in business contact with him. While 
at Birmingham, Ala., he was made a mem- 
ber of Jefferson Valley Lodge, No. 11, K. 
of P. In 1878 he was united in marriage to 
Mary E. Reinsmith, who died December 
22, 1885, in the twenty-ninth year of her age. 
George Brose, representing a pioneer 
famil}^, and one of the leading millers of the 
cit}', was born in Evansville, Januar}- 9, 1847. 
His father, Daniel Brose, a native of Wur- 
temberg, Germany, was born Februar}- 15, 
181 5, and emigrated to the United States in 
1837. His death occurred in 1S64. His 
mother, Christina F. (Jenner) Brose was 
also a native of Wurtemberg, born Septem- 
ber 22, 1S20, who came, in 1S39, with her 
parents and settled on a farm in V'ander- 
burgh county. The marriage of these 
pioneers was solemnized in 1842. George 
Brose grew to manhood in this city and, 
soon after his father's death, at the age of 
nineteen, he began business for himself. 
Forming a partnership with his brother, 
John Brose, he embarked in the grocery 



CITIZENS OF EVANSVILLE. 



U5 



trade, and five years later the brothers estab- 
lished and began to operate a flour mill. 
This business relation continued until 1878, 
when John Brose died, being then thirty- 
four years of age. For the two years fol- 
lowing this death, Thomas Brose, a younger 
brother, was a partner in the concern, at the 
end of which time the entire propert}', now 
known as the Sunnyside Mills, passed into 
the possession of George Brose, with whom 
it has since remained. By upright and hon- 
orable conduct in his dealings with men, and 
by close attention to business, he has 
achieved success. He is a prominent mem- 
ber of Orion Lodge, No. 35, K. of P., and 
an active member of the Business Men's 
association. His marriage occurred in this 
city in 1874, when Lizzie Laval, daughter 
of Dr. John and Mary Laval, born in 1852, 
became his wife. 

In 1850 James Nugent and his wife 
Kate, who had been a Tohill, natives of Ire- 
land, the former born about 1806 and the 
latter some ten years later, left the " Emerald 
Isle " and came to free America. They set- 
tled in Vanderburgh county and were highly 
respected members of the communit3^ Ten 
children blessed their union, the olde.st of 
whom was Jonx Nugent, born December 
20th, 1838, and known here as an enterpris- 
ing contractor and steamboatman ever since 
1865, when he took up his residence in the 
cit}-. His parents died here, the father in 
1876, the mother in 1881. The early por- 
tion of his Hfe was spent on the farm. It was 
there in the trying experiences common to 
all farm lads of that day, and in the district 
school of the country, that the foundations 
of his character and^education were shaped. 
When twenty-seven years of age he moved 
from the farm to the city, and at once en- 
gaged in the business of a contractor, 
especially employing himself on the public 
works of the city and county. In connection 



with his work in this line he has been en- 
gaged to some extent in the capacity of a 
steamboatman, particularly with the local 
tow-boats of the port. At present he is one 
of the contractors on the costly and elegant 
new court-house now in process of erec- 
tion. As a citizen he has always been pro- 
gressive, and in politics has affiliated with 
the republican party, in the achievement of 
whose successes he has wielded a lar<re in- 
fluence. He was married in 1880 to Mary 
L. Jenner, a native of this city, daughter of 
Adam and Louise Jenner. Honesty of pur- 
pose and great business activity have 
characterized the life of John Nugent, and 
brought success as the fruit of his labors, 
and made him popular with his business 
and social acquaintances. In November, 
1 888, Mr. Nugent was elected on the 
republican ticket one of the representatives 
of Vanderburgh county in the general 
assembly of 1889, in which he served with 
marked abilit}'. 

Walter J. Lewis, secretary and treas- 
urer of the E. & T. H., P., D. & E., E. &. I., 
and Belt Line railroads, is a native of Illi- 
nois, born June 20, 1857. He was reared 
and educated in his native county, Clinton. 
Learning telegraph)-, he was employed 
for a time by the Western Union com- 
pany. His experience as a railroad 
man commenced at Trenton, 111., where 
he served for two years as station 
agent for the O. & M. railroad. In 
1876 he was employed by the E. & T. H. 
railroad as clerk and telegraph operator, at 
Vincennes, Ind. His efficiency and close 
attention to business soon won a promotion 
to the chief clerkship of the company's 
offices at Terre Haute. From 1880 for two 
years he was freight agent at that place, and 
at the end of this time was transferred to 
this city to serve in the same capacity', the 
duties of passenger agent also being en- 



U6 



PFRSOXAL MENTION. 



trusted to him soon thereafter. In Novem- 
ber, 18S5, he was made secretary and treas- 
urer of the railroads above mentioned, ex- 
cept the P., D. & E., which road was added 
May I, 1887. Mr. Lewis is an expert ac- 
countant, a skillful manager, and faithful to 
every trust. He was married June 15, 
1881, to Miss Emma Stewart, a native of 
Vincennes, Ind., daughter of L. D. Stewart, 
a well-known citizen of that place. They 
have two children: Ewing B. and Walter J. 
Mr. and Mrs. Lewis are members of Grace 
Presb^'terian church. 

Charles E. Woods, a leading citizen of 
Evansville, Ind., and one of the best known 
house, sign and steamboat painters of the 
city, residing at 405 Canal street, was born 
in Lambertsville, N. J., March 12, 1840. 
When a child he removed with his parents 
to Daviess county, Ind., and then to Louis- 
ville, Ky., where he was reared, and was 
given a common school education. Men- 
tion of his parents is made more fully in 
sketch of William H. Woods. He located 
in Evansville in 1853, and when about four- 
teen years of age learned the painter's trade 
with his brother-in-law, William Summers. 
In 1S59, ^'^ removed to Henderson, Ky., 
and in August, 1861, he enlisted in the con- 
federate army, joining Company B of the 
Fourth Regiment of Kentucky infantry, and 
served three years and nine months, and left 
the service as sergeant. In Web- 
ster county, Kentucky, at Shiloh meet- 
ing house, Mr. Woods was captured 
in 1862, and was turned over to the civil 
authorities for making a raid on West Frank- 
lin, and was imprisoned at Evansville, Ind., 
for about eight months, and then turned over 
to the military authorities and sent on 
special exchange. He was at Fort 
Donelson, Tenn., and was captured in the 
fall of the fort in 1862, and imprisoned at 
Camp Morton, near Indianapolis, from 



where he" escaped and reported to Adam 
Johnson, in Kentuck}', with Morgan's com- 
mand. At Cynthiana, K}'., in 1864, on Mor- 
gan's last raid, he was wounded by being 
shot through the left arm and left lung, and 
again taken prisoner, and was confined at 
Camp Chase, Ohio, for about four months 
and a half. Then being sent to Richmond, 
Va., and exchanged, he reported to his com- 
mand in North Carolina, and soon after- 
ward peace was declared. After the war 
he returned to Henderson and engaged at 
his trade, and resided there and carried on 
business until March, 1875, when he came 
to Evansville and formed a partnership with 
his brother, William H.Woods and continued 
with him until 1881, and then engaged in 
business for himself. Mr. Woods was mar- 
ried July 24, 1866, to Octavia Epperson, 
who was born in Kentucky in 1842, and 
is the daughter of William Epperson. 
To this union seven children have been 
born, five of whom survive, as follows: 
WiUiam R., George E., Rosa A., Elizabeth 
B., and Annie. Mr. and Mrs. Woods are 
members of the Cumberland Presbyterian 
church. Mr. Woods is a member of the 
B. M. A., and is a member of Evansville 
Lodge, No. 63, F. & A. M., and of La 
Vallette Commandery, K. T. 

William H. Woods, a well-known citizen 
of Evansville, Ind., and a leading steamboat 
and house painter of the city, was born in 
Philadelphia on January 7, 1837, and was 
chiefly reared in Louisville, Ky., where he 
secured a limited education. In the spring 
of 185 1 he began learning the trade of 
painting, and in December, 1854, came to 
Evansville on a visit to a sister. While 
visiting this city he was induced to locate 
here, and subsequently began following his 
trade, and is now one of the oldest painters 
in the city in point of local experience. He 
painted the first steamboat brought here for 



CITIZENS OF EVANSVILLE. 



U7 



the Evansville & Cairo packet line. Mr. 
Woods was married on May 25, 1858, to 
Hannah S. Epperson, who was born Janu- 
ary' 4, 1840, and died December 18, 1864, 
leaving three children, one of whom, Charles, 
survives, and is at present a partner of his 
father in the business. On July 17, 1866, Mr. 
Woods was married to Hannah J. Davidson, 
who was born in Pennsylvania, on Febru- 
ary 8, 1843, and to this union nine children 
have been born, six of whom survive, 
as follows : William D., Harry, Mary, Ro- 
nald F., Walter and Arthur. Mr. Woods is 
a member of the B. M. A., and of the Royal 
Arcanum fraternity, and has been a member 
of the I. O. O. F., and K. of P. lodges. 
Mrs. Woods is the daughter of Joshua and 
Matilda Davidson. Her father was one of 
the pioneers of Vanderburgh county, and 
was an early justice of the peace of Evans- 
ville. The parents of Mr. Woods were 
Richard and Mary A. (Taylor) Woods. 
Richard was born in Manchester, Engknd, 
on November 19, 1779, and Mary Taylor 
was born in Liverpool, England, on Decem- 
ber I, 1805. They were married in Man- 
chester, England, on January 27, 1829, and 
in 1836, they emigrated to America, and 
located in Philadelphia, Penn. Richard 
Woods was a millwright and pattern-maker 
by trade and followed that vocation 
in England, and then in Philadelphia. 
In about 1840 he was induced to come 
west to Daviess county, Ind., under contract 
to erect a mill. Two years were spent on 
this contract, he receiving in part payment 
for the same forty acres of land. Complet- 
ing his contract, he removed his family to 
Louisville, Ky., making the trip across the 
country in wagons. His death occurred in 
Louisville, on July 23, 1846. Mary A. 
Taylor was the daughter of John and Ann 
Taylor, and she also died in Louisville, on 
March 7, 1852. To their union sixteen chil- 



dren were born, only three of whom sur- 
vive. Both parents were married previous 
to their union, and a son of the father's first 
marriage and a daughter of the mother's 
first marriage survive, the son residing in 
Illinois and the daughter in St. Louis. 

Georck Lorenz, a native of Germany, 
was born May 20, 1842. His parents, 
Jacob and Madeline (Meinart) Lorenz, were 
born in Germany in 1804 and 1813, respect- 
ively, and died in their native country, the 
father at the age of eighty-one years, the 
mother at the age of sixty-six years. Before 
coming to the United States, George Lorenz 
learned the baker's trade, but he never fol- 
lowed it in this country. He resided in New 
York city one year, came to Evansville in 
1865 and soon thereafter began the wine and 
liquor business, in which he has since con- 
tinued. He accumulated money rapidly, 
and in 1872 purchased the property- which 
he now occupies at the corner of Second and 
Division streets, at a cost of $21,000. By 
careful and economical management he has 
continued to add to his propertj^ possessions. 
In 1866 he was married to Madeline 
Schauss, a native of Posey county, Ind., born 
in 1848. They have one daughter, Lena. 
Mr. Lorenz occupies a prominent place 
among the social orders of the city, being a 
member of the I. O. O. F., A. O. U. W., 
K. of H., Druids and Harugari fraternities. 
He and his wife are members of St. John's 
Evangelical church. 

Among the enterprising business men 
who b}' their own efforts have attained 
prominence as public men, may be men- 
tioned Thomas Bullen, who served in the 
city council from 1877 to 1881, at which 
time he was appointed chief of the fire 
department, holding this responsible position 
for five years. The son of Daniel and 
EHzabeth Ann (Kimpton) Bullen, and the 
youngest of eight children, only two of 



w 



PERSONAL MENTION. 



whom are now living, this gentleman was 
born in England, February 3, 1837. In the 
public schools of his native country he re- 
ceived some rudimentary instruction, but at 
the early age of twelve years he under- 
took to learn the baker's trade. Emigrating 
to the United States in 1852, he settled in 
Evansville, and at once entered the ser- 
vice of Edward Bowles, the well-known 
liveryman, continuing therein until 1854, 
when he besjan business for himself as a 
teamster.' At that time he obtained the con- 
tract for sprinkling the streets of the city, 
and so acceptable has been his service that 
he has continued in the performance of this 
public duty to the present. His business 
ventures proving successful, Mr. Bullen en- 
tered the livery business in 1867, and soon 
gained a large patronage. His stables, now 
located on Upper Fifth street, at Nos. 13, 
15 and 17, are commodious, well stocked, 
well equipped, and so managed as to deserve 
and receive substantial public support. 
In political life Mr. Bullen has been 
a consistent democrat, his faithful services 
to his party having been rewarded by the 
recognition, with mention of which he was 
introduced in this connection. He is a 
member of the A. O. U. W. His marriage 
occurred in 1854, to Miss Martha Hitch, a 
native of England, born in 183S, who came 
to America with her parents when eleven 
years of age. Eight children were born of 
this union, four of whom are now living: 
Elizabeth Ann, John T., Lauretta and Will- 
iam H. 

John J. Goodwin, jr., of the firm of Har- 
rison, Goodwin & Co., though not identified 
with the business interests of this city until 
recent years, has become well-known by 
reason of his business ability and integrity. 
A son of William M. and Marietta (Wilbur) 
Goodwin, the eldest of six children, he was 
I?orn August 4, 1842. His father was a 



native of Pennsylvania, born in 1S22, and 
his mother a native of Indiana, born in 1826; 
the former died at Anna, 111., in 1886, the 
latter in Hardin county, 111., 1873. These 
parents gave their son the benefits of a com- 
mon school education, and when the civil 
war was actively commenced they gave him 
to their country's service. Enlisting in No- 
vember, 1861, in Company F, Forty-ninth 
Indiana infantry, he served honorably for 
three years, receiving a wound at Vicksburg, 
December 29, 1863, and being honorably dis- 
charged in November, 1864. Returning to 
civil life, he established himself at Cave-in- 
Rock, 111., as a general merchant and pro- 
duce dealer, and engaged successfully as 
such for a period of twenty years. Coming 
to Evansville in 1885, for a time he busied 
himself as a trader and speculator, and in 
April, 1888, became a member of the firm 
with which he is now associated. He is also 
connected with the firm of Pleasants, Good- 
win & Co., jeans pants manufacturers. 
Politically he entertains the views of the 
democratic party, and religiously those of 
the Methodist Episcopal church. A firm 
believer in the good accomplished by frater- 
nal orders, he is connected with lodges of 
the F. & A. M., K. of P., and K. of H. 
In 1870 his marriage occurred to Miss Nora 
C. Mitchell, who was born in Hardin county, 
111., in 1848. Three children, Leila, Daisj', 
and Mabel, have been born to these parents. 
For twenty-four years the stove and tin 
business has been represented in this city by 
the Thiele family. Anthony Thiele was 
born in Germany, January 25, 1827, and 
came to the United States in 1852, settling 
in Boston, Mass. His wife, JuHa (Corco- 
ran) Thiele, was born in Ireland in 1835, 
and died in this city when thirty-seven years 
of age. The family came to Evansville in 
the spring of 1864. The eldest of their 
eight children was Ignatius A., born in Bos. 



CITIZENS OF EVANSVILLE. 



W 



ton, Mass., January 23, 1855. Upon his 
arrival here the elder Thiele began the stove 
and tin business, which has been continued 
by father and son ever since, Ignatius hav- 
ing been admitted to partnership in 1872. 
Since 1870 their place of business has been 
at Nos. 108 and no Upper Third street, 
where a full line of stoves, tinware, and house- 
furnishing goods are offered for sale. The 
reputation for honest}' and fair dealing es- 
tablished by the senior member of the house 
is being maintained by the younger man, 
who is recognized as an enterprising trader. 
They are the only agents in this part of the 
state of the celebrated Round Oak heating 
stoves. 

The dye house of Henry Butts is an old 
establishment. Its proprietor came to Evans- 
ville in 1850, since which time he has been 
a well-known citizen. He was born in 
Northampton (now Monroe) count}^ Penn., 
December 4, 1809. His parents, Jacob and 
Christina (Arnold) Butts, were natives of 
that state, and died in the county named. 
At the age of ten years Henry Butts was 
forced to make his own way in life, and as 
soon as he had reached his majorit}- he 
moved to Genesee county, N. Y., where he 
remained until 1834. When he came to 
Evansville he was penniless, and for a time 
lived in poverty, being unable to find profit- 
able employment. In 1839 he was married 
to Miss Cornelia E. Hinman, of Geneva, 
N. Y., then in her nineteenth year. Through 
enterprising effort and rigid economy Mr. 
Butts soon gained a foothold in the pros- 
perous city, and now after years of toil, hav- 
ing gained a competence, he enjojs the 
fruits of his enterpri.se. In 1863 his wife 
departed this life, three children being left 
to mourn the loss of a mother. Mrs. Eliza- 
beth Murdock, born in Italy, became his 
wife in 1867. 

John Henry Kreipke, for many years 



a well-known cooper in this city and a worthy 
citizen, was born in Germany, February 
4, 1822. His parents, John Carl and Jo- 
hanna Kreipke, were natives of Germany 
and died in this city in 1876 and 1878, re- 
spectively, each having lived more than four 
score years of usefulness. He was the sec- 
ond of three children, only one of whom 
survives. His bo3'hood was spent in the 
schools of his native place, and at the age 
of fourteen years he began to learn the 
cooper's trade, at which he worked in Ger- 
many until 1845, when he sailed for the 
United States. Landing at New Orleans, 
La., he remained in that city a few months 
and then came to Evansville in the early 
days of 1846. Here he continued to work 
at his trade, and later formed a partnership 
with James W. Wiltshire, with whom he 
was in business for thirty-five years, or until 
his death, which occurred Januar}- 5, 1SS7. 
Beginning life with no other capital than the 
endowments of nature he acted manfully 
throughout a long career and obtained a 
pleasing measure of success. He was mar- 
ried October 31, 1866, to Mrs. Caroline 
Theiman (whose maiden name wasPeulen), 
born in Germany, March 2, 1826. Her 
mother dying in German}- in 1837, she came 
to the United States in 1845 with her father, 
who four years later died in this city in his 
fifty-second year. Mrs. Kreipke is a mem- 
ber of the German Lutheran church, and a 
highly respected lady. 

Among the enterprising citizens who 
came from beyond the sea to Evansville, 
soon after it became a city, was John George 
Miller, for many years identified, as 
a leader, with the retail boot and shoe 
trade of the city. He was born January 25, 
1819, in Delkenheim, Nassau, Germany; 
was married in 1848, to Miss Catharine 
Christina Bastert, born in 181 7, a native of 
Bielefeld, Westphalia, Germany, and landed 



ItdO 



PERSONAL MENTION. 



in this city as an immigrant, near tlae last of 
June, of the same year. His death occurred 
in this city, June i, 1887, and that of his 
wife, July 21, 1873. These pioneers were 
the parents of six children, one of whom, 
Emil George Miller, born October 3, 1853, 
is now a dealer in boots and shoes, in part- 
nership with John George Diehl, doing 
business at No. 501 Main street. Emil 
George Miller received the rudiments of his 
intellectual training in the public schools of 
the city; at the age of thirteen began to 
work in his father's store, and ever since 
that time, excepting a period of seven years, 
has been actively engaged as a retail boot 
and shoe merchant, with varying degrees of 
success. January 21, 1875, he was married 
to Catherine Roehrig, who was born in 
Warrick county, Ind., May 27, 1854. Mr. 
Miller became a member of the I. O. O. F. 
in 1878. His family, now containing five 
children, are members of St. John's church. 
John George Diehl, of the firm of Miller 
& Diehl, shoe dealers at No. 501 Main street, 
was born in Iggelheim, Rheinpfalz, Bavaria, 
January 16, 1850. His parents, Leonard 
and Apollonia (Hirsch) Diehl, were Ba- 
varians, born respectively in 1823 and 1822. 
Both died in the countrj' of their nativity, the 
former in 1863, the latter in 1858. The eld- 
est daughter of these people came to this 
city from Germany in 1865, and died here 
at the age of twenty-one years. Her 
brother, John George Diehl, learned the 
trade of a shoemaker in his native town, but 
in the summer of 1866 he emigrated to the 
United States, and came at once to Evans- 
ville. For about four years after reaching 
this place he worked at his trade, but at 
length accepted a clerkship in the shoe store 
of George Miller & Co., where he remained 
until 1872. In March of that year he went 
to Europe, to obtain a legacy which had 
been left him. When Mr. Diehl first de- 



termined to leave his native land, he was un- 
able, because of the war of that period, to 
obtain a passport, but this was not allowed 
to prevent his departure. However, upon 
his return to that country, in 1872, he was com- 
pelled to serve in the German army two and a 
half years before he could obtain the legacy 
for which he had crossed the ocean. Re- 
turning to Evansville in 1874, he resumed 
his place in the employ of Miller & Co., 
where he remained, save a brief period, un- 
til 1888. In March of this year, the firm, of 
which he is now a member, was established. 
He was married, November 19, 1874, to 
Elizabeth Pale, who was born in Iggelheim, 
German}', February 14, 1855, and who came 
to the United States in 1874. He and his 
wife belong to the Roman Catholic church. 

Henry Klee came from Germany in 
1848, settled at Evansville, and three years 
later commenced the business of an under- 
taker in which he continued until 1886. He 
was born in Germany March 5, 1818, and 
died in Evansville, April 2 2d, 188S. His 
wife was Clara Kratz, herself a native of 
Germany, born December 18, 1827, and 
now residing in this city. These people 
always commanded the respect of their 
neighbors. John Klee, a son of these early 
settlers, now an undertaker at Nos. 217 and 
219 Ingle street, was born October 21, 
1852, in this cit3\ He received a common 
school education and in 1878 began business 
in partnership with his father. In 18S5 he 
was united in marriage with Katie Blaier, 
daughter of Michael and Barbara (Stain- 
hilber) Blaier, very worthy people. Mr. 
Klee and wife are members of St. John's 
church; the former is a Mason, Odd Fellow 
and Knight of Honor. 

Thrift and persistent effort which yield not 
to adversity are essential to a realization of 
hopes. Men are called self-made when 
they attain prominence after being thrown 



CITIZENS OF EVANSVILLE. 



Jt51 



upon their own resources in the strurfgles 
for wealth, power and social supremacy 
which characterize the present era. The 
effective help of friendly hands is lost sight 
of and all credit is given to the individual 
effort. But valuable friendship is itself a 
possession which only manly qualities com- 
mand. So he who starts empty-handed in 
the race of life and at his prime has gath- 
ered about him those things which bespeak 
successful endeavor, may be said to have 
made his own way. A man of this type is 
John H. Fink, who was born in Germany, 
October 28, 1S40, being the son of Magnus 
and Susannah (V'aubel) Fink. He was 
educated in his native country, and emi- 
grated to the United States in 1856, coming 
at once to Vanderburgh county, and settling 
on a farm. After a year's work on the 
farm he came to EvansviUe and learned the 
saddler's trade, at which he labored until 
1870. At the close of the civil war he 
moved to Morganfield, Ky., where he re- 
mained until 1881, at which time he 
returned to E\-ansville, and for three 
years carried on the carriage business. At 
the present time he is engaged as a whole- 
sale and retail dealer in ice, at No. i24Upper 
Water street. In politics Mr. Fink has been 
an earnest democrat, having cast his first 
presidential vote for Gen. George B. 
McClellan. While at Morganfield, Ky., 
notwithstanding his political complexion, he 
was postmaster for seven years under Pres- 
ident Grant. In 1886 he was nominated 
for county treasurer by the democratic 
party, and, though running ahead of his 
ticket, failed to be elected. BeHeving in the 
good accomplished by fraternal orders, he 
has been a member of the I. O. O. F. for 
twenty years, and is also connected with the 
K. of H. and A.O. U. W. He married in 1864 
Elizabeth Georget, who came to America 
from Germany, when but two years of age. 



Frederick W. Ruff, doing a general 
dry goods business at No. 221 Main street, 
EvansviUe, Ind., is a native of New York 
city, having been born there October 23, 
1850. His parents. Rev. Frederick and 
Elizabeth Ruff, were natives of Germany, 
1827 and 1832 were the dates of their births, 
respectively. The former still lives at Mt. 
Vernon, Ind., the latter died in 1864. The 
Rev. Frederick Ruff came to the United 
States when twenty-one years of age, and 
settled in New York city. After a resi- 
dence of twenty-six years in the east, he 
emigrated to the west, and educated his son 
at New Albany, Ind., and Louisville, Ky. 
The subject of this mention came to Evans- 
viUe in 1873, and in the following year was 
employed in the dry goods house of Huds- 
peth, Miller & Co., where he continued as a 
clerk until 1886. In this }'ear the business 
house now known as F. W. Ruff & Co., at 
at 221 Main street, was established. De- 
cember 22, 1887, the propert}' of the firm 
was destroyed by fire, at a considerable loss. 
A new building was at once erected and 
business again activel}' engaged in. The 
house now enjoys a profitable trade. In 
1875 Mr. Ruff was married to Carrie Ber- 
ges, who was born at Charleston, Ind., in 
1856. The family consists of three child- 
ren, Edwin, Frederick and John. In politics 
Mr. Ruff is an earnest republican; he is a 
member of the K. of H., and he and his 
wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal 
church.. 

FiDELio T. Hodge, born January 30, 
181 7, is a native of Livingstone county, Ky. 
His parents, Thomas and Harriet (Barnes) 
Hodge, were natives of North Carolina, and 
with the pioneers who drifted from that sec- 
tion over into western Kentucky in the early 
part of the nineteenth century, migrated 
from their native home. It was in 1805 that 
they settled in the then wild west. There 



i62 



PERSONAL MENTION. 



the)' lived and died, the father in 1837, the 
mother in 1850, each at the age of sixtv 
years. The family consisted of nine child- 
ren. Their lives were simple and their 
manners plain. All labored together for the 
common support. The subject of this 
sketch made his home at his father's cabin 
until he was twenty-five years of age. At 
that age he went to Golconda, 111., and for 
some time was engaged there as a clerk. 
From 1840 to 1846 he added materiall}- to 
his fortune by trading along the coasts of 
the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, with the 
flat-boats and store boats that were so com- 
mon at that period. Returning to Golconda, 
be began the business of a Avy goods mer- 
chant, and continued so occupied until 1S63, 
when he removed to Evansville. In 
the following year his business house 
at No. 200 Water street was erected 
at a cost of $27,000, where, ever since, he 
has been engaged in the wholesale liquor 
trade. During the twenty-four years of his 
residence here, he has been signally success- 
ful in business. Mr. Hodge has been twice 
married. In 1847 he was united in marriage 
with Julia A. Giffith, whose death occurred in 
1861. Two years later. Miss Rose White, 
a native of New Orleans, La., born in 1S38, 
became his wife. Of the first union seven 
children were born, Henry, Richard, Sally, 
Edwin, Chnton, all now deceased, and In- 
diana and Mary Agnes, now living; of the 
second marriage there are three children: 
Rose, Flora and Maydell. 

Industr)-, intelligence, and integrity, when 
combined in practice, guarantee success. 
The business house of Evans & Verwayne 
has been fortunate in having these qualities 
predominate in the components of those who 
control its career. Samuel G. Evans, the 
senior member of the firm, was born in Jack- 
son count)', W. Va., March 19, 1839. His 
father, E. S. Evans, was born in Morgan- 



town, Va., in 1800, and died in his native 
state in 1876. His mother, Ruami (Wright) 
Evans, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1806, 
and died in Jackson county, Va., in 1882. 
The father was an old time gentleman 
farmer. It was on his farm that the boy- 
hood of young Evans was passed. After 
exhausting all educational facilities near his 
home he was sent to Washington College in 
Pennsylvania, where he was graduated in 
1861. For a short time thereafter he pur- 
sued the study of law. Leaving the east he 
came to Evansville, and entered the service 
of the Adams Express compao}'. In 1864 
he began his career as a dry goods mer- 
chant, entering the house of Jaquess, French 
& Co., and two years later became associ- 
ated, as junior partner, with the firm of 
Jaquess, Hudspeth & Co., where he re- 
mained for about eight j'ears. In part- 
nership with D. J. Mackey, under the firm 
name of S. G. Evans & Co., he opened an 
establishment in 1S76, at 211 Main street, 
where for some time a successful business 
was conducted. In 1880 the firm of Evans 
& Verwayne was organized. The volume 
of business transacted by the house has in- 
creased annually, the past year showing a 
decided improvement over any preceding 
year. This success has been due in a large 
measure to the untiring zeal, constant watch- 
fulness and unswerving probity of the senior 
proprietor, who, by his deserts, ranks among 
the leading merchants of the city of Evans- 
ville. A democrat in politics, faithfully ex- 
ercising the rights of citizenship, Mr. Evans 
is never offensive to political opponents in 
the enunciation of his principles. He is a 
member of the F. & A. M. order. In 1867 
he was united in marriage to Louisa Horn- 
brook, born in 1842, near Evansville, a de- 
scendant of very worthy pioneers who acted 
an honorable and conspicuous part in the 
early history of Vanderburgh count}-. To 



CITIZENS OF EVANSVILLE. 



453 



these parents three daughters have been 
born, Carrie H., born 1870; Kate F., born 
ig74, and Delia J., born 1876. Mr. Evans 
is a trustee of Willard Library and of the 
public schools. 

An honorable career as a retail merchant 
has been achieved by Anthony Verwayne, 
who is vet in the prime of life. He has 
ascended the ladder of prosperity, through 
no daring leap, but by steadily advancing 
from round to round. July 29, 1841, was 
the date, and the town of Wehl, Holland, 
kingdom of Netherlands, the place of his 
birth. His parents, John and Anna (Teun- 
nessen) Verwaj'ne, natives of Holland, emi- 
grated to the United States in 1845, and 
settled in Vanderburgh county, where, after 
j-ears of useful and respectable citizenship, 
they died, the former in 1865, when sixty- 
two }-ears old, the latter in 1859, at the age 
of fifty-eight years. He made use of such 
educational advantages as were afforded by 
the common schools of the pioneer era in In- 
diana, and at the age of fourteen 3ears com- 
menced the practical education of a business 
man in the trj'ing school of experience. 
For ten years he was employed in the dry 
goods houses of J. P. Byrne and John S. 
Hopkins, at the end of which time he began 
traveling as a representative of the house of 
H. Feldman & Co., of this city, and later 
represented on the road A. and J. Trouen- 
stine & Co., of Cincinnati. His career as a 
commercial tourist continued for twenty 
years, and was marked with signal 
success. Ever^-where popular, stead- 
fast always in his adherence to honorable 
methods and never unmindful of his em- 
ployer's interests, he built up an enviable rep- 
utation. In 1880 the well-known dry-goods 
house of Evans & Verwayne was estab- 
hshed. Its affairs have been safely and 
judiciously conducted, and the house is now 
among the leaders of its kind in this part of 



the state. Its prosperity and high standing 
in business circles are largely due to the 
personal effort of Mr. Verwayne. Politi- 
cally, Mr. Verwayne is a democrat, though 
not acting a prominent part in his party's 
affairs. August 7, i860, he \vas married to 
Miss Dina A. Gerwe, of Cincinnati, Ohio, 
who was born in Germany May 5, 1836; 
and to these parents five children have been 
born: John H., Henry, George, Edward and 
Joseph. The family belongs to the Catholic 
church. 

In 1835 Weden and Mary Wiltshire left 
the state of Virginia and moved to Chilli- 
cothe, Ohio. They came thence to Evans- 
ville in 185S. Their family consisted of 
fifteen children, eight of whom are still liv- 
ing. The mother was born in 1797, and 
died in 1874. The father, born in 1798, 
died in 1886. As industrious, honest and 
respectable citizens they were well-known. 
The seventh of their children, James W. 
Wiltshire, was born in Rockingham 
county, Va., November 28, 1829. He re- 
ceived some instruction in the rudimentary 
branches of learning in the schools of Chilli- 
cothe, but at the age of thirteen he was 
regularly empldved to learn the trade of a 
cooper. Succeeding in this he continued to 
work at his trade until 1847, when, hearing 
of the rapid strides then being made by the 
promising young city in southern Indiana, he 
set out for Evansville. Arriving here, he con- 
tinued his work as a journeyman for four 
years, at the end of which time he formed a 
partnership with J. H. Kreipke, for the pur- 
pose of carr3ing on the coopering business. 
Success attended the efforts of these in- 
dustrious and practical workmen. They 
continued the business for thirty-five years, 
until the death of Mr. Kreipke, in 1887. 
Upon the death of his associate, Mr. 
Wiltshire permanently retired from the 
business which he had pursued with success 



m 



PERSONAL MENTION. 



for so long a time. During the entire period 
of this concern's existence the proprietors 
were classed among the most active and en- 
terprising men in the city. In politics Mr. 
Wiltshire is recognized as a staunch repub- 
lican. His career as a man of business in- 
duced the voters of his ward to give him a 
seat in the city council. In this capacity he 
served the pubHc for three j-ears, during 
1866 1867 and 1868. Mr. Wiltshire has 
been twice married. In 1847 Miss Sarah 
A. Knouse became his wife. She was an 
estimable lady, and her death which occurred 
in 1880, was lamented by many relatives 
and friends. In 1881 Mr. Wiltshire was 
united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth De- 
troy, who was born in Germany in 1861. 
Through a period of forty years Mr. Wilt- 
shire has been a resident of the city. By 
dealing fairly with his fellow men and by 
steady industry he has won success. 

Lant & Morris. — The manufacture of 
brick is one of the great and growing indus- 
tries of Evansville, and prominent among 
the manufactories, indeed, the largest 
pressed brick manufactory in the United 
States, is that of Lant & Morris, who do 
business under the firm name of the Evans- 
ville Pressed Brick company, with their 
works on the Belt railroad at junction of 
State road. This establishment was founded 
in May, 1887, by Jesse W. Walker and 
George Lant, sr., with Cave J. Morris as 
manager. The latter, upon the death of 
Mr. Walker, in 1888, became an equal 
partner in the firm, with Mr. Lant. To 
give an idea of the magnitude of the opera- 
tions of the firm, it should be stated that the 
factory has a daily capacity of 75,000 brick 
per day, all machine made. During the 
winter of 1887-8, contracts were made for 
10,000,000 brick. From forty to fifty hands 
are employed, and a ready market is found 
for all products. 



C. H. Ellert is a prominent manufac- 
turer and repairer of leather and rubber 
belting, boot, shoe and gaiter uppers, deal- 
er in machine bolts, brass goods and general 
mill supplies, doing business at No. 13 Up- 
per First street, between Vine and Division 
streets. He was born in Louisville, Ky., 
July 4, 1851, and is the son of B. J. and 
E. M. (Rogge) Ellert, both of whom 
are deceased. He was reared in 
Louisville, and secured his early 
education in that- city. At the age of 
about twelve 3^ears he entered a drug store 
and served an apprenticeship of three years, 
duringr which time he attended a medical 
school in order to fit himself for a pharma- 
cist. He next went to Syracuse, N. Y., 
and attended college for two years, pursuing 
a course of study embracing general litera- 
ture and pharmacy. After securing his 
diploma he returned to Louisville and for a 
time was employed as a traveling salesman 
for a house engaged in the same business. 
In 1880 he located in Evansville and opened 
his present establishment. He was married 
in this city in 1877, to Miss Minnie Spee- 
man, who was born and reared in New 
York city, and is the daughter of Frank 
Speeman, of New York. To this union 
six children have been born, five of whom 
survive. Mr. Ellert has taken an active in- 
terest in the advancement of Evansville, and 
was one of the charter members of the 
Business Men's association, and is now 
chairman of the committee of commerce. 
He is doing a large business, which is 
daily increasing. 

Frank Tardy, ship-chandler and dealer 
in flat-boats and barges, was born at Vevay, 
Switzerland count}-, Ind., June 24, 1846, and 
is the son of George F. and Matilda (Mar- 
tin) Tardy. The father was born in France 
and the mother at Colfax Court House, Va. 
Both parents are still living, and reside in 



CITIZENS OF EVAN8VILLE. 



455 



Louisville, Ky. Frank Tardy was reared 
in Vevay until his twelfth year, and was ed- 
ucated at Hanover College, in this state. 
While quite young he ran awaj^ from 
school and home and took a place as cabin 
boy on a steamboat in the Ohio river trade. 
He continued steamboating from that time 
until 1880, occupying during that time all the 
different positions from cabin bo}' to captain, 
including pilot. In 18S0 he located in Evans- 
ville and opened a ship chandler's store, and 
has continued up to the present. Begin- 
ning on small capital, succeeding, and grad- 
ually increasing his business, he now has a 
large store. Mr. Tardy is a member of the 
Business Men's association, and of the 
Knights of Honor fraternity. He was mar- 
ried October 5, 1872, to Annie Yates, who 
was born in New Orleans in 1847. To 
this union three daughters have been born, 
all living. 

Saunders B. Sansom, member of the firm 
of Schapker & Sansom, balers of hackled 
husks, and manufacturers of the electric 
steam renovator, of Evansville, Ind., is a na- 
tive of Huntingdonshire, England, born, 
April 7, 1843, and is the son of William and 
Sarah (Bedford) Sansom, both natives of 
Huntingdonshire, England. The father died 
in 1882, and the mother died in 1847. Our 
subject was reared in his native country, and 
attended the neighborhood schools. In 1858 
he emigrated to America with a party of 
about twenty, and came direct to Evansville. 
He set in to learn the carpenter's trade with 
his uncle, Saunders Sansom. On June 6, 
1 861, he answered his country's call for 
troops to put down the rebellion, and enHsted 
in Company I, of the Fourteenth Indi- 
ana Volunteer infantry. Capt. Thomp- 
son's Compan}" E, raised in Evansville 
for the Fourteenth Regiment, being 
full, he with others, went to Terre 
Haute, and was there mustered into Com- 



pany I, with five others, and was accredite 
to Vermillion county, though being an 
Evansville volunteer. At the battle of 
Chancellorsville, May 3, 1863, he was 
wounded by a rifle ball in the knee, and re- 
mained on the field until the 13th of the 
same month, having been taken prisoner. 
He was then paroled and sent within the 
Union lines, and on the 15th his right leg 
was amputated in the field hospital. The 
amputation of the limb was the first surgical 
attention he received after being wounded, a 
period of twelve days. He remained in the 
field hospital until the 15th of June foUosv- 
ing, and was then sent to the hospital at 
Washington city. On July i, following, a 
second operation was performed, the limb 
being amputated near the middle of the thigh. 
He remained in the hospital at Washing- 
ton until his discharge in the spring of 1864. 
Returning to Evansville, he entered com- 
mercial college in order to prepare himself 
for indoor work, and for two years he en- 
gaged in the retail cigar business on Locust 
street, his health being too poor to admit of 
other employment. In 1868 he was elected 
by the republicans as city treasurer of Evans- 
ville, and in the following year was appointed 
deputy by Philip Helder, the republican city 
clerk, and remained there until January, 
1S71. He was then appointed United States 
store keeper, assigned to duty at Paloka, 
Gibson county, Ind., and was in the revenue 
service until August, 1872, when he was 
nominated by the republicans for the office 
of recorder of Vanderburgh county, but re- 
tained his commission as store keeper until 
his election as recorder in October of the 
same year. He was re-elected to the re- 
corder's office in 1876, and served ahogether 
eight vears, his term expiring in 1880. In 
April, 1 88 1, he was again elected city treas- 
urer of Evansville and served until 1883. He 
entered upon his present business in June, 



is$ 



PERSONAL MENTION. 



1883, in copartnership with Bernhard Schap- 
ker. Mr. Sansomisacharter member of Far- 
ragut Post, No. 27, and is also a member of 
the Evansville Business Men's association. 
Hewas married on February 2, 1872,10 Susan 
R. Dunk, who was born in Evansville. To 
this union three children have been born, 
two of whomsurvive. As a soldier, citizen, 
and public officer, Mr. Sansom has displaA'ed 
the highest qualities of manliness, and de- 
serves the high place in the esteem of the 
people which it is his privilege to enjoy. 

Robert Day, street commissioner of the 
city of Evansville, is a native of Lincoln- 
shire, England, and was born December 30, 
1843. He is the son of Samuel and Ann 
(Ringham) Day. When he was a mere 
boy his father died in England, and in 1853 
with his mother and a brother, Samuel, he 
came to America, landing in Buffalo, 
N. Y. The family remained there one year, 
and thfen removed to Cleveland, Ohio, where 
they resided until 1857. They then located 
in Pnnceton, Ind., and in the fall of 1859, 
came to Evansville, where they have all 
since resided. In December, 1859, Robert 
went to work for William Caldwell, with 
whom he remained until July, 1861, and then 
enlisted in the United States army, joining 
Company F, of the Twenty-fourth Regiment 
Indiana infantry. He served faithfully until 
September, 1864, with the armies of Mis- 
souri, Cumberland and Mississippi. In 
the rear of Vicksburg, Miss., he was 
wounded on May 16, 1863, by 
being shot through both thighs. He was 
then confined in the hospital until December 
23, of the same year, when he joined his 
command at Baton Rouge, La. He was 
there mustered out, September 23, 1864. 
Returning home he again entered the em- 
ploy of William Caldwell, and continued 
with that gentleman for twenty years, and 
then engaged for himself for one year in the 



grocery business on the corner of Sixth and 
Green streets. On April 16, 1887, he was 
appointed by the council as city street com- 
missioner of Evansville, and in April, 1888, 
was reappointed. Mr. Day was married 
October 22, 1S63, to Miss Elizabeth Davis, 
a native of England. To this union five 
children have been born, two of whom 
survive. Mr. Dav is a member of the G. A. 
R., and a popular citizen. 

Henry Haynie, proprietor of Haynie's 
hotel, was born in Newburgh, Warrick 
county, Ind., March 25, 1851, and is the son 
of J. C. and Emily (Hastings) Haynie, both 
natives of Indiana, who died in 1883, the 
father at the age of fifty-one years, and the 
mother at the age of fifty years. Mr. Hay- 
nie was reared in Newburgh until 1862, when 
he came to Evansville and went to work for 
S. H. S. Cook. One year later he moved 
to Ingle's Station and worked on a farm 
during that season. Coming back to Evans- 
ville, he was engaged at the Washington 
house and the American house for some 
time, and then clerked for Coolidge Bros., 
in the " original New York store." For 
seven years thereafter he was engaged in 
railroading. Returning to the hotel business, 
he was emploj-ed for a time as steward of the 
Sherwood house, but subsequentlj- returned 
to the employ of the railroad company. 
While serving as a train-boy, he controlled 
and operated a hotel in Rockville, Ind. He 
was engaged as a grocer in this city in 1885 
and 1886, and on November 15 of the last 
named year opened the Haynie hotel on 
Locust street, where he has since continued. 
By wise management, a careful regard for 
the wants of the public, and close attention 
to business, he has won a good patronage 
for his house, and firmh' established himself 
in popular favor. He was married, March 
25, 1S74, to Miss Rachel Hunnell, who was 
born in Evansville, and is the daughter of 



CITIZENS OF EVAN8VILLE. 



4^7 



William Hunndl. One child has been 
born: Emma, October 25, 1875. Mr. 
Haynie was elected to the city council from 
the Sixth ward, and was re-elected the next 
year, defeatinjr, b}- a majority of 71 votes, a 
man whose boots he blacked when a boy. 
He is a member of the K. of P., K. of H., 
A. O. U. W., Fraternal Legion, Select 
Knights, K. and L. of H., and United Order 
of Honor. 

LoRENZ Fritsch, a very successful busi- 
ness man of Evansville, is a native of Ger- 
many, where he began to learn the business 
of a tailor. He removed to Paris, and there 
perfected himself in the art of cutting gar- 
ments, and was in that city during the Fran- 
co-Prussian war. hi 1 87 1 he came to 
America, and at first found emplo3-ment in 
some of the leading establishments of Bos- 
ton. His first year in Evansville, was 1873, 
and for five years thereafter he was en- 
gaged as a cutter in the best shops in the 
city. In 1878 he began business for him- 
self, opening his establishment in a modest 
way in October of that year. He met with 
success from the first, and now has an es- 
tablishment that is a credit to his own busi- 
ness abilities as well as to the taste and ap- 
preciation of elegant apparel by the people 
of the city. He carries a large stock of 
fine cloths suitable to his trade, employs a 
considerable number of hands in his manu- 
facturing department, and his product has 
that indescribable and generally imattainable 
" style " that marks the work of a master in 
this important branch of industry. 

James F. and Hiram M. Lindley. — 
Among the leading business men of Evans- 
ville, none, probabl}-, are more conspic- 
uous in the retail trade than the Lindley 
Bros. Their father was Francis S. Lindley, 
who was a native of Hamilton county, Ohio, 
where he lived until he was twenty-one 
years of age, and then removed to Switzer- 



land county, Ind., and was one of the first 
settlers of Vevay, the county seat of that 
county. He opened a tan-yard in that place, 
and remained there for over fifty years. 
He then removed to Greensburgh, Ind., where 
he resided until his death, in 1875, '"^^ the 
age of 84 years. His wife was Rebecca 
McKittrick, who was born near Lexington, 
Ky., in 1800, and died in 1839. Both 
parents were members of the Methodist 
church, and the father was one of six who 
organized the first Methodist church in 
Vevay, Ind. To the parents nine children 
were born, of whom five were sons and four 
daughters. Of the children four survive: 
J. F. Lindley, senior member of the firm of 
Lindley Bros, was born in Vevay, Ind., July 
27, 1837. H. M. Lindley, junior member, 
was also born in Vevay, February 23, 1839. 
Upon the death of the mother both boys 
were taken by an uncle, James McKit- 
trick, who lived near Versailles, Riplej* 
county, Ind. The brothers were edu- 
cated in the common schools, attend- 
ing the schools of Aurora, Ind., in 
winter and working on the farm in summer, 
their uncle having his winter residence in 
Aurora, and summer residence near Ver- 
sailles. The senior brother attended Wil- 
mington Seminarv, in Dearborn county, two 
years, and the junior brother attended 
Moore's Hill college, the same county, for one 
year. James F. clerked for seven months 
with Chambers, Stevens & Co., of Aurora, 
and at the age of nineteen years, went to 
New Albanv, Ind., and began clerking for 
Kent & Co., where he continued until 
March 1859, when he opened a dry goods 
store for himself in New Albany. Hiram M. 
joined his brother at New Albany, after 
leaving school, and five years later, was ad- 
mitted as a partner in the business, the firm 
being J. F. Lindley & Bro. In September, 
1870, the brothers located in this city, and 



^68 



PERSONAL MENTION. 



opened a dry goods house equal to any in size 
in the city at that time. In 1880, they added 
carpets to their line of goods, and now carry 
an average stock of $120,000, and do an av- 
erage annual business of about $250,000, em- 
ploying an-average of twenty-five salesmen. 

Their business building is at Nos. 305 and 
307 Main street, is of brick, three stories 
high, 3.5^x150 feet. The basement and 
third story are devoted to the wholesale dry 
goods trade, the first floor to the retail trade 
in the same line, and the second floor to the 
wholesale and retail trade in carpets, shawls 
and cloaks. Both brothers are active mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal church, 
the senior having joined the church at New 
Albany, in 1863, and the junior at Washing- 
ton, Ind., in 1861, he being at that time en- 
gaged in merchandising at that place. 
H. M. Lindley is steward of Trinity church, 
Evansville, and both have been active mem- 
bers of the Trinity congregation since their 
residence in this city. In January, 1887, 
James F. Lindley, jr., was admitted to the 
firm, the name remaining as before. James 
F. jr., was born in New Albany, Ind., 
October 7, 1862, and was educated in the 
public schools and at De Pauw University. 

Edward Boetticher, senior member of 
the firm of Boetticher, Kellogg & Co., lead- 
ing wholesale dealers in hardware, cutlery, 
guns, etc., at No. 122 Upper First street 
Evansville, Ind., was born in Monroe county, 
Ohio, January 7, 1837, and is the son of 
Frederick W. and Elizabeth (Weppler) 
Boetticher, both natives of Germany. The 
father was born in 1798, and the mother in 
1814. The father came to the United 
States in 1832, and the mother in 1834, and 
they were married near Wheeling, W. Va. 
The father was a minister of the German 
Protestant church and died in 1849. The 
mother is still living making her home in 
this city with her son Edward. Mr. Boet- 



ticher spent most of his early life near 
Cincinnati, Ohio, and secured his edu- 
cation in private schools of that city. 
When thirteen years of age he took a posi- 
tion as clerk in a retail cigar store in Cincin- 
nati, Ohio, where he remained two years. 
He then entered the hardware store of Tyler, 
Davidson & Co., remaining five years. In 
1857 he located in Evansville, and took a 
position with Charles S. Wells, hardware 
merchant, remaining with him until his death 
in 1863, and then continued with the new 
firm of Wells, Kellogg & Co., until 1864, at 
which time he became a partner in the firm. 
Three years later he and Mr. Kellogg took 
the business under the firm name of Boet- 
ticher, Kellogg & Co., which has continued 
to the present. Mr. Boetticher was married 
November 29, 1859, to Amelia S. Beste, 
who was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, February 
27, 1839, ^^^ '^ ^he daughter of Henry A. 
Beste. To this union eight children have 
been born, three of whom survive, William 
H., Oscar and Frederick C. Mr. Boetticher 
is a member of the I. O. O. F., and F. & 
A. M. fraternities. He and his wife are mem- 
beTs of St. John's German Protestant church. 
Charles H. Kellogg, a prominent citi- 
zen and member of the firm of Boetticher, 
Kellogg &: Co., wholesale dealers in hard- 
ware, cutlery, guns, etc., was born in Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio, June 25, 1835. His father 
was Henry S. Kellogg, who was born in 
the state of New York, near Troy, in 1800, 
and was of English descent. His mother 
was Margaret E. Cochran, who was born 
in Ireland about 1807, and came to the 
United States when quite young. From 
New York state the father removed to 
Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1832, and engaged in 
the hardware business in that city. Later 
he located in Cambridge Cit}% where he en- 
gaged in the same business for two 
years, and in 1847 removed to Indianap- 



CITIZENS OF EVANSVILLE. 



J/i9 



olis. Establishing a store there, he 
was one of the leading pioneer hardware 
men of that city. At 'that early time 
there were no railroads in Indianapolis, and 
Mr. Kellogg introduced the first dray in the 
city, taking the vehicle from Cambridge 
City. He died in 1S62 and his wife in 1876. 
To these parents eight children were born, 
five of whom survive. Charles was reared 
in the various cities where his parents re- 
sided, and attended their public schools. He 
was a student of the old Marion county 
seminary at a time when a large number of 
the men who later attained prominence in 
the state attended there. In 1855 he was 
taken into his father's business as a partner, 
the firm being Henry S. Kellogg & Son. Three 
3^ears later he came to Evansville, having sold 
out the business in Indianapolis, and en- 
gaged in the capacity of book-keeper with 
Charles S. Wells, and continued until 1863, 
when Mr. Wells died. A brother of the 
old proprietor, H. K. Wells, of Cleveland, 
Ohio, Edward Boetticher and Mr. Kellogg, 
then bought out the business, and formed 
the firm of Wells, Kellogg & Co. That 
firm continued until 1866, when it was dis- 
solved by the withdrawal of H. K. Wells. 
The two remaining partners from that time 
to the present have continued business under 
the firm name of Boetticher, Kellogg & Co. 
The firm is recognized as one of the most 
progressive, substantial and successful in the 
city of Evansville. In working out its success 
the business qualifications, untiring zeal and 
integrity of Mr. Kellogg have played an 
important part. Mr. Kellogg was married, 
in 1862, to Susan H. Oakley, who was born 
in Paris, Tenn , and is the daughter of 
James Oakle}', a Tennesseean by birth, who 
early removed to Evansville, and was one of 
the old merchants of the city. To this union 
one son has been born — • Oakley H., now 
twenty-five years of age, and a salesman in the 



hardware house. Mr. Kellogg is a member 
of the Walnut Street Presbyterian church. 
His wife and son are members of Trinity 
Methodist Episcopal church. 

R. H. Kellogg, one of the leading hard- 
ware merchants of Evansville, Ind., doing 
business at No. 215 Main street, was born 
in Madison, Ind., September 21, 1837, and 
is the son of Henr}' S. and Margaret (Coch- 
ran) Kellogg. The father was a native of 
Washington county, N. Y., and died in 
1S60. The mother was born in Ireland, 
and died in 1873; she came with her parents 
to the United States when a child. The 
father came west to Indiana at a very early 
date, and about 1840 removed to Indianapo- 
lis, where he engaged in the hardware busi- 
ness until his death. On July 4, 1864, the 
subject of this mention came to Evans- 
ville and entered the store of his 
brother (now of the firm of Boetticher, 
Kellogg & Co., where he remained 
about sixteen years, during which time he 
was emploj'ed as a traveling salesman and 
in various other capacities. In 1S70 he 
began the hardware business for himself, 
and has continued it to the present. He 
carries a general line of hardware and 
novelties, his stock amounting to about 
$10,000, and does an average annual busi- 
ness of about $25,000. He was married 
in November, 1870, to Mar}-, daughter of 
Stephen Knight, of Mt. Carmel, III, who 
was born in 1855. To this union three 
sons have been born: Hugh, born in 1879; 
Henry, born 1883, and Robert, born 1885. 
Mr. and Mrs. Kellogg are members of the 
Trinity Methodist Episcopal church. 

Jacob Arnold, a leading German citizen 
of Evansville, Ind., and one of the principal 
contractors of city street paving, was born 
in Evansville, Ind., January 16, 1853, and is 
the son of Bernhard and Sarah (Baumgart- 
ner) Arnold. His parents were both 



m 



PERSONAL MENTION. 



natives of Germany, and came to the United 
States in 1853. Landing at New Orleans, 
they came direct to Evansville, where the_v 
located. The father was a stone contractor 
and for many years was engaged in bridge 
building and street contracting, having 
paved most of the streets of this city. His 
death occurred on December 25, 1885, at 
the age of sixty-five years. The mother is 
still living at the age of sixty-four years. 
To these parents ten children were born, 
all of whom survive and now reside in this 
city. Jacob Arnold was reared in Evans- 
ville and attended the city schools, receiving 
a good education. After leaving school he 
learned the stone-cutter's trade, and 
then joined his father in his con- 
tracting. In 18S0 he began contract- 
ing for himself, since when he has 
been actively at work, and has had some 
large contracts, among which were the 
Stringtown and Fulton avenue bridges, the 
paving of many of the principal streets in 
this citv, the macadamizing of the public 
square at Boonville, Ind., and numerous 
other large contracts. In politics Mr. Arnold 
has alwavs been a republican. He is a 
member of the K. of P. and Iron Hall 
fraternities. 

George A. Bittrolff, for many j^ears 
conspicuously identified with the business in- 
terests of Evansville, is best known as one of 
the most prominent jewelers in the city. He 
is a native of Mosbach, Grand Duchy of 
Baden, Germany, born July 27, 1S31, and 
is the son of John L. and Johanna (Bestel) 
Bittrolff, both natives of the Grand Duchj' 
of Baden. The parents emigrated to Amer- 
ica in 1S32, and located at Youngstown, 
Penn., where they resided for two years, at 
the end of which time they removed to this 
city. A few weeks later the}' removed to 
Princeton, Ind., where the\' remained three 
years. Returning to Evansville the father 



engaged in the watchmaking and jewelry 
business, being one of the first in that line of 
business in the city. In 1839 the family re- 
moved to Hermann, Mo., where they re- 
mained until the spring of 1846, when they 
again returned to Evansville and remained 
permanentl}-. The mother died in 1870, 
and the father a few years later. The 
family consisted of eight children, two 
of whom survive. George A. Bittrolff 
was reared in Princeton, and Evansville, 
and secured a fair education in the public 
schools. He learned the trade of jeweler 
and watchmaker with his father, and in 1S53 
was given an interest in the business with 
his father and brother, J. L., jr. In 1859, 
he withdrew from the partnership thus 
formed, and for a time he engaged in busi- 
ness by himself. Later he was again asso- 
ciated with his father and brother, but in a 
short time went into business alone. The 
business increasing he took as a partner 
C. De Long, and two and a half years later 
sold out to De Long & Geisler. In i860 he 
again entered business, and later took in 
with him C. F. Artes. This partnership 
lasted for about seven years. From that 
time until 18S0, he was in business by him- 
self, and then turned over the business to 
his brother, John L. and his son John F. 
He then joined the Old Brewing company, 
and engaged in that business for about four 
years. In June, 1886, he again returned to 
the jewelry business, at which he has since 
continued. He was married in 1853, to 
Frederika Kroener, a native of Port De- 
posit, Md. To this union five children have 
been born, four of whom survive. Mr. Bit- 
trolff is a member of Crescent lodge, 
No. 122, I. O. O. F., and Daughters of 
Rebekah, and he and his wife are members 
of St. John's Evangelical church. His long 
and honorable career has lifted him to an 
enviable prominence among the best citizens, 




S~cy^a^y^ z;^'^ ^ 



CITIZENS OF EVAXSVILLE. 



463 



JuDsoN T. BuRTis, president of tlie Evans- 
ville Coffin company, was born in Center 
township, Vanderburgh county, Ind., Octo- 
ber iS, 1842, and is the son of Edward and 
Delia (Hopkins) Burtis. Edward Burtis 
was born on Long Island, N. Y., in 1807, 
and with his father, Jesse Burtis, came west 
to Cincinnati, thence down the Ohio river 
to Evansville, and settled in Vanderburgh 
county, in 1820. He was a farmer, well- 
known throughout th<i county, and died in 
1873. DeHa Burtis was a native of the 
state of New York, where she was born in 
1808. She was the daughter of Stephen 
Hopkins, who was a brother to Edward, a 
distinguished pioneer and father of, the late 
John S. Hopkins, one of the leading citizens 
of Evansville in his daj-. She died in 1876. 
Edward and Delia Burtis were the parents of 
eleven children, live of whomsurvixe. Judson 
was reared on the farm until his seventeenth 
. year, and attended the imperfect schools of 
the pioneer era, securing, however, a fair 
education. He engaged as a clerk in a gro- 
cery store at Mt. Vernon, in 1858, re- 
mained there until 1861, and then took a 
position as book-keeper for Ulhorn & 
Brinkman, in Evansville. While James H. 
McNeeley was postmaster of E\-ans\-ille, 
Mr. Burtis entered the postoffice as an assist- 
ant, but was later made deputy postmaster. 
Leaving the postoffice he became book- 
keeper for Iglehart Bros.' mill, where he re- 
mained eight vears. While so engaged he 
purchased his father's interest in the cooper- 
age business of Burtis & Cod}-; the firm 
name W'as changed to Cod}-, Burtis & Co., 
and he has since been connected with the 
same. He became stockholder in the Evans- 
ville Coffin Co., in i88i,and four years later 
was chosen president of the company, which 
position he still holds. In the management 
of the company's affairs he has exercised 
commendable ability. During the war of 
37 



the rebellion Mr. Burtis was a member of 
Company F, One Hundred and Thirty -sixth 
Regiment of Indiana volunteers, under Capt. 
Hollingsworth, and rendered effective serv- 
ice. Mr. Burtis was married in Januarv, 
1 868, to Frances McGrew, who was born in 
Gibson county, Ind., in iS36,and is the daugh- 
ter of Wilson and Martha McGrew. To this 
union five children ha\-e been born, four of 
whom survive. They are: Minnie, deceased, 
Edward, Effie, May and Delia. Mr. and 
Mrs. Burtis are members of Trinity Metho- 
dist Episcopal church. 

William Capelle, a prominent and 
wealthy citizen of Evansville, is a native of 
j the kingdom of Hanover, Germany, and 
was born near the city of Gottingen, Decem- 
ber, 1825. He came to America in 1845, 
leaving his native land in September, and 
arriving in New Orleans in November fol- 
lowing. He remained in New Orleans un- 
til July 6, 1846, and then located in Cincin- 
nati, where he remained until 185 1. In 
this year he took up his residence in Evans- 
ville and established himself as a merchant 
tailor and dealer in clothing and furnishing 
goods, at the corner of Second and Main 
streets where Schlaepfer's drug store now 
stands. He succeeded in business, and in 
1859 ^'^ erected the building on Main 
street now occupied by Goldsmith's clothing 
store, where he remained until 1863, when 
he retired from active trade on account of ill 
health. In 1S65, he returned to Europe, 
and \-isited his old home in H;ino\-er, re- 
maining there three months, traveling during 
the time through Germany, France and 
Switzerland. From 1863, for fifteen years, 
he was interested in the Evansville gas 
works, and during the time was one of the 
board of directors of the company. He 
sold his gas stock in 1877. He i.s now 
largely interested as a stockholder in the 
old National bank. He is no longer in active 



^64 



PERSONAL MENTION. 



business. In retirement he enjoys the fruits 
of his past efforts, having accumulated a 
competence in his younger daj's. He was 
married in 1S52, to Eliza Krom, who was 
born in Germany, and came to America with 
her parents in 1837. 

J. S. MiN'Ms, the leading shirt manufact- 
urer and dealer in mens' furnishing goods, 
whose place of business is at No. 225 Main 
street, was born in Gibson count}', Ind., 
February 14, 1834, '^"^ '^ ^^^ ^°" o^ James 
and Elizabeth (Sterns) Minnis, both parents 
being natives of Charleston, S. C, of Irish 
descent. At a very early date the parents 
came to Indiana and located in Gibson 
county. The mother died in 1837, and the 
father, in 1865. To these parents nine 
children were born, of whom only two sur- 
vive, they being Mrs. Elizabeth Pritchard, 
the oldest, and Mr. Minnis, the youngest, 
of the children. After the death of his 
mother, Mr. Minnis and his father made 
their home with the youngest daughter — 
Mrs. Samuel W. Woods — for fifteen years. 
Mrs. Woods died January i, 1885. J. S. 
Minnis was reared on the farm, and secured 
a ver)' good education in the public schools. 
His father was a brick mason, and with him 
he learned that trade, which he followed for 
some time. He came to Evansville in 1867, 
and four years later entered the business in 
which he is now engaged. With fair deal- 
ing and by keeping abreast of the times he 
has succeeded in building up a large and 
profitable trade. He is also interested in 
farming, owning and conducting a fine farm 
of eighty acres in Gibson county. During 
the war of the rebellion, Mr. Minnis served 
in Company A, of the Forty-second Regi- 
ment of Indiana volunteers. His record as 
a soldier was honorable throughout. He is 
a member of the U. P. church, which he 
joined when about twenty-two years of age, 
and was baptised by Rev. John McMasters, 



who for thirty years was pastor of the 
Princeton U. P. church. Mrs. McMasters, 
nee Margaret Sterns, was a full cousin of 
Mr. Minnis. 

August Schmitt, a leading wholesale and 
retail dealer in stoves, tinware, pumps, 
house-furnishing goods, etc., etc., at Nos. 
605 and 607 Main street, Evansville, Ind., is a 
native of Bavaria, Germany, where he was 
born February 2, 1842, and is the son of Simon 
and Catharina (Bastian) Schmitt, both of 
whom were natives of Bavaria, and came to 
the United States in 1852. Coming west 
to Indiana they located in Scott township, 
Vanderburgh county, where a farm was 
purchased, and the father followed farming 
until his death, which occurred in 1876, at 
the age of 71 years. The mother is now a 
resident of Santa Claus, Spencer count}', 
Ind., and is eighty-two years old. To the 
parents eleven children were born, four of 
whom survive. August attended school for 
four years in his native land, and came with 
his parents to America. He remained on 
the farm until 1S59, and then went to Rus- 
selhille, Logan county, Ky., where he 
learned the tinner's trade, at which he 
served until the breaking out of the \\ar. In 
the fall of 1 86 1 he enlisted in Company D 
of the Nineteenth U. S. infantry, and served 
three 3'ears. At the battle of Stone 
River, at Murfreesboro, Tenn., he 
was wounded in the left hip b}' a two-ounce 
ball from an Enfield rifle, the ball passing 
entirely through the hip, fracturing the bone. 
He now possesses the ball, which was cut 
out. He lay on the field of battle from 
12 o'clock until night, with the fire of both 
armies passing over him. He was placed in 
a tent with ten other wounded soldiers the 
night he was wounded, onh" four of whom 
were alive the next morning. He then 
passed ten months in hospitals at Nash- 
ville, Tenn., and at New Albany 



CITIZENS OF EVAXSVILLE. 



A65 



Iiid. Joining his regiment at Chat- 
tanooga just after the battle of Chicka- 
mauga, he did duty for a wiiile, and soon 
after the battle of Mission Ridge, was again 
sent to the hospital at New Albany, whence 
he was sent to his regimental headquarters 
at Fort Wayne, Detroit, Mich. He was 
mustered out at Detroit in October, 1864. 
He then located and worked at his trade for 
six months, at Vincennes, Ind. Coming to 
Evansville at the end of this time he worked 
at his trade until 1S65, and then engaged 
in business for himself. The following 
year he remo\ed to Leavenworth, Kansas, 
and remained there until the fall of the same 
year, going thence to Ma3-field, Kv., where 
he remained until 1872. Again returning 
to Evansville, he entered business, and has 
been here ever since. Mr. Schmitt is a 
member of Farragut Post, No. 27, G. A. R., 
at present quartermaster, and is also a mem- 
ber of the Catholic Knights of America. 
November 21, 1865, he was married to 
Magdalena Mesel, who was born in Posey 
county, Ind., in 1845. To this union four 
children have been born, as follows: Katie, 
Rosa, August P., and Simon A. Mr. 
Schmitt and his family are members of St. 
Mary's Catholic church. In politics he is a 
republican. 

William McLe.vn, one of the leading 
retail dry goods men of Evansville, doing 
business at the corner of Main and Fourth 
streets, was born on the Isle of Skye, Scot- 
land, March 14, 1848. His boyhood was 
spent in his native country, where he 
received a common school education. He 
came to America in 1870, and located in 
New York city, where he remained for one 
year. In 1871 he located in this citv, and 
for eight years was connected with the dry 
goods house of Miller Bros. He next be- 
came a full partner in the dry goods firm 
of Keck, Miller & Co., where he remained 



until January, 18S5, and then began business 
at his present stand for himself. He carries 
an average stock of about $35,000, and 
does an annual business of over $100,000. 
He employs an average force of twenty 
clerks, and by industry, fair dealing, and 
close attention to business, has established 
himself in the favor of the people. He is a 
member of the Royal Arcanum, K. of P., 
and K. and L. of H. Mr. McLean was 
married in 1869 to Maggie E. Allen, daugh- 
ter of the Rev. W. J. Allen, of Rockville, 
Ind. To this union one son. Hector Allen, 
was born June 9, 1883. Mrs. McLean is a 
member of the Walnut Street Presb\ terian 
church. 

John Lawton, a leading citizen, and one 
of the pioneer hardware merchants of this 
city, doing business at the corner of Main 
and Fifth streets, is a native of England, 
born at Sheffield, February 3, 1820, and is 
the son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Gales) 
Lawton, both natives of England, who lived 
and died in Sheffield. Mr. Lawton was 
reared in his native place, and secured a fair 
common school education. In^ 1841, he 
came to America, and located in New Or- 
leans, where for several 3'ears he was en- 
gaged in the hardware business for other 
parties. He next locited in Cincinnati, 
Ohio, and opened a hardware store for him- 
self. In 1869 he located in Evansville, and 
continued the same business, remaining so 
engaged to the present. His long experi- 
ence and perfect familiarity with the details 
of the hardware business has enabled him 
to succeed abundandy. Throughout his long 
career he has done a large business, and 
to-day has one of the most complete stocks 
in the citN'. In i8^6 he was married in Cin- 
cinnati to Eunice C. Piatt, an English lady, 
who died March 5, 1887, at the age of tifty- 
eight years. Her father was Thomas Piatt, 
an Enirlishrnan, who came to the United 



Jf66 



PFRSONAL MENTION. 



States in 1840. She was a member of the 
Episcopal church. To this union five chil- 
dren were born, only two of whom survive : 
Frank P., born in Cincinnati in 1854, edu- 
cated in the public schools of his native 
place, who in 1869. entered the hardware 
business with his father, and has so con- 
tinued to the present; Ahce S., born in Cin- 
cinnati in 1856, was married in 187S to Silas 
S. Scantlin, a member of the firm of Marsh 
& Scantlin, proprietors of the Evansville 
cracker works. Mr. Lawton and his son 
are members of St. Paul's Episcopal church, 
and the son is a member of the F. & A. M. 
Lodge. 

Louis Guerich, a leading German citi- 
zen of Evansville, Ind., and engaged in the 
general fire and life insurance business, was 
bern in Madison, Jefferson count}', Ind., on 
February 22, 1847, and is the son of L. and 
Elizabeth (Aur) Guerich, both of whom 
were natives of Germany, and emigrated to 
the United States in 1844, locating at Madi- 
son, Ind., the same year. The father was 
born in 1807, and is still a resident of Madi- 
son. The mother was born in 1S18 and 
died in 1S54. Mr. Guerich was reared in 
Madison, Ind., and Louisville, Ky., and edu- 
cated in the public schools of the latter city.- 
He enlisted in 1864 in the federal army in 
Company K, of the One Hundred Sixth 
Ohio infantry, being the youngest man in 
the regiment. He served until the close of 
the war and was honorably discharged at 
Cincinnati in 1S65. He came to Evansville 
in March, 1868, and engaged in the manu- 
facture of saddle trees. Since 1873 he has 
been following his present business. He is 
a member of the Orion Lodge, No. 35, K. 
of P., being a charter member. He was 
married in 1S75 to the daughter of Charles 
Hinks, of Evansville, and to this union two 
children have been born. In politics he is a 
gt^unch republican. 



Hermann Fendricii, a prominent Ger- 
man citizen of Evansville, and propri- 
etor of the leading cigar manufactory 
of the city, was born in Baden, 
Germany, April 14, 1830, and is the 
son of Joseph and Walburga (Schieble) 
Fendrich, both natives of Baden. The 
father was born in 1804, and died in 1850. 
The mother was born in 1799, and died in 
1849. They were married in Baden, Ger- 
many, on May 30, 1824, and emigrated to 
America in February, 1833, bringing with 
them four sons. Landing in New York 
city, the parents next removed to Philadel- 
phia, and then to Baltimore, where the 
mother died. The father was a cooper and 
brewer by trade, and also a mason, carpen- 
ter and contractor; indeed, he was a 
mechanical genius. His death occurred in 
Quincy, 111., while on a visit to his sister, a 
resident of that city. The family comprised 
six children, five born in Germany and one 
in Baltimore. The children were as fol- 
lows: Joseph, born March 27, 1825, and 
died in 1876; Charles, born April 4, 1826, 
and died in 1878; Francis, born March 22, 
1829, now of Dallas, Texas; Herman, 
born April 14, 1830; Amelia, born February 
15, 1828, and died the same year; and John, 
born in Baltimore on July 24, 1824, now of 
Columbia, Penn. The subject of this men- 
tion began working in tobacco when quite 
young. In 185° he engaged with his 
four brothers in the manufacture of cigars 
in Baltimore, Md. The brothers opened a 
branch house in Evansville, Ind., in Decem- 
ber, 1855, with Charles Fendrich in charge. 
Later Francis Fendrich took charge of the 
branch house, Charles returning to Balti- 
more. In 1857, May 30th, Hermann Fend- 
rich came to Evansville, and with his brother 
Francis conducted the business until 1865, 
when Francis withdrew from the firm and 
was succeeded b}' Joseph Fendrich. Joseph 



CITIZENS OF EVANSVILLE. 



Jt67 



remained until his death in 1876, when 
Hermann purchased the interest of the heirs 
and has since conducted the business as sole 
proprietor and owner, manufacturing about 
100,000 cigars monthly. Mr. Fendrich was 
married January 19, 1864, to Mary R., 
daughter of John A. Reitz, one of the lead- 
ing citizens of Evansville. To this union 
two children have been born — John II. and 
Laura G. 

Prominent among tlie maiuifacturers of 
pottery and stoneware, which is one of the 
flourishing industries of Evansville, stands 
the firm of Bennighof, Uhl & Co. This 
partnership was formed in 18S3, succeeding 
the Evansville Potter\' company, which was 
established in 1S79, ''^^'ly the date of the be- 
cinnino- of this manufacturing establishment. 
The firm manufactures stoneware exclu- 
sively, shipping the product west, and in 
1887 the product reached the grand total of 
$100,000, and eighty-six men were em- 
ployed. August Uhi., a member of this firm, 
and a valuable citizen of Evansville, was 
born in Hesse Darmstadt, November 15, 
1824. In his native land he received a good 
education, and learned the pottery business. 
After woiking there three years he came to 
the United States, July 18, 1846, and after 
brief periods spent at New York, Pittsburgh, 
and Louisville, came to Evansville in the 
spring of 1848, and here he has since re- 
sided. In 1849, he started in business for 



himself, with Henry Henn. This partner- 
ship lasted two years, and then Henn sold 
to Louis Daum. Three years later Mr. 
Uhl also sold out to Daum, and then he and 
his brother Louis were associated from 1854 
to 1 887, in the manufacture of stoneware. 
Mr. Uhl has been city councilman for four 
years, and in politics is a republican. He is 
a member of the Masonic order. He was 
married in Evansville, to Miss Caroline Bunte, 
a native of this city, and they had eighteen 
children in all, of whom but six are now liv- 
ing: Louisa, wife of Fred Hoffman, Emma, 
Bertha, Adolph B., Minnie and Matilda. 
Louis Uiii, was born July 4, 1831, and is 
a brother of August, being the youngest of 
the six children of George Uhl, who was a 
tile manufacturer in Germany. But three 
of these children survive, August, Louis and 
Mrs. Eliza Jeckil. Louis arrived here in 
1849, and began work at his trade, ulti- 
mately forming a partnership with his brother 
which lasted thirtj'-three years. He is now 
of the firm of Benninghof, Uhl & Co. Mr. 
Uhl was married April, 185S, to Miss Eliza- 
beth Mann, born in Darmstadt, daughter of 
Martin Mann, and they have had six child- 
ren, of whom three sons are living, Charles, 
general claim agent of the E. tSr T. II. rail- 
road; George M., a jjartner in the pottery 
business, and Edgar M. Mr. Uhl and fam- 
ily are members of St. John's German Evan- 
gelical church. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

Military History — War of '1812 — The Mexican War — The Civil War — 
Home Scenes — First Troops for the Front — Reglmental History — jNIis- 

CELLANEOUS LiST OF OFFICERS AND MeN INDIANA LeGION — ■ ThE DrAFTS 

Bounty and Relief — Militia Companies — Grand Army of the Republic. 



rg|ATRIOTISM best displays itself in 
\(3>6 times of war. Human nature is 
such, that extraordinary delights 
flow from the graphic account of a brilliant 
and successful campaign, or the vivid depiction 
of a desperate encounter on the field of bat- 
tle. Manoeuvres, indicating generalship of a 
high character, and the heroic endeavors 
of the humblest soldier, who patiently en- 
dures the severe trials and hardships of the 
march, the skirmish and the battle, attract 
the interest of all. Again, the disputed 
questions which lie back of, and produce, war 
among civilized people, generally involve 
the material and psychical welfare of a large 
portion of mankind, and their settlement 
marks the epochs in the advancement or 
retrogression of the race. Such questions 
take a firm hold upon the hearts of the peo- 
ple, and when they become crystalized into 
facts, are not easily effaced from the mem- 
ory. The maintenance of man's inalienable 
rights, the determination to have their en- 
joyment in no way abridged, the rescue 
of a fair land from indolent bar- 
barism, the salvation of the Union and the 
freedom of a race of bondsmen have at 
various times led the people of the United 
States into the arena of war. None of 
these struggles have left a blot upon the fair 
escutcheon of the countrv. A review of the 
various wars, which have from time to time 
engaged the Republic, a discussion of the 
issues which led up to them and the influ- 



ence of their results upon the progress of 
mankind and the development of civilization, 
and a portrayal of the campaigns made and 
the battles fought by the contending forces 
will not be attempted in this work. These 
are a part of the glorious national historj' 
and a knowledge of them on the part of the 
reader is presumed in the account of what 
Vanderburgh county and her citizens have 
done in acting out the war scenes in the 
drama of national history, which alone is at- 
tempted here. Such information, the sources 
of which are abundant and accessible to all, 
is indispensable to a correct appreciation of 
the valiant services of those whose achieve- 
ments in the struggles for a higher civili- 
zation and a larger measure of human lib- 
erty, entitle them to the grateful remem- 
brance of the beneficiaries of their acts. 

JVcir of 1812. — Before the county of Van- 
derburgh had been organized, settlers within 
its limits were called upon to perform mili- 
tar\' duties. Those early hunters and trap- 
pers were at first far from the centres of 
civilization, and little was demanded of 
them for the common defense of the coun- 
try. Some, however, were found in the 
meagre armies that were wresting a fair 
land from the grasp of the barbarians, and 
others helped to achieve the early victories 
over the British which imparted a 
lustre to the American flag. A few heroic 
men joined Gen. Harrison from this part of 
the countiy, and did effective service at Tip- 



EARLY MILITIA. 



469 



pecanoe and t-lsewhere. It is not possible 
to ascertain the names of all those who went 
from within the confines of what is now 
Vanderburgh county. The pioneer, George 
Linxweiler, was drafted for this service 
while living on the old Whetstone farm, but 
his son George was accepted as a substi- 
tute, served throughout Gen. Harrison's 
campaign, and was wounded at Tippecanoe. 
John Fickas, Thomas Skillett, Samuel But- 
ler and Elisha Brumfield, were drafted for 
the defense of New Orleans, during the war 
of 1812. They went with the hunters 
of Kentucky, to swell the ranks of Gen. 
Jackson in his campaign against Gen. Pak- 
enham. After Jackson's great \ictory at 
New Orleans, they were discharged and set 
out for home on foot. They walked all the 
way, sleeping in the woods and killing game 
for their support on the long and wearisome 
journey. This was before the era of steam- 
boats and newspapers in the west, and they 
brought with them the first intelligence 
received at the Red Banks or in the Green 
river settlement of the result of the battle of 
New Orleans. 

T'/ie Earl\' AfiH/ia. — The militia, which 
had done effective service in the Indian wars, 
was fostered by the early laws of the state. 
All able-bodied men of proper age were 
enrolled, and required to attend drills in mil- 
itary tactics at certain stated times. At first 
the people took an active interest in learn- 
ing the different military movements, and 
studied in their rude wav the strategies of 
war. Each man furnished a gun in the 
beginninjr, and all were skilled in the 
manual of arms. Musters took place 
several times a year, and were gener- 
ally held at the county seat or some other 
important point in the county. Thev were 
attended bv larg'' and luolley crowds, and 
when a long period of peace had impaired 
their efficiency, thej' partook of the nature 



of holiday's. As the men were pri\-ileged 
from arrest on "training days," a general 
jollification usually took place, liquors were 
freely imbibed, young men resorted to fist 
fights to try their mettle and settle old 
grudges, and all sorts of fun of the rougher 
and more boisterous kind, known in early 
times, was indulged in. The system was 
maintained, though impaired, until the time of 
the Mexican war. The following account 
of these old-time musters is furnished by 
Mr. Ira Fairchild: 

"Among the scenes that impressed them- 
selves with great effect upon my young 
mind was the yearly musters or traininc;s 
which took place in pursuance of the mili- 
tary law put in operation almost simultaneous 
with the state government. Indiana was 
upon the frontier. In many parts remnants 
of the Indian tribes still lingered; the days 
of actual warfare with the savages we"e 
still fresh in the minds of the older inhab- 
itants, and nothing was more natural than 
that a well-regulated militia should be deemed 
a great public necessity. In that day Van- 
derburgh county was divided into four 
townships — Pigeon, Armstrong, Union and 
Scott. In each of these there was a military 
company which paraded at stated times. In 
Scott township the drill took place at Saun- 
dersville; at the residence of Squire Jacobs, 
or at the Hornbrook farm. In Armstrong, 
generally at the house of Uncle Charley 
Martin, which was the hostelry of that 
settlement. In Union the soldiers met 
at the residence of Joseph M. McDowell, or 
at the farm of John Edwards. In Pigeon, 
the field of display was the commons adja- 
cent to Evansville. Whenever a battalion 
drill took place the point was fixed by 
arrangement of the officers at a point 
deemed to be suitable. But the annual 
reo'imental muster was the gala day. This 
invariably took place at the count}- seat, and 



470 



MILITAR Y HISTOR Y. 



was apt to wind up with a huge spree and 
not a few fights, in which, laowever, bone 
and muscle were the only weapons used. 
Such a thing as resortincr to the use of a 
knife or pistol was almost unheard of, and 
the man who would have dared to handle a 
weapon on such an occasion would have 
fared badly with the populace. On muster 
day the field officers were bedecked in their 
regulation suits, as much attention being 
paid to their dress as if they were soldiers of 
the regular service. The chargers which they 
bestrode were gaily comparisoned, and as 
they dashed over the field of duty the}' 
looked, and no doubt felt, as if Solomon in 
all his glor}' could not hold a candle to one 
of them. But when you turned from the 
officers to the soldiery then you beheld a 
spectacle that even at this late da}- makes 
me smile as I reflect upon the scene. Men 
of all ages and conditions, clad in every con- 
ceivable st}de known to the times; some in 
buckskin breeches, short sleeves and bare- 
footed; some in the best homespun suits 
they could command; others just as they 
had left the plow or the cornfield; it was a 
motley group. Their arms were (]uite as 
miscellaneous as their garb. There were 
men with rifles, men with short guns, and 
men with the butt end of cane fishing rods. 
The bottom land abounded with cane 
brakes, and ver^- often the soldier 
would prepare himself with a fresh 
cane, from which the pith had been 
carefully removed and the hollow securely 
corked up at both ends. Thus armed, 
when ammunition was distributed these 
doughty warriors took theirs in liquid form, 
which they poured into their improvised 
field pieces. In going through the evolu- 
tions of the drill, when ordered to fire, the}^ 
always shot — themselves in the neck ! By 
the time the exercises of the da}' were over, 
these cane-gun soldiers were ready to ex- 



hibit their prowess on the field of blood, 
and very often the field was decidedly 
bloody. The commanding officers of the 
brigade having their headquarters in this 
part of Indiana were, at different times: 
Gen. Robert M. Evans, Gen. W. A. Twigg, 
of New Harmony, and Gen. James P. 
Drake, then a resident of Posey county." 

T/ic Mexican War. — The war which the 
United States waged against Mexico had 
many enthusiastic advocates in Vanderburgh 
county. Every movementin that brief struggle 
was watched with intense interest. As 
early as August, 1845, rumors of war had 
reached the village of Evansville, and at 
once preparations were begun for the or- 
ganization of a military company. The 
newspapers, however, treated the matter 
jocosely, no doubt deeming a resort to war 
very remote. Through the winter and 
spring following, the people rather anxiously 
awaited developments. The telegraph was 
as yet unknown to the public, and the rapid 
transit of news was impossible. The officers 
of steamboats were looked to for late news- 
papers from other places, and the younia/, 
then an enterprising and very worthy sheet, 
issued extras whenever the news justified it. 
By the last of May, 1S46, public interest 
was at white heat; nothing was talked of 
but war and the rumors of war. As soon 
as the territory of our country had 
been invaded and blood of our citizens 
shed on our own soil by a hostile force 
from the Republic of Mexico, after repeated 
efforts on the part of the United States to 
honorably settle all existing differences, 
congress provided for a vigorous prosecu- 
tion of the war and authorized the president 
to call for, and accept, the services, of any 
number of volunteers not exceeding 50,000. 
The president called on Indiana for three 
regiments of volunteers, and Gov. James 
Whitcomb, on May 22, 1846, issued his pro- 



THE MEXICAN WAR. 



Jill 



clamation, appealing to the citizens to vol- 
unteer, and designating New Albany as the 
place of rendezvous. On Saturday after- 
noon, following the publication of the pro- 
clamation, a public meeting was held in the 
court-house in Evansville to adopt measures 
for raising volunteers, and by June 7, a 
company had been raised and left for New 
Albanv on the steamer, "Thomas Metcalfe." 
The company was the first to reach the 
place of rendezvous. It was called the In- 
diana riflemen; its oflicers were: Captain, 
William Walker ; first sergeant, J. A. Ep- 
person; second sergeant, G. W. Peck; and 
the ranks were full of fine looking men. 
It was composed of lOO men, and such 
was the an.xiety to join Capt. Walker, 
that it was believed he could with ease have 
formed a regiment. When the three regi- 
ments called for were formed, seventeen 
additional companies offered their services, 
but could not be accepted. The " Spencer 
Greys," of New Alban}', was a crack com- 
pany. Its sharpshooter challenged the 
riflemen to produce his equal in a trial of 
skill with the rifle. Martin Stinson stepped 
forth and beat the challenger twice out of 
three shots. Joseph Lane, then in the state 
senate, left his seat there, enlisted in the 
ranks, and took his first lessons in company 
drill from Capt. Walker. He was rapidly 
promoted by the men and officers of his 
regiment, and was appointed brigadier gen- 
eral b}' the president. At that time he was 
considered a "sensible man, of good address, 
but destitute of military knowledge," but 
his gallantry and manU' character soon won 
for him a proud place in the nation's history. 
By the middle of July the three Indiana 
regiments, with the Kentuck}^ and Ohio 
troops, had passed down the river to join 
Gen. Taylor. They pitched their tents first 
at Camp Jackson, below' New Orleans. 
The passage across the gulf, the heat. 



the dry sand, the mosquitos and other 
pests peculiar to the locality, were 
all trying on the men The first death 
among the Evansville men was that of Jacob 
Taylor, and by October ist the regiment 
had lost twenty-one of its men, though suf- 
fering less than any other regiment of vol- 
unteers. The regiment went into camp at 
Camp Belknap, about ten miles from the 
mouth of the Rio Grande, and remained 
there till December loth, when it moved to 
the interior as far as Saltillo, and beyond, at 
length camping near the famous field of 
Buena Vista. On January 14th, 1847, the 
last of the rifle regiment. Company' K, Capt. 
Tucker, arrived at New Orleans. This 
company was composed of seventy-si.v men, 
recruited entirely in Indiana, and more than 
one-half in E\'ansville. 

It was not until April ist, so slowly did 
the news travel in those days, that the great 
fight at Buena Vista, of February 22-23, 
was heard of at Evansville. Then the tid- 
ings were uncertain and the excitement 
great. The defeat of Taylor was at first 
heralded, resting on Mexican reports, but 
on the same day the steamer Sitltanahvowjy^. 
New Orleans papers of March 23d, contain- 
ing accounts of the bloody battle in which 
American valor was triumphant, and Santa 
Anna's army was cut to pieces. On the 
morning of the 23d of February, the Second 
Indiana regiment occupied a secure position 
on the banks of a deep ravine. Gen. Lane 
moved the regiment forward out of sup- 
porting distance of other troops, and sud- 
denly encountered about four or five thous- 
and of the enemy, when a most terrible con- 
flict ensued, which resulted in disaster and 
disorderly retreat. This misfortune occa- 
sioned considerable criticism, but the men 
of the regiment were blameless. They fell 
in with the Mississijipians, the Kentuckians 
and the Third Indiana regiment, and fought 



m 



MILITAR YHISTOR Y. 



bravely. Gen. Lane was exonerated by a 
court of inquiry. Col. William A. Bowles, 
later, of unsavory reputation, was found to 
have caused the disaster because of his in- 
competency as a commanding officer. The 
retriment lost in killed and wounded at 
Buena Vista 135 men. There, sword in 
hand, Capt. Walker fell while nobly and 
gallantly battling for his country's honoi . 
Gen. Lane, in after years, said of him : " A 
truer, braver soldier fell not upon an}' battle 
field before or since." After the fight the 
regiment remained near Buena Vista until 
May 24, when it marched to Monterey, 
thence descending the Rio Grande to the 
Gulf of Mexico, and arrived at New Or- 
leans, on the 15th of June, where it was 
mustered out of service, and the men 
reached Evansville about July i, 1847. 

Capt. Walker's companv was the only or- 
ganization that went out as representing 
Vanderburgh county. At the time of its 
formation a company known as the Wash- 
ington Guards, under Capt. Bittrolff, was 
raised for the war, but Indiana's quota being 
full it was not accepted for service. When 
the second call for troops was made the Indi- 
ana regiments were made up from other 
parts of the state. Recruiting officers sta- 
tioned themselves at Evansville and obtained 
many volunteers, but the companies formed 
here were too late to be accepted in the 
state's regiments. Some of them joined the 
Kentucky and Ohio regiments, and others 
were found afterward in the ranks of the 
regular army. The companies that went to 
Mexico under the second call did guard 
and provost dutv until peace was de- 
clared. It is not possible to gi\'e a 
full list of those who went from here 
to engage in that war. Among those in 
Capt. Walker's company were: Floyd 
Williams, John Stover, Benoni Stinson, Adam 
Stinson, Martin Stinson, John Robertson, 



John T. Walker, A. J. Hutchison, Gordon 
Wilheit, John McNamara, John Stevens, S. S. 

Teel, Thomas Knight, James Sublett, 

Sublett, John Stein, William Gregory, Bran- 
son Matson, Higginbottam, 

Crooks, McCutchan, Jacob Taylor. 

Mexican Veterans. — Ver}' few of the 
men who served m the Mexican war now re- 
side in Vanderburgh countv, and nearlv all 
of the survivors to be found here served in 
orijanizations belonirinij to other states. 
These veterans formed an association Sep- 
tember 20, 1887, with Joseph C. Overell as 
president and Adolph Miehle as secretar}'. 
The following are the names of its mem- 
bers: Gen. James M. Shackelford, Col. 
John Rhinelander, John W. Walton, 
Charles Lucas, Erastus C. Morris, John 
P.Zubrod, James England, Floyd Williams, 
A. H. Guin, Conrad Neuman, Jacob Davis, 
John Rothengatter, Robert Moeder, James 
O. Boicourt and C. L. Roberts. 

The Civil War. — For several years prior 
to 1861 the countrv had been drifting toward 
civil war. The two sections, the north and 
the south, had different interests to serve in 
the administration of national affairs. The 
contest between the two sections had often 
been vigorous, and once before, in 1832, 
almost terminated in war. In the era of 
peace that preceded the outbreak of that 
storm which at length shook the country 
through all its parts, the people had learned 
to love the quiet joys of domestic life. Most 
of them were strangers tcj the noise of con- 
tending arms and knew little of the dangers 
and privations of war. They were happily 
expecting a continued peaceful life. But a 
weak stone had been placed in the founda- 
tion of the republic under whose flag they 
claimed citizenship and protection, and 
through its weakness, the structure, just de- 
veloping into magnificent grandeur, was 
threatened with destruction. That weak 



THE SECTIONAL CRISIS. 



UlS 



stone was the institution of Imman slavery, 
which was subsequently limited to a certain 
portion of the country. The republican 
party, when in its infancy, had amon^ its 
leaders the avowed opponents of that 
institution, many of whom had been 
identified with the movement for its 
destruction. The great campaign of 
i860 had been carried on as vigor- 
ously in Vanderburgh county as anywhere 
in the north. Many eminent statesmen ad- 
dressed the people, who assembled in im- 
mense masses. Party feeling ran high. 
The picturesque and striking style of per- 
sonating national candidates had not vet been 
abandoned. The young republican part}- 
adopted this st\le of electioneering with 
vigor and extraordinary effect. Great pro- 
cessions, gathered together from all parts of 
the surrounding countr}-, paraded the prin- 
cipal streets of Evansville with brass bands, 
fife and drum corps, glee clubs and uni- 
formed men, women and children, mounted, 
on foot, and in every sort of convevance. 
The " Ship of State," which was so promi- 
nently connected with Fremont's campaign 
four years before, was succeeded by a 
symbol that created an enthusiasm that can 
now hardly be comprehended. This was a 
mammoth log wagon, drawn by a score of 
oxen, and carrying an immense log, along 
which, on platforms built over the wheels, 
were half a dozen stalwart farmers, " to the 
manor born," swinging immense mauls on 
to wooden wedges stuck into the tough 
fibres of the wood. The "rail-splitter" 
candidate for the presidency had elements of 
strength that were not dreamed of in the 
aristocratic south and the cultured east. 
The claims of the homely, uncouth and 
common man of the people from the prairies 
of Illinois proved irresistible. His divided 
opposition was routed, and a political party, 
with no claims to popular favor but its 



pledges and the character of its leaders, 
took possession of the government. 

Abraham Lincoln had publicly declared 
his deliberate conviction that the govern- 
ment could not exist half free and half slave. 
His election to the presidency, therefore, 
the southern states accepted as a menace 
to then- institutions. In that section of the 
Union the doctrine of state sovereignty had 
long been taught under the leadership of 
John C. Calhoun. Accordingly they did 
not long hesitate to secede from the Union 
when it was known that Abraham Lincoln 
by constitutional methods had become chief 
magistrate of the land. The south had for 
so long a time controlled the legislation of 
the country that it would not complacently 
submit to a loss of its power. On the 20th 
of December, i860, following the election 
of Lincoln, South Carolina took the first 
active steps and passed an ordinance of 
secession from the Union. In this move- 
ment she was followed in rapid succession 
b\' Mississippi, January- 9; Alabama and 
Florida, January 11; Georgia, Januar\' 
19; Louisiana, January 26; Texas, Feb- 
ruary i; Virginia, April 17; Arkansas, 
and Tennessee, May 6; and North Caro- 
lina, May 21. No president ever assumed 
the duties of that high office under more 
trying circumstances than did Abraham 
Lincoln. Seven states had declared them- 
selves out of the Union and refused to 
recognize his authorit)', and in less than two 
months four others had followed into the 
confederacy. In February, 1S61, a peace 
conference was held at Baltimore, attended 
b}- some of the most influential men from 
most of the states. The object was to 
effect a compromise between the different 
sections of the Union, and prevent a disrup- 
tion and war. After a laborious sitting of 
several davs it adjourned without having 
accomplished the purpose for which it was 



J,U 



MILITARY HISTOR Y. 



called. The excitement was intense 
throughout the country. The extreme par- 
tisans who had supported the new president 
were for a time disappointed when they saw 
that other states were allowed unmolested 
to leave the Union and join the confederac}'. 
All over the north there was a divided sen- 
timent in regard to the cause and responsi- 
bility of this attempt to sever the 
union. Some believed that if the south 
wanted to withdraw from the Union, there 
was no lawful way to prevent it. They did 
not believe that a state could be " coerced." 
The condition of affairs was so strained that 
meetings were held in all parts of the 
country to discuss the state of the Union and 
advise as to the best course to pursue. 
While the public mind was in this excited 
condition, the passionate and ill-tempered 
south, imagining its slave property endan- 
gered by the election of a republican for 
president, could not be held in subjection. 
It had organized into a separate govern- 
ment even before Lincoln had been inau- 
gurated. It had created an arm}' and navy, 
and within six weeks after Abraham Lin- 
coln had been proclaimed president, it at- 
tacked the United States troops at Fort 
Sumter, in the bay of Charleston, S. C. 
That deed, more than all others, united the 
loyal hearts of the north in defense of the 
national flag that had been fired upon by 
those in rebellion. They welcomed it, per- 
haps, as the only solution to the question of 
the hour, and gladly responded to the call to 
arms. 

When it became known that the question 
involving the nation's life must be submitted 
to the terrible " arbitrament of the sword " 
the union sentiment in Vanderburgh county 
grew rapidly. At first many persons in 
conversation on the streets expressed seces- 
sion sentiments, but as soon as matters as- 
sumed a serious aspect and men could see 



just where they stood, few could be found 
who would openly justify the citizens of the 
seceding states in their scheme of destroj-ing 
the government. Men of all parties came 
to the rescue of the Union. Party differ- 
ences were, for the time, forgotten. The 
theor}' that differences of opinion as to 
questions of national import should be de- 
cided at the ballot box was well understood 
and accepted by the people. In a consti- 
tutional manner they had decided to trust a 
political party for four years, and before 
that party had done aught to show that it was 
unworthy the trust, it was sought to destroy 
the Union. In this crisis all loyal people re- 
gardless of prior part}- affiliations said " let 
us save the ship first and then we can dispute 
as to the best mode of sailing her. " 

The war feeling soon became intense. 
Little else was thought or talked of. On 
the morning of April 17, a call, signed by 
leading citizens, was issued for a public 
meeting at the court-house in the evening 
of the same day. At nightfall the Jackson 
artiller}-, of fine appearance, under Capt. 
Ellis, turned out in uniform and fired a na- 
tional salute. Warren's Crescent City band 
paraded the streets, playing inspiring national 
airs. The court-house was (juickly filled 
b\' all classes of citizens, and Ma3'or Baker 
was called to preside over the meeting. It 
bemg ascertained that hundreds desirous of 
participating were in the streets unable to 
get in the house, an adjournment was had 
to the street about the Washington House, 
from the balcony of which the band dis- 
coursed enlivening music. From here the 
crowd moved on to Crescent City hall, 
hoping there to find room for its members, 
but it grew as it moved, and at length the 
upper market iiouse was chosen as a place 
of meeting. The market house was speed- 
ily filled in all its parts; a stand was hastily 
erected; the vast crowd became silent and 



PREPARATIONS FOR WAR 



m 



listened to a stirring address from James E. 
Blythe, a well-known orator of that day. 
He was followed by George D. Wagner, of 
Warren county, aide-de-camp of Gen. James 
M. Shanklin, in a noble speech which 
stirred the hearts of his hearers to 
their lowest depths. Conrad Baker, 
then a prominent lawyer antl afterward 
governor of the state, made a for- 
cible speech and proposed resolutions de- 
claring " our time, talents, fortunes and li\es 
are at the service of the government in tliis, 
the day of its trial; the preservation of the 
government is above all personal and party 
considerations, and we pledge to its support, 
now and hereafter, our all, without reference 
to the men or party b}* which it may be ad- 
ministered." The reading of these ^loyal 
sentiments moved the assembled ihrong to 
the wildest demonstrations of approval, and 
in the midst of the enthusiastic outburst 
Judge ]?aker administered to most of those 
present an extemporized oath to support the 
constitution and the Union. Capt. August 
Ellis pledged his compan\' to the support 
of the constitution and the protection of the 
people's homes. Blythe Hynes and Will- 
iam H. Chandler made eloquent and effective 
speeches, and the meeting adjourned with 
three cheers for " the union, the constitution, 
the enforcement of the laws and the stars 
and stripes." 

There was no time during the war when 
secession sympathizers were not to be found 
in \'anderburgh county. Two of these at- 
tempted to air their views and breed discord 
at this public meeting at the market-house, 
but they made themselves odious. Their 
interruption ot the meeting and the spirit it 
elicited in retaliation only served to bring 
out in bolder relief the intense union feeling 
that prevailed. 

No adequate idea as to the extent and 
probable duration of the war had as yet 



been formed by the people in any part of 
the count)-. The Evansville yoitriial of 
April 20. said editorially, '•' this is the most 
exposed anr. critical poini in Indiana, \et 
Evansville will send at least one compan}- to 
join the forces sent out of the state." Few 
could then have been induced to beheve 
that Vanderburgh count}- would contribute 
to the nation's armies besides her own home 
guard, more than 3,500 men. And yet the 
alacrity with which inlistments were made, 
and companies organized would encourage 
the belief that citizens supposed a great 
deal of home defense would be needed if 
onl\' one company was to be sent to the 
front. Companies were rapidh' fornied in 
the city, in Lamasco and in every township 
in the count}-. By the first of June the 
townships had raised nine companies of in- 
fantry and the city nine companies of infan- 
try and three of artillery. Other companies 
were partially made up. All were clamor- 
ing for guns and equipments. It became 
necessary to determine by allotment who 
should be favored in the distribution of 
arms. 

Man}' of these were prompted bv patriotic 
impulses to offer their breasts to shield the 
nation's heart from harm. Others were out 
of employment because of the closed shops, 
and enlisted with little thought of the re- 
sponsibilities to be borne; and yet in the 
hour of trial were equal to the demands 
upon their manhood, and proved themselves 
made of heroic metal. Every encourage- 
ment was offered to those who showed a 
willingness to sacrifice self for country. 
They were followed to their camps and 
bountifully supplied with such articles of 
food and clothing as might serve to amelio- 
rate the hardships of camp life. Patriotic 
women were especially thoughtful in their 
endeavors to encourage a loyal support of 
the government. When the first troops 



^^6 



MILITARY HISTOR Y. 



moved to Camp Baker they were followed 
there by the folks at home, who were reluc- 
tant to lose sight of them. Dinners were 
spread in camp by prominent ladies, and 
comforts were brought in abundance. The 
hearts of the young soldiers were full of 
hope and buo3'ancy. All were impatient to 
reach the seat of war and gain distinc- 
tion, and their movements eastward were 
watched by an exultant and hopeful people. 

The first irreat excitement in Evansville 
over the war news followed the first battle 
of Bull Run, when it was learned how the 
Union forces, routed, had fled in consterna- 
tion and confusion from the field of battle 
toward the capital. In Evansville the most 
intense excitement reigned, business was 
suspended, men gathered in groups upon 
the streets and about the news-centres to 
discuss the thrilling intelHgence. A deep 
gloom seemed to have settled on the com- 
munit}'. The disappointment and chagrin 
of the routed army was shared by all. 
Strong men wept as they read of the car- 
nage in the ranks of the Union army, or 
were told of the temporary defeat. But the 
ultimate effect was most gratif_ying. The 
people began to realize the magnitude of the 
contest and the strength and determination 
of their opponents. The determination was 
expressed by all that from that hour they 
were ready to obey any call made upoT 
them. There was no despondency as to the 
final result. 

So all through the war, in every battle, 
in every campaign, the people at home took 
the liveliest interest. They followed their 
troops throvigh all their long marches, ex- 
ulted over their victories and deplored their 
defeats. When Shiloh was fought, the 
steamer " Charley Bowen " was loaded 
with supplies, and citizens went to the field 
of battle, to relie^'e distress and care for the 
wounded. With absorbing interest the 



siege and capture of Vicksburg, the great 
and decisive battle of Gettysburg, and all of 
the exploits of the armv both in the east and 
west, were watched. All eves followed the 
fearless Sherman and his gallant army in 
their brilliant campaign of 1S64, and when 
the news of Atlanta's fall came, an immense 
crowd assembled in front of the old Branch 
bank, to hear patriotic speeches and music, 
and to indulge in fire-works. Wild demon- 
strations of delight followed the capture of 
Richmond and Petersburg, but all were as 
nothing compared with that which followed 
the news of Lee's surrender. 

The news from Appomattox reached 
Evansville in the evening, but only a few- 
heard it then. It became generally known 
in the morning of the next da}', and at sun- 
rise the rejoicing commenced. The great 
guns belched forth theii thunders, the 
bells pealed with joy, and flags were flung 
out, and fluttered gorgeously in the breeze, 
until Main street seemed a galaxy of stars 
and stripes. The city schools were dis- 
missed and more than a thousand youths 
betook themselves to the streets with wild 
shouts and unrestrained rejoicing. Bands 
of musicians paraded the streets and the joy 
soon became fast and furious. The Crescent 
City band took position on the steps of the 
Branch bank, and there the great crowd 
assembled. Distinijuished citizens and sol- 
diers, in words of burning eloquence and 
thrilling patriotism, addicssed the throng. 
The crowd itself commenced singing patri- 
otic songs, making the streets ring with, 
" Sons of Freedom, Hear the Story," " John 
Brown's Body," "Rally Round the Flag" 
and other soul-stirring airs. The whole 
populace of the cit}' was on the streets. At 
noon a grand salute of 200 guns, under the 
direction of Capt. Tombler, was commenced, 
and the firing was splendid. Nearly all busi- 
ness was suspended during the day, and all 



SCENES AT HOME. 



477 



patriotic men partook of the general jo}-. 
The city rang with cheers foi Lincoln, 
Grant, Sheridan, Sherman and the boys 
in blue, and the entire day was 
given up to festivities and rejoicings, 
all feeling that the power of tlie rebellion 
was at last broken, and that peace, perma- 
nent and honorable, was about to dawn 
ajrain on the land. 

The people, elated with a series of un- 
paralled military successes, and buoyant with 
joN'ful anticipations of the almost immediate 
termination of one of the most terrible wars 
that ever desolated a land, and the speed}" 
prevalence of peace, were, in the midst of 
their rejoicings, appalled and cast into the 
deepest gloom by the announcement that 
President Lincoln had been struck down b}' 
the hand of an assassin. The reception of 
this sad news in Ex'ansville is indescribable. 
Men were struck dumb almost, and with 
white lips and blanched cheeks, whispered: 
" Can this be true ? " And as the startling 
news spread from lip to lip, all business was 
instinctivelv suspended, places of business 
were closed, and the insignia of mourning 
was hung on e\ery house. All the flags in 
the city and on boats at the wharf were 
hung at half mast and draped in mourning. 
The churches were thronged with people, 
and the ser\ices there were of the most 
solemn and affecting character. All 
eyes were bathed in tears, and a feeling of 
awe and terror and dread prevailed. Mayor 
Walker issued a jiroclamation requesting a 
suspension of business, the draping of houses 
and tolling of the city bells. Guns were 
fired every half hour, by military authoritv, 
from sunrise to sunset. The people gath- 
ered in groups to discuss the appalling 
calamity. A look of anguish per\aded 
every countenance. Grief and indignation 
were mingled, but order was preserved, and 
no cause for reproach to the city was given. 



If there was any one who rejoiced in his 
heart at this fearful calamity to the nation, 
his feelings were concealed from the ordi- 
nary observer. 

These civic demonstrations, extending 
from the commencement to the close 
of the war, were ample proof of the 
loyalty of \'anderburgh count\- and the 
great majority of her citizens. But even a 
stronger proof is afforded by the careers of 
those who, leaving homes, kindred and 
friends, joined the nation's armies, and 
through suffering and hardship were forget- 
ful of self and devoted to the interest of 
their countrw Their names, associated 
with the histor\' of one of the grandest 
steps in the progress of human liberty, are 
received with gratitude to-day, and will 
pass in honor to remote generations. 

/^irst Troops /or the Front. — The loyal 
spirit of Vanderburgh county was proved by 
the willingness with which she responded 
to the first call to arms. Scarcely had the 
people recovered from the shock occasioned 
by the news that Fort Sumter had been 
tired on when they commenced preparations 
for active warfare. On the 19th of April, 
1861, Capt. Noah S. Thompson, who had 
served honorably in the Me.xican war, tele- 
graphed to the adjutant general at Indian- 
apolis, "Will you receive a company from 
this cityr " The repl\- was at once returned, 
"Yes; come on immediately." Tlie com- 
pany rolls were opened for signatures on 
Saturda\-, the 20th, and such was the en- 
thusiasm that within four hours the company 
was more than full. On that evening the 
compan\- met in its armory in the Klausman 
buildiniT, on Main street abo\e Second, and 
organized, after the administration of an oath 
bvjohn W. Foster, notary public, afterward 
the distinguished colonel. The first otficers 
were: Noah S. Thompson, captain; Nathan 
Willard, first lieutenant; George C. Pope, 



Jfl8 



MILITAE Y HISTOE Y. 



second lieutenant: J. C. C. Miller, thii-d lieu- 
tenant. The compan)' took the name of 
" The Crescent City Guards," and during 
the evening after organization paraded the 
streets of the city amid great enthusiasm, 
escorted b}' the Crescent City band and a 
large procession of citizens. Preparations 
were at once made to depart for Indianap- 
olis on the following Tuesday morning. On 
Monday morning Capt. Thompson pro- 
ceeded to Indianapolis, and telegraphed 
back to the lieutenant, " We cannot get in ; 
disband the company." By this time the 
company was 132 strong, and at least 100 
more had offered themselves, drilling in mil- 
itary tactics had been actively commenced, 
and the disappointment to the men occa- 
sioned by the news from their captain was 
very great. At length, however, the com- 
pany was received into the service of the 
state, and marched to the fair grounds to 
camp until called into active service. The 
company was mustered into the United 
States service June 7, 1861, as Com- 
pany E, Fourteenth Regiment infan- 
try — the first of the three years' rem- 
ments from Indiana. The commissions of 
the officers above named were dated April 
19, 1S61. Capt. Thompson resigned, and 
Lieut. Willard was promoted to the vacancy 
September 15, 1861, serving until June 24, 

1864, when his term expired. The first 
lieutenants were : Edward Ballenger, 
commissioned September 15, 1861, died 
September 23, 1862, of wounds received 
inaction; Chester O. Davis, commissioned 
September 24, 1862, resigned February 23, 
1863; Charles H. Myerhoff, commissioned 
May 4, 1863, mustered out October 17,- 

1865, — was absent in hospital on account 
of wounds received in action when company 
was mustered out. The second lieutenants 
were: John C. C. Miller, commissioned 
April 19, 1861, resigned September 15, 



1861; Thomas M. Marshall, commissioned 
September 15, 1S61, dismissed October 17, 
1S62; Horace Bradford, commissioned Octo- 
ber 18, 1862, mustered out June 24, 1864, 
term expired. The following is a complete 
roster of the non-comn'iissioned officers and 
privates of this company: First Sergeant 
Edward Ballenger, promoted first lieutenant. 
Sergeant August Junod, elected first lieu- 
tenant, killed Cheat Mountain, September 12, 
1861. Sergeant Chester O. Davis, pro- 
moted first lieutenant. Sergeant Thomas 
M. Marshall, promoted second lieutenant. 
Sergeant Horace Bradford, promoted second 
lieutenant. Corporal John Dalzell, wounded 
Winchester, discharged October 22, 1862, 
disability. Corporal Carl Schone, appointed 
sergeant, discharged March 2, 1863. Cor- 
poral Charles H. Mj-erhoff, promoted first 
lieutenant. Corporal John D. Lyons, dis- 
charged July 15, 1862, disabilitv. Corporal 
William H. Mitchell, discharged October 
20, 1862, joined Fourth United States artil- 
lery. Corporal John S. Troy, discharged 
May 10, 1S62. Corporal Joseph R. Weas- 
ner, discharged June 21, 1S62. Corporal 
Thomas Davis, dropped from rolls October 
15, 1862. Samuel L. Potts, principal mu- 
sician, discharged Februar\- 25, 1863. 
Clayborn Clements, musician, veteran, 
transferred to Company C. John Dougherty, 
wagoner, discharged September 21, 1861. 
Privates. — Beck, Ludw ig, discharged Oc- 
tober 20, 1862, joined Fourth United States 
artillery; Bergman, William, mustered out 
June 16, 1864, term expired; Bettus, George 
W., discharged August 7, 1861, accidental 
wounds, served in Veteran Relief Corps; 
Born, Wendel, discharged May 20, 1862, 
disability; Bodenheimer, George W., 
wounded at Fredericksburg, to Veteran 
ReHef Corps, November 16, i863;Bowen, 
John, dropped from rolls October 15, 1862; 
Campbell, George, wounded at Antietam, 




^^cud /^ /%e//^^^^ 




FIBST COMPANY. 



479 



mustered out June i6, 1864; Carnsted, 
Charles, died at Iluttosnville, Va., Novem- 
ber 3, 1S61; Dailey, John A., captured at 
Chancellorsville, mustered out June 16, 
1864; Donaliue, Michael, not mustered out; 
Duncan, Ira II., discharged December 15, 
1861, disability; Edrington, Silas, discharged 
May 10, 1862, disability; Everhart, Fred, 
mustered out June 16, 1864, term expired; 
Feldman, Francis A., died April 4, 1S62, at 
Winchester, Va., wounds; Fickas, William 
H., discharged October 24, 1862, joined 
Fourth United States artillery; Fluke, Se- 
fren, wounded at Antietam, mustered out 
June 16, 1864, term expired; Foss, Chris- 
tian, discharged May 20, 1S62, disabilit}-; 
Gephardt, Louis, wounded at Antietam, 
captured at Chancellorsville, mustered out 
June 16, 1864, term expired; Grey, William 
H., appointed wagoner, transfered to Vet- , 
eran Relief Corps; Harter, Henry, ap- 
pointed corporal, wounded at Antietam, 
transfered to Veteran Relief Corps; Hennel, 
Joseph, captured at Fredericksburg, mus- 
tered out June 16, 1864, term expired; 
Henson, John, discharged May 10, 1862, 
disability; Hergt, Charles, mustered out 
June 16, 1864, term expired; Hitch, Thomas, 
discharged October 24, 1862, joined Fourth 
United States artillery; Hitch, George, 
wounded Chancellorville, mustered out June 

16, 1864, term expired; Hagerman, Chris- 
tian, discharged August 2, 1862, disability; 
Iloffmeinster, Henry, mustered out June 16, 
1864, term expired; Ilugle, Christian, not 
discharged; Jenner, William D., discharged 
October 20, 1862, joined Fourth United 
States artillery ; Jolly, Joseph, appointed cor- 
poral, discharged March 14, 1863; Koppler, 
William, discharged June 16, 1862, account 
of wounds received at Winchester; Ken- 
nedy, Edward, killed at Antietam, September 

17, 1862; Kiger, Ferdinand, discharged Oc- 
tober 24, 1862, joined Fourth United States 

88 



artillery; Keshler, Emdil, wounded Antie-' 
tarn, mustered out June 16, 1864, term ex- 
pired; Kinney, James K., discharged Octo- 
ber 24, 1862, joined Fourth United States 
artillery; Kramer, John P., discharged May 
10, 1S62, disabihty; Konig, Fred, mustered 
out June 16, 1864, term expired; Kornman, 
Adolph, discharged February 16, 1863, dis- 
ability; Kretchman, Charles, discharged 
February 7, 1863, disability; Kinkle, George 
H., died October .9, 1862, of wounds re- 
ceived at Antietam; Kline, Matthew, ap- 
pointed sergeant, wounded Antietam and 
Fredericksburg; Laughlin, John M., dis- 
charged October 20, 1862, joined Fourth 
United States artillery; Lennert, Herman, 
discharged October 20, 1S62, joined Fourth 
United States artillery; Loop, Francis M., 
discharged October 20, 1862, joined Fourth 
United States artillery; Lyons, Joseph, 
discharged May 10, 1862, disability; 
Meyer, John G., mustered out June 16, 1864, 
term expired ; Meyer, George, discharged Oc- 
tober 24, 1862, joined Fourth United States 
artillery; Murrisena, Frank, discharged 
October 10, 1861, disability; McMullin, 
James H., wounded three times, captured 
at Chancellorsville, killed at Wilderness, May 
6, 1864; McCarty, James J., discharged De- 
cember 15, 1861; McQuill, James, dis- 
charged May 19, 1862, on account of wounds 
received at Winchester; Newbanks, Charles 
E., dropped October 15, 1862, returned and 
discharged 1863; Nixon, William, captured 
at Fredericksburg, mustered out June 16, 
i86.|., term expired; Ottinger, Jacob, mus- 
tered out June 16, 1864, term expired; 
O'Bryen, Frank, killed at Antietam, Septem- 
ber 17, 1862; Peacock, William, discharged 
October 20, 1S64, joined Fourth United 
States artillery; Planitz, Antoine, dropped 
April 10, 1863; Quintell, James, appointed 
sergeant, transferred to Veteran Relief 
Corps, September i, 1863; Richardt, Con- 



i80 



MILITAR Y HI8T0R Y. 



rad, mustered out June i6, 1864, term ex- 
pired; Richard, John, killed at Antietam, 
September 17, 1862; Rourke, John, dis- 
charged October 23, 1862, joined Fourth 
United States artillery; Scudder, Frank, 
transferred to Fourth United States artillery, 
killed at Chancellorsville: Shultz, Edward, 
discharged October 23, 1862, joined Fourth 
United States artillery'; Shultz, August, 
wounded June i, 1864, mustered out June 
16, 1864, term expired; Schreeber, Stephen, 
discharged October 20, 1862, joined Fourth 
United States artiller}'; Semler, Fred, 
wounded at Cheat Mountain, September 12, 
1861; Sneider, Joseph N., appointed ser- 
geant, wounded at Chancellorville ; Summer- 
field, Henry, discharged April 10, 1863, on 
account of wounds received at Antietam; 
Shelby, James W., wounded at Gettysburg, 
mustered out June 16, 1864, term expired; 
Stack, John, discharged May 29, 1863, disa- 
bility ; Strausner, Peter, discharged October 
16, 1861, blindness; Stark, John, killed at 
Chancellorsville, May 3, 1863 ; Trout, Caspar, 
mustered out June 16, 1864, as absent sick, 
term expired; Thompson, Joseph G., cap- 
tured Fredericksburg, wounded and cap- 
tured Wilderness; Utalhofen, William, 
missing in action at Wilderness; Watson, 
Alexander, not discharged; Weisenthal, 
Louis, discharged August 19, 1861, disabil- 
ity; Winder, George, killed at Cheat Moun- 
tain, September 12, 1861; Winters, Sebas- 
tian, discharged April 11, 1863, account 
wounds received Fredericksburg; Win- 
gert, John H., died December 17, 1S62, of 
wounds received Fredericksburg; Wood- 
ruff, John, discharged October 23, 1862, 
joined Fourth United States artillery; Zus- 
span, Adam, wounded Antietam, mustered 
out June 16, 1864, term expired. 

Rccriii/s. — Hartlin, Nicholas, wounded 
Wilderness, transferred Twentieth regi- 
ment June, 1864; Robeson, Charles, trans- 



ferred to Twentieth regiment June, 1864. 
The company started out with ninety- 
eight men and received two recruits. Of 
these twelve died, six deserted and three 
were unaccounted for. Col. Thomas G. 
Williamson, of Evansville, served in this 
regiment as first lieutenant Compan}' A, 
from April 24, i86i.to Jul}' 5, 1861, and as 
captain Companj' F, from July 5, 1861 to 
April 26, 1862, when he resigned. 

Mag Presentation. — When Capt. Thomp- 
son's company was ready to depart the 
ladies of the city of Evansville sought to 
show their appreciation of the heroism 
which was leading these nien from the quiet 
joys of home to the hardships of army life, 
and arranged to present a silk flag to the 
company on the afternoon of Maj' 10, at the 
court-house. The following account of the 
ceremonies of the occasion is taken from 
the yoiirua/ oi May 11, 1861: 

" Long before the hour had arrived for 
the presentation the crowd began to assem- 
ble, and but few minutes elapsed before the 
windows of the court-house. Crescent City 
hall and the windows and balcony of the 
Washington hotel were filled with ladies, 
while Main street was blocked with men. 
There was but little noise or confusion. A 
feeling of sadness appeared to pervade 
the entire assemblage that the time 
had ever arrived when this people 
were called on to arm their neighbors 
and friends, and present to their care the 
American flag, which they are expected to 
protect and defend against traitorous and re- 
bellious Americans. Notwithstanding the 
sadness which man}' thoughtful countenances 
indicated, the compressed lips showed there 
was no lack of determination, and the flash- 
ing eves and heaving bosoms — \\ hen the 
beautiful symbol of our country's nationality 
and glory was unfurled to the breeze — 
plainly spoke death to the traitorous hand 



FLAG PRESENTATION. 



Jt81 



tliat should attempt to desecrate or dis- 
honor it. 

"The Turner corps was out in full num- 
bers, and moved with the precision of old 
soldiers. Capt. Thompson's company — 
the Crescent Cit}- Guards — headed by the 
Crescent City band, marched up in double 
file, and stood immediatel}' in front of the 
portico, with the Turners in the rear in two 
ranks, while the crowd was compactly 
packed in between the two com- 
panies, and down the street to a 
considerable distance. The band opened 
the exercises b}^ playing, " Columbia, the 
Gem of the Ocean." The same piece was 
then sung by a party of 3'oung ladies and 
gentlemen with fine effect. The song 
struck a tender chord, and the hearty cheers 
that went up from the vast crowd showed 
that Columbia was enshrined in their hearts. 

"Mr. Shanklin, in behalf of the ladies, then 
presented the flag, with the following elo- 
quent and touching appeal: 

" ' Captain, in behalf of the ladies, I pre- 
sent this flag to you, and through you to the 
company which j-ou command. It is the 
work of fair hands, prompted b}- the patriot- 
ism of noble hearts. The custom of pre- 
senting a flag to the soldier going forth to 
battle for his country is not a new one. 
Away back in olden times, the banners that 
waved victoriously over the grim legions of 
Caesar were made and presented by the sturdy 
matrons of Rome. The cross of St. George, 
that flaunted defiantly on the red field of Wat- 
erloo, upon which cross the first Napoleon 
was that day crucified and afterward the 
great stone of St. Helena rolled against the 
door of his sepulchre — that cross was 
made by the proud mothers of England; and 
in every battlefield, when the din and storm 
of strife is loudest, as the soldier through 
the thick smoke of battle catches sight of 
his country's flag, his heart beats quicker 



and his arm graws stronger to think that its 
bright colors were put on by the brighter 
eyes, and its pure white by the still whiter 
hands of his countrywomen. History tells 
us that the original of this flag was born at 
Bunker Hill, and baptized at Saratoga, while 
the choir of continental cannon was chant- 
ing the baptismal service; it came of age 
at Yorktown, and now, when it is grown 
up in its full manhood and strength, southern 
traitors insist that it must be born again. 
Well, if it must be so, let its new birth be at 
Charleston, and its re-baptism at Mont- 
gomery, with the same proud eagle for 
its godfather. You remember when, 
during the revolutionary war, our 
flag was shot away from the breast 
works of Fort Moultrie, a voung soldier by 
the name of Jasper sprang forward, and, 
amid the hot fire of the enemy, planted it 
firmly on top of the ramparts. Eighty years 
have rolled by since then, and once more at 
the same Fort Moultrie, almost on the very 
spot where it fell before, has our flag been 
insulted and dishonored ! Is there a heart in 
this vast crowd that will not join in the 
prayer that Indiana ma}- furnish the next 
Jasper, who shall once more plant our flag 
on the breastworks of Moultrie ? The same 
glorious immortality that covers, with a 
golden sheen of light, the Jasper of the 
revolution, awaits the coming Jasper of our 
day. 

" 'Soldiers, to vou this flag is entrusted. 
The knight who brought back his banner 
untorn and unsullied by the fierce contest of 
battle, was disowned and rejected by his 
lady love. Do not be afraid of soiling this 
noble flag; if it be blackened by the smoke of 
battle, the same fair hands will make its 
folds white again on your return; if it be 
torn and riddled in the raging strife of the 
battle-field, not a broken star that shall not 
shine again, not a tattered stripe that shall 



^82 



3IILITAR Y HISTOR Y. 



not wave as proudl}- as ever to the breeze. 
God of heaven, forbid that the flag of the 
stars and stripes should ever be'dishonored; 
that flag in which the dying Pike was 
wrapped when borne from the field of battle 
— glorious shroud for such a soldier's form, 
that flag, which, when the splinters went 
tl3-ing from his vessel, and the blood running 
deep over the decks, the dying Lawrence 
said should never be struck, that flag under 
which the American soldier has felt that 
death has no sting nor the grave a victory to 
him who dies for his country's honor — no, 
no; it must never be dishonored. As its 
long and graceful folds bend and wave in 
the breeze, the red stripes look like so many 
veins or arteries, filled with healthful life- 
blood, drawn from the wounds of the old 
revolutionary sires who bled beneath its 
glorious folds; and as for the white stripes 
every one knows that they are the milky 
wa)- out of which new stars are continually 
forming. It is the red veins that give Hfe and 
health and vigor to the flag; take them off 
and it looks like a ghastly shroud ; if it be 
dyed a still deeper red in the blood of trait- 
ors, bring it home and the ladies will prove 
to you that traitors, blood will soon wash 
out but patriots' blood never. There is a magic 
in that flag which makes brave soldiers, and 
you will find it. If the shroud of Benedict 
Arnold had been made out of the stars and 
stripes, he would have been a very respect- 
able looking corpse. And now in conclu- 
sion tlie ladies have but one thing to ask in 
return for this beautiful flag; and appeal to 
your gallantry to grant the request. When 
you come home from fields of battle they 
want you to bring a rattlesnake flag and 
present it to them. The}' want to see the 
old serpent that is tempting our fair south- 
ern Eve to fall again. May the armies of 
the Union bruise the head of that serpent 
pretty considerably in the coming campaign. 



so that peace and concord and harmon}', 
may dwell once more throughout that land 
which the Almight}- intended as an appen- 
dix to Paradise. ' 

" Mr. Willard accepted the flag in behalf 
of the captain and company in a short and 
appropriate address. He said the flag would 
never be dishonored in the hands to which 
it was entrusted. He returned thanks also 
for the many acts of kindness on the part of 
tlie ladies toward the compan\', and said 
was it his fate to fall in the field of battle, 
he knew that his family would be cared for 
by the generous people in whose midst he 
left them. The address was received with 
much favor. 

"The Star Spangled Banner, that good old 
song that so stirs the hearts of the people 
and arouses their enthusiasm, was played by 
the band and afterward sung by the people. 
The singing was fine, and. the words and 
music thrilled ever}^ heart, not a few eyes 
being suffused with tears. Three cheers 
were then given for the ladies; three for 
the flag; three for the boys, and three for 
the Union. The companies then took up 
their line of march down the street, and, 
after listening to some splendid music fur- 
nished by the regimental band, belonging 
to Col. Wallace's regiment, the immense 
crowd gradually dispersed." 

Sketc/i of the Regiment. — On July 5, 1861, 
the regiment, fulh' armed and equipped, left 
Indianapolis for the seat of war in western 
Virginia, everywhere along the route creat- 
ing the wildest enthusiasm. On the nth, 
after a forced march from Clarksburgh, the 
regiment reached Rich Mountain, where it 
was held in reserve in fine of battle, but did 
not participate in the engagement. After 
the victory the column moved on, through 
Beverly to Cheat Mountain, where the Four- 
teenth was stationed on outpost duty until 
October 8, in the meantime bearing a con. 



FOURTEENTH REGIMENT. 



48S 



spicuous part in tlie engagement with Lee's 
army on Cheat Mountain, September 12, 
losing three killed, eleven wounded and two 
prisoners, and in the battle of Green Brier, 
on October 3, losing live killed and eleven 
wounded. The winter was spent in quar- 
ters at Romney and Paw Paw Tunnel. On 
March 4, 1862, it started to Winchester, and 
on the evening of the 2 2d following, was 
engaged in some severe skirmishing with 
Stonewall Jackson's arm}', and on the next 
day participated in the decisive battle of 
Winchester Heights, losing four killed and 
fifty wounded. The regiment took part 
in the pursuit of the eneni}- that followed 
this battle, then marched to Fredericks- 
burg, thence back to Port Ro3al, aiding in 
driving the enemy out of that place, and 
thereafter until June 23 was so constantly 
on the march that 339 miles were made, a 
part of the time most of the men being 
without shoes and very short of rations. 
From Bristow Station, via Alexandria, mov- 
ing bv rail and water, the regiment reached 
Turkey Bend, on the James river, July 2, 
and there finding the arm}' of the Potomac 
retreating before a closely pursuing enemy, 
was at once sent out to meet the enemy, and 
assisted in checking his advance, after some 
severe fighting. Being assigned to the Sec- 
ond army corps, it was kept on the extreme 
outpost, without tents or covering of an}- 
kind, for some twent\- days, coming in con- 
tact with the enemy almost night and day. 
At Centreville, on August 30th, it assisted 
in covering the retreat of the army 
of the Potomac; was in the Maryland 
campaign, being at South Mountain as a 
reserve force on September 12; and follow- 
ing the rebels over the mountains, partici- 
pated in the battle of Antietam on the 17th, 
serving in Kimball's brigade of French's 
division, it being the only portion of the 
line of battle that did not, at some 



time during the engagement, give 
way. For its behavior on this occasion 
Gen. French gave the brigade the title of the 
"Gibraltar brigade," it having maintained 
its position, repelling the terrible onslaught 
of the enemy, filling the ditch in front with 
killed and wounded, and finally advancing 
and driving the enemy from the field, taking 
many prisoners. The Fourteenth was en- 
gaged for four hours within sixty yards of 
the enemy's line, and after exhausting sixty 
rounds of cartridges, the men supplied them- 
selves with others from the boxes of their 
dead and wounded companions. It went 
into the fight with 320 men and lost thirty- 
one killed and 150 wounded, including three 
officers killed and seven wounded. 

The Fourteenth after marching via Har- 
per's Ferry and Warrenton to Falmouth, re- 
mained inactive till the 12th of December, 
when it crossed the Rappahannock and on 
the next clay was with the " Gibraltar 
brigade " in leading the attack upon the en- 
emy's works just outside the city of Fred- 
ericksburg. The strength of the enemy's 
works and the advantage of his position 
made success impossible. The army was 
withdrawn with a loss to the Four- 
teenth of four killed, seventeen wounded 
and eight missing. The regiment re- 
crossed the river and remained at 
Falmouth until April 28, 1863, when it 
proceeded to Chancellorsville, where, on the 
third day of the engagement at that place it 
moved to the front, charged the enemy, 
drove him some distance, re-occupying the 
ground lost the day before by the retreat of 
the Eleventh corps, but soon was compelled 
to fall back before an overwhelming force 
of the enemy to a point where it was sup- 
ported and relieved by Col. Caldwell's brig- 
ade, after being engaged for three hours, 
with a loss to the fourteenth of seven killed, 
fifty wounded, and two missing. After the 



hSlt 



MILITAR Y HISTOR Y. 



battle and the retreat across the Rappahan- 
nock the regiment went into its old quarters 
at Falmouth and there remained until June 14, 
when it marched northward and reached 
Gettysburg on the evening of July i. It 
did not engage in that great struggle until 
about dusk of the next day, when in a 
charge made upon the advancing rebels it 
saved from capture the guns of Rickett's bat- 
tery, crowded the rebels down the hill, and 
captured all of the field officers, the colors, 
and most of the men of the Twenty-first North 
Carolina. During the night following the 
regiment successfully resisted a flank fire 
made on the left of its rear, and in the bloody 
contest that took place the next afternoon, 
for the possession of the hill, bore a conspic- 
uous part, the division to which it was attached 
bearing the brunt of the desperate attack im- 
mediately on the left of the cemetery. The 
regiment lost 1 23 men and officers in killed and 
wounded. After the victory it followed the 
retreating rebels to WilHamsburg, on the 
Potomac, and thence marched via Harper's 
Ferry to Elk Run, near Warrenton. On 
August 16, it was sent to New York to aid 
in quelling the riots there, rejoining the 
army of the Potomac in Virginia, in Octo- 
ber, and after aiding in the defeat of the 
enemy at Bristow station, and participating 
in the engagement at Mine Run, it went 
into winter quarters at Stevensburgh, where, 
on December 24, 1863, a portion of the 
regiment re-enlisted. On February 6, 1864, 
it engaged in a severe action at Morton's 
Ford, on the Rapidan, losing two killed and 
thirteen wounded. On May 4, it moved 
southward with Grant's army and took an 
active part in all the engagements that at- 
tended that movement. At Spottsylvania, the 
Fourteenth made a victorious charge upon 
the enemy's works. At Cold Harbor it 
was engaged for the last time, the non-vet- 
erans being on June 6, ordered to Indianap- 



olis for muster out, because of the expira- 
tion of their term of service. They were 
finally discharged on the 20th, to date the 
i6th of June, 1865, after achieving a brilliant 
and glorious record. The detachment of 
veterans and recruits remained on duty until 
July 12, 1865, when mustered out at Louis- 
ville, Ky. 

T/ic Eleventh Regiment. — The first regi- 
ment to arrive in Evansville was the Elev- 
enth, and the date of its coming was May 
9, i86r. Being unexpected, no demon- 
stration on the part of the people was made. 
Composed of robust, hard}', noble looking 
men, the regiment presented a fine appear- 
ance. Upon its re-organization as a three- 
years' regiment, the following Vanderburgh 
county men found their way into its ranks, 
serving in Company K: John Frick, sec- 
ond Heutenant from April 5, 1862; first lieu- 
tenant from May 30, 1862 ; captain from Sep- 
tember 4, 1862; mustered out December 11, 
1864; term expired. Frederick Frank, sec- 
ond lieutenant from September 4, 1862; pro- 
moted to first lieutenant Company B, July 
29, 1863; mustered out January 11, 1S65, 
term expired. Frank Snorpus, corporal 
and second lieutenant; mustered out July 26, 
1865, term expired. Henry Barner, pri- 
vate; drowned at Memphis July 14, 1862. 
Robert Blum, private, discharged August 
18, 1S62, disabiHty. John Coch, private; 
discharged December 20, 1862, disability. 
Lasselle DeBruler, private ; discharged June 
16, 1863, disability. Jacob Frick, private; 
killed at Port Gibson May 3, 1863. Adolph 
Herndes, private, veteran; mustered out 
July 26, 1865, term expired. Simon Heins, 
private; killed at Champion Hills, May 16, 
1863. Peter Heberer, private; discharged 
October 4, 1861; disability. Robert Horn- 
brook, private; mustered out August 31, 1864. 
Charles A. McCutchan, private and ser- 
geant, veteran, mustered out July 26, 1865. 



TWENTY-FOURTH REGIMENT. 



486 



Francis Miller, private; killed Champion 
Hills, May i6, 1863. Fred Ransch, private; 
discharged January 14, 1863, account 
wounds. William Theiman, private; dis- 
charged September 29, 1862, disability. 
August Wolf, private, veteran ; mustered out 
July 26, 1865, term expired. Charles Al- 
brecht, recruit; mustered out July 26, 1865, 
term expired. John Shelden, a recruit in 
October, 1862, assigned to Company A, 
died May 27, 1865, at Alexandria, tienry 
Martin, a recruit in January, 1864, was un- 
assigned. 

Sketch of the Regiment. — The Eleventh 
regiment left Indianapolis on September 6, 
1861, was stationed at Paducah, Ky., during 
the winter, and, excepting a slight skirmish 
and some severe marching, experienced 
nothing extraordinary until its engagement 
in the battle at Fort Donelson, when it lost 
four killed and twenty-nine wounded. It 
bore itself bravely in the Shiloh battle, fight- 
ing the enemy from half-past live in the 
morning till half- past four in the afternoon, 
losing eleven killed and fifty-two wounded. 
Many arduous marches and expeditions in 
Mississippi and Arkansas fell to the lot of 
the company during the following year. It 
joined Grant's army April 11, 1863, 
and on May i, in an engagement 
at Port Gibson, captured a battery, 
but lost one man killed and twenty-four 
wounded. On the i6th, it was engaged in 
the battle of Champion Hills, losing 167 in 
killed, wounded and missing; was in the 
trendies of the Union works about Vicks- 
burg from June 21 until the surrender on 
July 4, losing during the siege three killed 
and ten wounded; and on the next day 
marched thence to Jackson with constant 
skirmishing on the route, and a loss of nine 
men wounded. It then made an expedition 
to Louisiana, and was in a heavy skirmish 
near Opelousas, and aided in capturing a 



rebel camp near Lake Tasse. The regi- 
ment Veteranized, and from New Orleans, 
in March, 1S64, went by steamer to New 
York city, and thence by rail to Indianapo- 
lis, where it was received by the citizens and 
addressed by Gov. Morton. Its furlough 
over, it returned to New Orleans, and in 
July following proceeded to Washington 
City and Harper's Ferry, and while moving 
toward Winchester engaged the enemy in 
several lively skirmishes. In a reconnois- 
sance on August 24, two men were killed 
and eight wounded, and on September 19, 
at Opeijuan, eighty-one were lost in killed 
and wounded. On the 20th, it pursued the 
enemy to Fisher's Hill, engaged him there 
in battle, skirmishing all night, and contin- 
uing the pursuit to Woodstock, and thence 
to New Market, where they made a stand, 
but being flanked, were forced to retreat to 
Harrisonburgh. At the battle of Cedar 
Creek, on October 19, it lost fifty-two men, 
killed, wounded and missing. Upon the 
close of Sheridan's campaign in the Shen- 
andoah Valley, the regiment remained on 
duty at Baltimore until its muster-out July 
26, 1865. During its three years' service it 
marched 9,318 miles. 

The Ti^riity-foitrth liegiiiiciit. — Mier the 
muster of the Fourteenth the next regiment in 
which the soldiers of Vanderburgh county 
figured conspicuously was the Twenty- 
fourth, led to the front by that gallant com- 
mander. Gen. Alvin P. Ilovey. Companies 
C and F, were composed principally of 
Vanderburgh county men. In the former 
company, John F. Grill was captain from 
July 31, 1S61, to May 14, 1S62; then major 
of the regiment to November 28, 1863, 
when he was commissioned lieutenant col- 
onel, in which rank he served with distinction 
until January 2, 1865, when mustered out. 
He re-entered the service as colonel of the 
One Hundred and Forty-third regiment. 



i86 



MILITAR YHISTOR Y. 



Peter Schmuck was quartermaster of the 
regiment from December 4, 1S61 to March 
24, 1862, when he resigned, his successor 
being Marcus A. Gavitt, commissioned 
April 2, 1862, and discharged March 27, 
1864. Wilham T. Shepherd succeeded 
Col. Grill to the captaincy of Company C, 
serving in that rank from May 14, 1862, to 
October, 1863, having previously served 
from December 31, 1861, as first lieutenant. 
James M. Smith was second lieutenant from 
March 31, 1862, first lieutenant from May 14, 
1862, and captain from November i, 1863 
until mustered out December 10, 1864. 
George Messick served as second lieuten- 
ant from May 14, 1862, as first lieuten- 
ant from November i, 1863, to De- 
cember, 1863, when discharged. Dittman 
Fisher was commissioned first lieutenant, 
November 27, 1863, and upon re-organiza- 
tion, was transferred to Compan}' B, Twen- 
ty-fourth regiment, in which company- 
Fleming Durham was second lieutenant. 
On the regimental non-commissioned staff, 
there were: sergeant major, William E. 
Hallock; quartermaster sergeant, Ed- 
ward W. Blythe, and commissary sergeant, 
Peter Schmuck. A band of twenty-six 
pieces was mustered in with this regiment, 
but was discharged in 1862. The non-com- 
missioned officers and privates of Company 
C, were mustered in July 31, 1861, and were 
as follows: First Sergt. Peter Schmuck, 
promoted quartermaster; Sergt. William T. 
Shepherd, promoted first lieutenant; Sergt. 
David Lusk, discharged, disability; Sergt. 
George Long, not mustered out; Sergt. 
James M. Smith, promoted second lieutenant; 
Corp. Alexander Ross, not mustered out; 
Corp. George Messick, promoted second 
lieutenant; Corp. Dittmar Fisher, promoted 
first sergeant; Corp. James L. Lytle, dis- 
charged as private; Corp. John Juengling, 
discharged on account wounds; Corp. 



George Reifling, mustered out Jul}' 30, 
1864, as private; Corp. George Kennedy, 
not mustered out; Corp. Keran Barnwell, 
died in service, date unknown; Horatio 
Arnold, musician, mustered out November 
15, 1S65, term expired; Elisha C. Presnell, 
musician, discharged; Sebastian Manning, 
wagoner, mustered out, July 30, 1864. 

Privates. — ^ Alton Josephs, died at St. 
Louis, Mo., November 12, 1861; Awen, 
John, drowned at Helena, Ark.; Ar- 
nold, Franklin C, discharged; Bach- 
mann, George, veteran, mustered out 
November 16, 1865, term expired; Bate- 
man, James E., mustered out July 30, 1864, 
as corporal, term expired; Beadle, Richard 
L., discharged; Beha, John, veteran, mus- 
tered out November 15, 1865, term expired; 
Beamon, August M., mustered out July 30, 

1864, term expired; Billharz, August, not 
mustered out; Buening, John H., veteran, 
mustered out November 15, 1865, term ex- 
pired; Burksher, George W., died at New 
Iberia, La., date not known; Cawbosas, 
John, veteran, mustered out November 15, 

1865, term expired; Chandler, Charles D., 
killed at Jackson, Miss., July 1863; 
Clauss, Andrew, mustered out July 30, 1864, 
term expired; Conner, Patrick, mustered 
out July 30, 1864, term expired; Cravens, 
Williams J., died at St. Louis, Mo., Novem- 
ber 23, 1861; Darbensher, Joseph C, vet- 
eran, mustered out November 15, 1865, 
term expired; Darland, James, not mustered 
out; Davenport, William J., veteran, died 
at Morganza, La., October i, 1864; Dodds, 
William F., veteran, mustered out Novem- 
ber 15, 1865, as sergeant; Drawe, Christian, 
killed at Fort Blakely, April 5, 1865: Eagan. 
Michael, mustered out July 30, 1864, term ex- 
pired; Earls, WilHam, died at Helena, Ark., 
March 19, 1863; Ervin, George, died at 
Otterville, Mo., date unknown; Fisher, John, 
killed at Champion Hills, Miss., May 16, 



FIELD MOVEMENTS. 



m 



1863; Farderer, Frank, veteran, mustered 
out November 15, 1865, term expired; 
Fowler, George, veteran, mustered out 
November 15, 1865, term expired; 
Fluty, Milton, discharged; Fry, William H., 
mustered out January 15, 1865; Fry, Daniel 
T., veteran, mustered out November 15, 
1865, term expired; Goins, William H., 
veteran, mustered out November 15, 1865, 
as corporal; Grimme, George H., mustered 
out July 30, 1S64, term expired; Guthber- 
let, Michael, died at Otterville, Mo., 1861; 
Halbert, Peter, mustered out July 30, 1864, 
term expired; Hillman, William M., 
transferred to Compan}' K; Hoover, 
Thomas W., killed at Champion Hills, Miss., 
May 16, 1863; Huck, William, veteran, 
mustered out November 15, 1865, term ex- 
pired; Hull, James C, died at Sedalia, Mo., 
i86r; Irvine, Alexander, died at Vicksburg, 
Miss., date unknown; Jacobus, Peter, dis- 
charged 1861 ; Janey, Spencer F., discharged 
1861; Johnson, WilHam H., died at Helena, 
Ark., date unknown; Johnson, Thomas, not 
mustered out; Joseph, Aaron C, promoted 
to second lieutenant, mustered out December 
10, 1864; Jourdan, Thomas, discharged; 
Kelly John, mustered out July 30, 1864, term 
expired; Kennedy, James, veteran, not dis- 
charged; Knochen, Albert, died at Memphis, 
Tenn., September 28, 1863; Lazarus, Henry, 
mustered out July 30, 1864, term expired; 
Langanbacher, John, veteran, mustered out 
November 15, 1865, term expired; 
Lindell, Joshua, killed at MagnoHa 
Hills, Miss., May i, 1863, a corporal; 
Longtield, Joseph, mustered out July 30, 
1864, as corporal, term expired; Macon, 
Joseph C, died at home, February' 3, 1865, 
Martin, Thomas B., discharged; Mars, 
Michael, discharged; Meissner, Charles, 
veteran, mustered out November 15, 1865, 
term expired; Merrill, Nathaniel, veteran, 
mustered out December 21, 1864, as first 



sergeant; McGrath, Lawrence, unaccounted 
for; O'Byrne, Thomas, died at Evansville; 
April, 1862; Perry, Thomas J., veteran, 
mustered out November 15, 1865, as corpo- 
ral; Pressnell, William H., died at Helena, 
Ark., date unknown; Rabbitt, Patrick, died 
at Fort Donelson, Tenn., date unknown; 
Reis, Christopher, veteran, mustered out 
November 15, 1865, term expired; Rile3% 
John, mustered out July 30, 1S64, term ex- 
pired; Roberts, Henr}' C, veteran, mustered 
out November 15, 1865, as sergeant; Rob- 
ertson, William, mustered out July 30, 1864, 
as corporal, term expired; Robertson, 
Philip, veteran, mustered out December 21, 
1864, as sergeant; Schaefer, Joseph, not 
mustered out; Seick, Frederick, veteran, 
mustered out November 15, 1865, term ex- 
pired; Stuermer, George M., veteran, mus- 
tered out November 15, 1865, as corporal; 
Storck, Valentme, mustered out July 30, 
1864, as corporal, term expired; Suther- 
land, Prior W., mustered out July 30, 1864, 
term expired; Thame, John, died at Helena, 
Ark., November 19, 1863; Traylor, 
George, veteran, mustered out Novem- 
ber 15, 1865, term expired; Wallace, 
Daniel, accidentally killed on railroad 
at Jefferson City, Mo., 1861; Wal- 
ters, John W., died at Otterville, Mo., 
1861 ; Washborne, William H., died at Otter- 
ville, Mo., 1861; Wassman, George, mus- 
tered out July 30, 1864, term expired; 
Withrow, James K. P., discharged 1862; 
Woelffel, Michael, died at Evansville, Ind., 
December 10, 1863; Wolfe, Peter, veteran, 
mustered out November 15, 1865, term ex- 
pired; Youngman, Henry, not mustered out. 
Recruits, 1864. — Burkhart, Perry, died at 
home : Collins, George, mustered out Novem- 
ber 15, 1865, term expired; FuUen, Miles C, 
mustered out Noveniber 15, 1865, term ex- 
pired; Frasher, David D., mustered out May 
23, iS65,term expired; Fisher, David, died at 



m 



MILITARY HISTOR Y. 



Mobile, June 29, 1865; Hosier, John, mus- 
tered out November 15, 1865, term expired. 
This compan}' had an original enrollment of 
ninety-eight men, received seventeen re- 
cruits, lost b}- deaths thirt3'^-one, by deser- 
tions eleven, and reported one unaccounted 
for. 

On July 31, 1861, Amazon Connett, 
Thomas E. Ashley, and Joseph A. Sanders 
were mustered as captain, first lieutenant, 
and second lieutenant, respectively, of Com- 
pany F, of the same regiment. Their com- 
missions were dated August 15, 1861. The 
captain and first lieutenant resigned May 20, 

1862, and on the following day Joseph San- 
ders assumed command of the company, hav- 
ing previously, on February 6, 1862, been 
promoted to first lieutenant. Capt. Sanders 
resigned July 28, 1S63, when the command 
was given to Capt. Frank M. Robbins, who 
had served as second lieutenant from May 
21, 1863, and as first lieutenant from June 4, 

1863. The other commissioned officers were: 
James H. Baldwin, second lieutenant from 
February 6, 1862, and first lieutenant from 
May 21, 1862, until he died of wounds June 
3, 1863, and Cadwalader M. Griffith, second 
lieutenant from June 4, 1863, and first lieu- 
tenant from August i, 1863, until he resigned 
August 15, 1864. The non-commissioned 
officers and men (mustered in July 31, 1861) 
were as follows: Fu'st Sergt. James H. 
Baldwin, promoted to second and first lieu- 
tenant and died of wounds; Sergt. Frank 
M. Robbins, promoted to second heutenant; 
Sergeant William E. Hallock, promoted ser- 
geant major; Sergeant Isaac F. Talbott, 
promoted captain First Arkansas colored 
troop; Sergeant Edward H. Perkins, vete- 
ran, mustered out November 15, 1865, term 
expired; Corporal George Leech, veteran; 
mustered out November 15, 1865, term ex- 
pired; Corporal John F. Crisp, transferred 
to Veteran Reserve corps; Corporal John C. 



Ingle, died at Evansville, Ind., date un- 
known; Corporal Christopher T. Rudd, 
mustered out July 30, 1864, term expired; 
Corporal Isaac H. Holmes, died April 22, 
1864; Corporal Orville A. Baugher, pro- 
moted captain First Arkansas colored troops; 
Corporal Benjamin F. Gillett, discharged 
February 26, 1862; Corporal Frank J. 
White, killed at Champion Hills, Miss., May 
16, 1863; Augustus C. F. Leich, musician, 
mustered out July 31, 1864, principal musi- 
cian; Nicholas D. Satterlee, musician, died 
at St. Louis, Mo., November 7, 1861; Vin- 
cent Bovvlin, wagoner, discharged July 31, 
1863, disability. 

Privates. — Barnett, William, veteran, 
mustered out November 15, 1865, ^s corpo- 
ral, term expired: Blythe, Edward E., mus- 
tered out July 30, 1864, term expired; Car- 
lisle, Joseph, died at Carrolton, La., August 
7, 1863; Carson, Frank B., discharged, dis- 
ability; Chapman, Nicholas S., mustered out 
July, 30, 1864, term expired; Colman, John 
F., veteran, mustered out November 15, 
1865, term e.xpired; Colvin, William L., died 
November 5, 1862; Conl}', Andrew J., vet- 
eran, mustered out November 15, 1865, 
term expired; Da}', Robert, mustered 
out July 30, 1S64, term expired; 
Davis, James A., discharged by civil author- 
ity, date unknown; Durham, Fleming, pro- 
moted second lieutenant Company B; Elliott, 
Robert, discharged July 9, 1S62; Emmons, 
Charles, died Crump's Landing, La., March 
30, 1862 ; Emmons, George W., veteran, mus- 
tered out November 15, 1865, term expired; 
I Emmons, John, veteran, mustered out 
November 15, 1865, term expired; French, 
George V., discharged June 23, 1862; 
French, Thomas, died St. Louis, Mo., No- 
vember 9, 1862; FuUen, Miles C, 
discharged, date unknown; Gough, John L., 
mustered out July 30, 1864, term expired; 
Granger, Ira, died at Helena, Ark., date 



COMPANY ROSTER. 



J,89 



unknown; Green, Charlton B., veteran, 
mustered out November 15, 1865, as ser- 
geant major; Green, William, veteran, mus- 
tered out November 14, 1S65, sergeant; 
Gregory, Fames, discharged February i, 
1862; Gresham, George E., transferred to 
Veteran Reserve corps; Griffith, Cadvval- 
ader M., promoted second lieutenant; Gurd- 
ing, Henr}', veteran, discharged October 
14, 1864, disability'; Halloway, James W., 
discharged July i, 1862; Hannan, Patrick, 
veteran, mustered out November 15, 1S65, 
term expired; Heldt, Christopher D., vet- 
eran, mustered out November 15, 1865, 
term expired; Henderson, William B., killed 
Champion Hills, Miss., May 16, 1863; 
Henderson, Duncan, discharged, date un- 
known; Ingle, Thomas, discharged, date 
unknown;Jewett, Joseph A., discharged ac- 
count wounds received at Shiloh; Laughlin, 
Abram W., died April 7, 1862; Lawrence, 
Charles, died May 30, 1862; Law- 
rence, Obediah, veteran, mustered out 
November 15, 1S65, as tirst sergeant; 
Lawrence, Robert, veteran, mustered out 
November 15, 1865, term expired; Lenart, 
James, discharged November 25, 1863; 
wounds; Logan, Peter, discharged Decem- 
ber 31, 1863; Little, George W., died at 
Helena, Ark., September 11, 1862; Maghee, 
Thomas G., discharged December 22, 1863, 
Matheny, John Y., discharged on account of 
disability; Miller, Charles, veteran, mustered 
out November 15, 1865, term expired; 
Miller, William M., discharged October 20, 
1861; Myers, John, died June 2, 1862; 
McClure, Thomas J., discharged as corporal 
on account of wounds received at Shiloh; 
N elson, Benjamin F., not mustered out; 
Parker, Edward T., died July 2, 1862; 
Patterson, Greenberr}-, mustered out July 
30, 1864, term expired; Pugh, John H., 
mustered out July 30, 1864, term expired; 
Quick, William H., killed at Champion 



Hills, Miss., May 16, 1863; Quinn, John, 
veteran, mustered out November 15, 1865, 
term expired; Ragan, John M., veteran, 
mustered out November 15, 1865, term ex- 
pired; Redman, William H., mustered out 
July 30, 1864, term expired; Ruston, John 
G., discharged June 5, 1862; Scarlet, Will- 
iam, died December 9, 1861; Schuler, 
Marcus, mustered out July 30, 1864, term 
expired; Shaffer, Samuel, discharged Octo- 
ber 20, 1S61; Shaw, Perry W., mustered 
out July 30, 1864, term expired; Skeen, 
Wilson D., died near Helena, Ark., date un- 
known; Smart, George, died in service, date 
unknown; Smiley, James A., veteran, mus- 
tered out November 15, 1865, term expired; 
Smith, Samuel, discharged September 24, 
1861 ; Stafford, Alfred C, veteran, mustered 
out November 15, 1865, term expired; Stew- 
art, Martin, died March 19, 1862; Swope, 
Albert A., mustered out July 30, 1864, term 
expired; Tall, Bearley S., discharged May 
15, 1862; Tollson, William, died February 
25, 1862; Topper, William, mustered out 
July 30, 1864, term expired; Tzschoppe, 
Julius, mustered out July 30, 1864, term e.x- 
pired; Urie, Charles, mustered out July 30, 
1864, as sergeant; Urie, William, mustered 
out Julv 30, 1864, term expired; Vandusen, 
Oliver, mustered out July 30, 1864, term 
expired; Van Snyder, Jasper, killed by 
guerillas April i, 1864; Warren, William, jr., 
discharged October 21, 1863, account 
wounds received Champion Hills, May i6, 
1863; Watts, Henry, mustered out July 30, 
1864, term expired; Westfall, John, died 
February 3, 1862; Whalen, William, died 
February 4, 1862; Wheeler, John E., must- 
ered out July 30, 1864, as corporal; Will- 
iams, Reuben C, mustered out July 30, 1S64, 
term expired; Williams, Hiram, transferred 
to Company H, promoted captain Compan}- 
F, Ninety-first regiment; Wise, Joshua M., 
discharged account disabilit}-; Woodfill, 



490 



MILITAR Y HISTOR Y. 



William W., veteran, mustered out Novem- 
ber 15, 1865, term expired. 

Hceniits. — Allen, Thomas B., mustered 
out July 30, 1864, term expired; Alderman, 
Thomas, mustered out November 15, 1865; 
Blakeburn, John, mustered out November 
15, 1S65; Barnes, George W., mustered out 
October 28, 1865; Clegg, Thomas, mus 
tered out November 15, 1865; Clegg, 
Henry, mustered out November 15, 1865 
Canwell, Marcus C. not mustered out; 
Evans, Charles B., not mustered out; Gran- 
ger, James, died at Cairo, December 20, 
1864; Graham, William P., mustered out 
November 15, 1865; Hayhurst, William, 
died at Morganza, La., November 2, 1864; 
Osgood, Merrill T., mustered out Novem- 
ber 15, 1865; Phillips, James M., not mus- 
tered out; Rodgers, John W., mustered out 
October 25, 1865; Sutton, Isaac N., mus- 
tered out November it;, 1865; Server, Ben- 
jamin, mustered out November 15, 1865; 
Vawter, Thomas C, mustered out Novem- 
ber 15, 1865, Wand, John R., mustered out; 
Weitzel, George, not mustered out. Com- 
pany F went out with ninety-nine men, re- 
ceived twenty-six recruits, lost twentv-six 
b}' death and four by desertion. 

The Tzueiitv-foitrtli in the Field. — From 
Vincennes, the place of rendezvous, the regi- 
ment on August 19, 1S61, marched to St. 
Louis, Mo., there joining Fremont's arm}^ 
and moving into the interior of Missouri, 
where it remained until Februar}-, 1862, 
when ordered to reinforce the arm\- then 
investing Fort Donelson. Reaching Padu- 
cah, Ky., the day after the surrender of 
Fort Donelson, it proceeded to Fort Henry, 
where it remained until the march of Grant's 
armv to Pittsburg Landing-. In the battle 
of Shiloh it was conspicuously engaged, los- 
ing many men and officers. For his braverv 
here. Col. Hovey was made a brigadier 
general. In May and June following it par- 



ticipated in the siege of Corinth, and after 
the evacuation, proceeded to Memphis, 
whence, in July, it was transferred to Helena, 
Ark., where it remained during the winter, 
engaging in sundry expeditions sent out 
from that post. In the spring of 1863 it 
joined Grant's army and moved with Hov- 
ey's division of the Thirteenth corps during 
the campaign against Vicksburg, engaging 
in all the skirmishes and battles, including 
those of Port Gibson and Champion Hill. 
In the latter battle it was distinguished for 
its gallantry, charging and defeating the 
enemy handsomely. Durintr the siecfe of 
Vicksburg it was actively engaged in the 
trenches from the 19th of May, until the 
4th of July, and after the capitulation sailed 
for New Orleans, reaching that city in the 
month of August, and remaining on duty in 
that yicinity until January i, 1864, at Algiers, 
it re-enlisted as a veteran organization. 

After visiting Indiana on veteran furlough, 
it was stationed at various points in Louisiana 
and while at Morganza on December 10, 
was consolidated with the Sixty-seventh 
regiment, but retained the designation of 
the Twenty-fourth regiment. In Januar}^ 
1865, it was transferred to Barrancas, 
Florida, and later participated in the moye- 
ment against Mobile, taking part in the 
battles near Blakely, Ala., and the assaults 
made upon the enemj's works, being the 
first to place its colors thereon. After the 
defeat of the rebels at that point the regi- 
ment was stationed at Selma, Ala., and 
Galveston, Tex. On July 16, 1865, it was 
reorganized as a battalion of five com- 
panics, and three days later the other five 
companies, composed mainly of men who 
had originally enlisted prior to October i, 
1S62, were mustered out of service, and at 
once proceeded home. Arriving at Indian- 
apolis they were welcomed by the citizens 
on the 4th of August, at a public reception 



LIGHT ARTILLERY. 



Jfil 



given in the state house park, at which 
addresses were delivered by Lt. -Governor 
Conrad Baker, Gen. Hovey and others. 
The returning men and officers numbered 
310. The battahon of veterans and i^ecruits 
left at Galveston, Tex., remained there for 
some time and were mustered out Novem- 
ber 15, 1865. 

First Battcrx Lii^hl Artillery. — Among 
the first organizations effected was that of 
Capt. Klauss' battery. As soon as war- 
like preparations began to be made, young 
men rallied about this popular officer. An 
independent artillery company was raised, 
neatlv uniformed, drilled to efficiency, and 
performed a prominent and interesting part 
in all the early war scenes about the city of 
Evansville. On the 5th of August, 1S61, 
the First Battcrx was organized for the 
front, and was mustered into the United 
States service on the 16th of the same 
month, being composed chiefly of members 
of the independent company referred to. 
Martin Klauss was commissioned captain, 
and served until June 20, 1864, when he re- 
signed, his successor being Lawrence 
Jacobi. The first lieutenants at the outset 
were: F. Arnold Schrauder and John L.. 
Bittrolff, jr. The former died in 1862, and 
the latter resigned July 22, 1S63. The sec- 
ond lieutenants were: John Rothengatter, 
who resigned January 11, 1862, and Casper 
Tomhemelt, who was promoted to first 
lieutenant, but resigned before his muster. 
Philip Nonweiler was promoted from quar- 
termaster sergeant to first lieutenant, 
and resigned August 10, 1S63. Jacob 
Mann entered the ser\ice as a sergeant, 
rose to the rank of first lieutenant, and was 
mustered out with the batterv. John W. 
Gerhardt, jr., and Hugo Pfafflin went out 
with the battery as sergeants, and were its 
second lieutenants when mustered out at the 
close of its career. The followinix is a com- 



plete roster of the battery : First Sergt. 
John W. Gerhardt, jr., promoted second 
lieutenant; Qmr. Sergt. Phihp Nonweiler, 
promoted first lieutenant; Sergt. John H. 
Yost, mustered out June 14, 1865; Sergt. 
Philip Zahn, mustered out September 10, 
1864, term e.xpired; Sergt. Eli Meyherm, 
discharged December, 1862, disabilit}-; 
Sergt. Jacob Mann, promoted second lieuten- 
ant; Sergt. Louis Schneider, transferred; 
Sergt. Hugo Pfafflin, promoted second lieu- 
tenant; Corp. Julius Mayer, died at St. 
Louis, Mo., February 1S63; Corp. Freder- 
ick Reinhardt, died August 27, 1862; Corp. 
August Henckell, not mustered out; Corp. 
Jacob Guth, died at St. Louis, Mo., Novem- 
ber, 1862; Corp. John Ehret, discharged on 
account of disability; Corp. Christopher 
Heilman, mustered out September 10, 1864, 
as sergeant; Corp. Anthon}' Bihlen, dis- 
charged January 7, 1863, disability; Corp. 
Henry Richotein, mustered out September 
10, 1864, as quartermaster sergeant; Corp. 
Benedict Hassel, mustered out Sep- 
tember 10, 1864, as sergeant; Corp. 
William Faist, discharged, date un- 
known; Corp. Michael Elsasser, mustered 
out September ro, 1864, as private; 
Corp. John Frey, discharged May, 1863, 
disability; Bugler Henry Douges, disciiarged 
December, 1861, disability; Bugler Casper 
Foth, veteran, mustered out August 22, 
1865; Artificer Henr}' Schmidt, mustered 
out August 22, 1865, as corporal; Artificer 
John Schneiter, veteran, mustered out Au- 
gust 22, 1865; Artificer Frederick Preiss, 
transferred to Veteran Reserve corps; Artifi- 
cer Adam Martell, died at Morganza Bend, 
La., May 30, 1864; Artificer George 
Schmidt, mustered out September 10, 1864, 
term expired; Artificer Charles Frohman, 
mustered out September 10, 1864, term e.x- 
pired: Wagoner Gottleib Bauerie, veteran, 
mustered out August 22, 1865. 



49S 



MILITAR Y HISTOR Y. 



Privates. — Ahl, Adolph, mustered out 
September lO, 1864, term expired; Ahl, 
Henry, veteran, not mustered out; Baetz, 
George A., veteran, mustered out August 
22, 1865, as corporal; Bassemer, Henry, 
mustered out September 10, 1864, term ex- 
pired; Baumann, Andrew, discharged Octo- 
ber 28, 1862, disabilit}'; Begert, John, mus- 
tered out September 10, 1864, term expired; 
Betscher, John, died at Kenesaw Mountain, 
Ga., June 20, 1S64; Bilter, Frederick, vete- 
ran, died at New Orleans, La., August 12, 
1S64; Brandly, Theodore, veteran, mustered 
out August 22, 1865, as sergeant: Braun, 
Charles, mustered out September 10, 1864, 
term expired; Braun, John, mustered out 
September 10, 1864, term expired; Brend, 
Jacob, died May 30, 1864; Busch, Wilham, 
veteran mustered out August 22, 1865; Buss- 
ing, Hermann, died October 28, 1862; 
Dickert, Phihp, died October 28, 1861; 
Dorr, Henry, ist, mustered out September 
10, i86"4, corporal; Dorr, Henry, 2nd, vet- 
eran, mustered out August 22, 1866; Ehr- 
mann, Frederick, died at New Orleans, La., 
July 6, 1864, corporal; Engel, Nicholas, 
mustered out, September 19, 1864, term 
expired ; Fell, Philip, mustered out Septem- 
ber 10, 1864, term expired; Fleischmann, 
Charles, discharged November, 1862, dis- 
ability; Frank, George, veteran, mustered 
out August 22, 1864, corporal; Gehle, An- 
thon}-, died at Keetsville, Mo., of wounds; 
Gostelli, Nicholas, mustered out September 
10, 1861, term expired; Gottschalk, Theo- 
dore, mustered out September 10, 1S64, 
term expired; Gress, Frederick, veteran, 
mustered out August 22, 1865, first ser- 
geant; Gross, Peter, transferred to the 
Veteran Reserve corps; Gve, August, 
mustered out September 10, 1864, term ex- 
pired; Hoaker, John, veteran, mustered out 
August 22, 1865; Happ, George, drowned 
in the Mississippi river, date unknown; 



Hazemann, Philip, died February 23, 1862; 
Hauck, Philip, veteran, mustered out 
August 22, 1865, sergeant; Heidorn, Henry, 
mustered out September 10, 1865, term ex- 
pired; Heyde, William V., mustered out 
September 10, 1864, term expired :Hempel, 
Frederick, mustered out September 10, 

1864, term expired; Hemokel, Joseph, vet- 
eran, mustered out August 12, 1865; 
Hermann, John, mustered out September 
10, 1S64, term expired; Herman, Henry, 
died at Indianapolis, Ind., September 2, 
1861; Hoch, Guido, discharged, date un- 
known; Hopstetter, Dominic, discharged 
November, 1862, disability; Inken- 
brant, Philip, killed at Kansas, Illi- 
nois, September 6, 1861, railroad accident; 
Jeker, Joseph, died at St. Louis, Mo., De- 
cember, 1861; Katzenberger, Adam, vet- 
eran, mustered out August 22, 1865; Kry- 
der, Ezra, veteran, mustered out August 
22, 1865, as sergeant; Kling, Frederick, 
died at Helena, Ark., September 29, 1S62; 
Langenbrake, Ernst, veteran, mustered out 
August 22, 1865, corporal; Langenbrake, 
Henry, veteran, mustered out August 22, 

1865, corporal; Ledvina, Ferdinand, trans- 
ferred to Veteran Reserve corps; Loebs, 
Jacob, discharged account wounds, date 
unknown; LoefHer, Valentine, mustered 
out September 10, 1864, term expired; 
Lorenz, Matthew, mustered out September 
10, 1S64, term expired; Lo}', Gabriel, mus- 
tered out September 10, 1864, term ex- 
pired; Maas, Louis, discharged account 
wounds, date unknown; Maier, William, 
discharged account wounds, August 12, 
1862; Muelchi, John, died November 13, 
1862; Muchlhausen, Matthew, mustered out 
September 10, 1864, term expired; Nester, 
George, mustered out September 10, 1864; 
Nieman, Frederick, mustered out August 
?2, 1865, as artificer; Ohler, Roman, dis- 
charged March 7, 1864, disability; Osth- 



RECRUITS. 



J,!JS 



mann, Andrew, veteran, mustered out 
Auf^ust 2 2, 1865, wagoner; Preher, Fred- 
erick, mustered out September 10, 1S64, 
term expired: Reppley, Randolph, mustered 
out September 10, 1S64, term expired; 
Reifert, Theodore, mustered out September 
10, 1864, term expired; Reiner, Gottleib, 
mustered out September 10, 1864, term ex- 
pired; Reiss, John, mustered out September 
10, 1864, term expired: Rohman, William, 
not mustered out: Ruskaup, Henry, 
veteran, mustered out August 22, 1865; 
Sauer, August, mustered out Septem- 
ber 10, 1864, term expired: Schael, 
Gottleib, died at Vicksburg, Miss., 

1863, wounds; Schatzmant, Conrad, veteran, 
mustered out August 22, 1S65, sergeant; 
Schauss, Philip, mustered out September 10, 

1864, term expired; Schell, Louis, killed at 
Port Gibson, Miss., May i, 1863; Schlarffer, 
John, mustered out September 10, 1864, 
term expired; Schmalgriet, John, discharged 
Februar}-, 1862, disability; Schmidt, Chry- 
rostamus, mustered out September 10, 1864, 
term expired; Schmidt, John P., mustered 
out September 10, 1864, corporal; Schmitz, 
William, veteran, mustered out August 22, 
1865; Schwein, George, died at St. Louis, 
Mo., November, i86r; Leip, Philip, veteran, 
mustered out August 22, 1865, quarter- 
master sergeant; Schroeder, Anthony, dis- 
charged Februar}-, 1862, disability; Sind- 
linger, Henry, died at St. Louis, Mo., date 
unknown; Spraul, Charles, veteran, must- 
ered out August 22, 1865 ; Springer, Robert, 
mustered out September 10, 1864, term e.x- 
pired: Spruth, August, veteran, mustered 
out August 22, 1865; Steiert, William, must- 
ered out September 10, 1864, term expired: 
Stuermer, Henry, died at Helena, Ark., Sep- 
tember 23, 1S63; Sturm, Frederick, pro- 
moted second lieutenant Sixteenth batter^•: 
Twente, Rudolph, mustered out September 
10, 1864, term expired; \*iedler, John, died 



at Vicksburg, Miss., July, 1863; Weies, 
John, veteran, mustered out August 22, 
1865; Weiser, Vincent, died at Evans ville, 
Ind., September 4, 1863; Winter, Bernhard 
mustered out September 10, 1864, term ex- 
pired; Winter, Henr}-, mustered out 
September 10, 1864, term expired; 
Wunderlich, Christ, mustered out Sep- 
tember 10, 1864, corporal; Wunderlich, 
Jacob, transferred to Veteran Reserve corps; 
Walter, Frederick, mustered out September 
10, 1864, sergeant; Zeller, Frank, not mus- 
tered out. 

7?crn(/7s. — Ambruster, Frederick, mus- 
tered out August 22, 1865; Bredenkamp, 
Henry, mustered out August 22, 1865; 
Bischman, William, mustered out August 
22, 1865; Burkhart, George, mustered out 
August 22, 1865; Fisher, Henry, mustered 
out August 22,1 865 ; Fisher, Albert, mustered 
out August 22, 1865; Georget, John, sub- 
stitute, mustered out August 22, 1865; 
ILartinetz, John, mustered out September 
10, 1864, term expired; Hagelman, Chris- 
tian, mustered out June 3, 1865; Hach, 
John J., died at Smith's plantadon, La., 
June, 1863; Haberlach, John, mustered out 
August 22, 186=?, Kempell, Frederick, 
mustered out August 22, 1865; Kohl, 
Jacob, mustered out August 22, 1865; 
Klein, William, mustered out August 22, 
1865; Kucheer, Emil, mustered out August 
22, 1865; Kessell, Nicholas, mustered out 
August 22, 1865; Kenkle, Frederick, not 
mustered out; Lemmel, Ignatz, mustered 
out August 22, 1865: Lintznich, Frank, 
mustered out August 22, 1865; Rupprecht, 
Tobias, mustered out August 22, 1865; 
Riedel, Lewis, mustered out August 2 2, 
1865; Schili, David, discharged, date un- 
known; Schussler, John, mustered out Au- 
gust 22, 1865; Schmitt, George W., 
mustered out September 10, 1864; Schane- 
mann, William, mustered out September 10, 



AH 



MILITAR Y HISTOR Y. 



1864; Theuerkauf, Frank, died at 
New Orleans, La., November 4, 1S64. 

The Field Service. — Soon after its muster 
the First battery moved to St. Louis, and 
thence with Gen. Fremont's army to Spring- 
field, Mo. On December 13, it set out on 
the Black Water expedition, and assisted in 
the capture of 950 rebels at Black Water 
creek. It engaged in the pursuit of Gen. 
Price, driving the enemy for four days, with 
constant skirmishing. Early in March, 1S62, 
a general movement was made by the divis- 
ions of the army in Missouri, designing to 
meet and check the rebel Gen. Van Dorn, 
then moving north with a large force. Se- 
vere battles were fought at Leetovvn, Elk- 
horn Tavern and Pea Ridge. In the tight 
at the last named place one of the enemy's 
batteries opened with grape and canister so 
near the flank of Klauss' battery that it was 
compelled to retire, but the movement of 
one of our brigades caused this anno3nng 
battery to withdraw, when Klauss' 
battery took position in an open field, 
and maintained the contest with great 
spirit. Soon such a terrible fire swept from 
our fine of batteries that no human courage 
could withstand it. The infantry crept for- 
ward, the guns were moved onward, the 
range became shorter, and at last, despair- 
ing, the enemy fled in great confusion, 
Klauss' battery rendering efficient service in 
the series of battles closing at Pea Ridge. 
During the summer and faU it engaged in 
the campaigns in Missouri and Arkansas, 
and marched 3,600 miles. In March, 1863, 
it was transported to Milliken's Bend, La., 
and assigned to the Thirteenth Army corps. 
It marched across the Peninsula, crossed 
the Mississippi river, and was severel}- en- 
gaged in the battle of Port Gibson. The 
column pressing on, the battery was in the 
fight at Champion Hill, and assisted in the 
defeat of the enemy at Big Black river 



bridge. It then took position in line in front 
of the enemy's works at Vicksburg, and 
was engaged during the siege and until the 
surrender of that formidable position. 

In July it moved with Sherman's column 
toward Jackson, was engaged in the siege 
of that place and after its e\-acuation, returned 
to Vicksburg, where it went to camp. In 
August it proceeded to New Orleans, and 
thence moved with Gen. Franklin's expedi- 
tion through the Teche country in the fol- 
lowing fall. In March, 1864,11 was with 
Gen. Banks, army on the Red River expedi- 
tion, took part in the battle of Sabine cross- 
roads and at Yellow Bayou. When Banks' 
shattered army fell back to Grand Ecore, 
the battery was assigned to the Sixteenth 
corps, and was daily engaged in assisting to 
repel the enemy, until the army reached 
Morganza, when it returned to its old corps 
and proceeded to New Orleans. Here a 
number of its men re-enlisted as veterans 
and in the fall of 1864 the non-veterans pro- 
ceeded to Indianapolis and were mustered 
out. In March, 1865, the battery was again 
assigned to the Sixteenth corps, and took 
an active part in the siege and capture of 
Spanish Fort, Ala. After the surrender of 
Mobile, it proceeded to Montgomery, Ala., 
where it remained until ordered to Indianap- 
olis for muster out. It reached Indianap- 
olis with three officers and 102 men, and was 
mustered out August 22, 1S65. The bat- 
tery went out with 130 officers and men, re- 
ceived 129 recruits, lost fift\--five by death, 
ten by desertion, and was unable to account 
for nine. 

Tiventy-fifth Regiment . — The first infan- 
try regiment that went to the front as a dis- 
tinctively Evansville organization was the 
Twenty-fifth. It was being raised at Evans- 
ville at the same time Gen. Hovey was 
raising the Twenty- fourth; was organized 
at that place July 17, and mustered into the 





'U^ /iH^ 




TWEXTY-FIFTH REGIMENT. 



Jfil 



United States service for three years, on tlic 
19th of August, 1861. Among its field and 
staff ofKcers, high in rank, were the citizens 
of Evansxille; two of its companies were 
composed of Vanderburgh county men; 
and the entire regiment was made up of 
volunteers from the counties in the First 
congressional district. At its 01 ganization 
the colonel in command was James C. 
Veatch, a princely soldier, an able man, and 
patriotic citizen, who, though not residing in 
Vanderburgh county at that time, was then 
and afterward conspicuously identified with 
its public affairs. Upon his appointment as 
brigadier general April 28, 1862, William 
II. Morgan was placed in command of the 
regiment and served with distinction until 
Mav 20, 1S64, afterward achieving a bril- 
liant record in the corps of the gallant Han- 
cock. Later Col. James S. Wright assumed 
command, and was mustered out with 
the regiment. Col. John W. Foster 
commenced his military career as 
major of this regiment; was promoted 
lieutenant colonel April 30, 1862, and left 
the regiment August 4 following, to take 
command of the Sixt^'-tifth regiment. Col. 
John Rheinlander entered the service as 
captain of Company B; was promoted major 
April 30, 1862, and lieutenant colonel Octo- 
ber 18, 1862. The military achievements 
of Col. Rheinlander form a brilliant chapter 
in his histor}-. When war was declared 
against Mexico he enlisted as a private in 
Company E, Second Kentuckj' infantry, and 
went through the campaign under Taylor. 
By a detail of volunteers he was attached to 
the First Kentucky infantry, and was in the 
battle at Monterey. His own regiment — 
he being with it — participated in the decis- 
ive battle at Buena Vista, and in that terri- 
ble engagement lost both of its commanding 
officers, Col. McKee and Lieut. Col. Ilenr)- 
Clay. In the war of 1861 Col. Rheinlander 
89 



again performed a gallant part. At Fort 
Donelson, on the first day of the battle, he 
and Capt. Saltzman were sent forward bj^ 
Col. Veatch to deploy as skirmishers. They 
advanced upon the enemy's works, and 
taking position on a hill protected the body 
of the regiment from the enemy's rifle pits 
and silenced a six -pounder field piece 
which was brought to bear on its 
flank. On the third day of the bat- 
tle Capt. Rheinlander's company was 
the first to scale the wall and enter the 
enemj''s works, but having no flag, the Sec- 
ond Iowa men were the first to set up a 
banner. At Shiloh, Capt. Rheinlander's 
compan}- was continually kept skirmishing 
from the beginning of the first day's battle 
until about the time that Gen. Prentiss was 
captured. By the close proximity of his 
companj'to Gen. Prentiss, Capt. Rheinlander 
afforded some five or si.x hundred men an 
opportunity of escape, and had he known 
who the)' were, he could have saved from 
capture the entire command of Prentiss. He 
participated in the siege of Corinth, having 
been promoted to the rank of major for gal- 
lantry and efficient service. Soon thereafter 
he rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel. 
At Hatchie's Run, with four companies of 
the Twentj'-fifth Indiana, Col. Rlieinlander 
charged the enemy, drove him back, en- 
gaged him in line, and finally completely 
routed him. There he was seriously 
wounded in the right thigh, and for some 
time was not able to be with his command. 
Returning, he led his command on the 
march to Atlanta, and took a conspicuous 
part in the battles of that illustrious cam- 
paign. It was only when he became so 
d'sabled that he could not mount a horse 
that he resigned on account of disability. 
His military career, bright and honorable in 
all its parts, ended by the acceptance of his 
resignation, August 18, 1864. 



Jf98 



MILITAR Y HISTOR Y. 



Dr. John T. Walker was commissioned 
surgeon of the regiment August 13, 1S61, 
was promoted major October 20, 1S62, and 
resigned June 10, 1864. The adjutant of 
the resriment from its muster into the service 
to March 7, 1862, was William H. Walker, 
jr., and from July 5, 1862, to October 5, 
1864, Capt. Jesse W. Walker, who was 
honorably discharged, appointed captain and 
assistant adjutant general, and who rendered 
valuable service to his country as citizen and 
soldier. Alexander H. Foster and Henrj- 
M. Sweetser, both long identified with the 
business interests of Evansville, were quar- 
termasters, the former from August 10, 
1861, to December 3, 1863, when he re- 
signed, and the latter from October 19, 1861, 
at which time he was promoted from quar- 
termaster sergeant, to Januar\' 15, 1862, 
when his resignation was accepted. Rev. 
Jesse L. Walker served as chaplain of the 
regiment from November 25, 1864, until its 
muster out of the service. The other field 
and staff officers were from the adjoining 
counties. A band, of twenty-six pieces, was 
mustered in with the regiment, but was dis- 
charged soon thereafter. Wheeler Dexter, 
of Evansville, was mustered as commis- 
sary sergeant, and died at New Harmony, 
August 23, 1861. 

Capt. Rheinlander's company, B, with 
one exception, was officered through its 
entire career by Evansville men. Alexan- 
der Darling was, at the outset, selected as 
first Heutenant; was promoted captain to fill 
the vacancy caused bv Capt. Rheinlander's 
advancement, and was honorably discharged 
September 15, 1864. Capt. Melchior Lange 
thereafter, until the end of the compan^-'s 
service, was its commander. Daniel W. 
Darling at the organization, was second lieu- 
tenant, and was honorabl}- discharged 
August 20, 1864, as first lieutenant, to 
which rank he was promoted May i, ^862. 



Charles Straub was first lieutenant from 
November 14, 1S64, to the muster out of 
the company; John Adrian was second lieu- 
tenant from Ma}' i, 1S62, to January- 3, 

1863, and John H. Lange was commissioned 
but not mustered, as second lieutenant. 
The enlisted men of this company were as 
follows : First Sergt. Alexander Kirkpatrick, 
unaccounted for; Sergt. William Taylor, 
^inaccounted for; Sergt. John Adrian, 

promoted as second lieutenant. Sergt. 
William Smith, mustered out August 
18, 1864, as first sergeant; Sergt. 
Thomas McAvoy, unaccounted for; Corp. 
Charles C. Waring, promoted second 
lieutenant; Corp. John B. Edwards, 
unaccounted for; Corp. Charles Hanarh, 
unaccounted for; Corp. Herman Salnu, un- 
accounted for ; Corp. Robert Short, mustered 
out August 18, 1864, as private; Corp. 
Andrew Meuth, unaccounted for; Corp. 
Charles Straub, promoted to first lieutenant; 
Corp. John W. McKee, unaccounted for; 
Musician John B. Stinson, unaccounted for; 
Musician George Rothley, veteran, mustered 
out July 17, 1865; Wagoner James Klein 
mustered out August 18, 1864, as corporal. 
Privates. — Altheide, Fred, veteran, mus- 
tered out July 22, 1865; Baily, Thomas A., 
died Memphis, Tenn., May 21, 1863, dis- 
ease; Barnett, Sylvanus, unaccounted for; 
Baring, Henry, unaccounted for; Brand, 
Jacob, veteran, mustered out July 17, 1865; 
Butcher, Fred C, mustered out August 18, 

1864, as sergeant; Byrd, Thomas L., died 
at St. Louis, Mo., December 24, 1861; 
Burkhart, George, unaccounted for: Colvin, 
Moses, veteran, transferred to Company 
F ; Coffin, Levi M., unaccounted for; 
Cravin, William H., unaccounted for; Cook, 
James A., died at St. Louis, February, 1862; 
Crunk, William D., mustered out August 18, 
1864, term expired; Davis, Jefferson P., un- 
accounted for; Delong, William A., unac- 



TWENTY-FIFTH REGIMENT. 



499 



counted for; Dunwright, George, mus- 
tered out August I, 1S64, term 
expired; Earl, John, unaccounted for; 
Edwards, John M., unaccounted for; Estess, 
John, veteran, mustered out, July 17, 1865; 
Ford, James, killed at Shiloh; Groub, Cas- 
par, killed at Fort Donelson, February 15, 
1862; Gallagher, Felix, unaccounted for; 
Grant, Perry, mustered out August 18, 
1864, term expired; Garlick, Adam, mus- 
tered out August 18, 1864, term expired: 
Haag, Jacob, killed at Fort Donelson; Han- 
aman, William, unaccounted for; Hema, 
John Martin, unaccounted for; Hendrickson, 
William, unaccounted for: Hoffman, Nich- 
olas, veteran, mustered out July 17, 1865; 
Housley, Calvin D., unaccounted for; Jar- 
vis, John, mustered out August 18,1864, 
term expired; Johann, August, veteran, 
mustered out July 17, 1865, as sergeant; 
Kappert, Peter, killed at Fort Donelson 
February 15, 1862; Kessinger, Henry, 
mustered out August 18, 1864, term ex- 
pired; Kirkpatrick, Robert B., unaccounted 
for; Klein, Michael, veteran, mustered out 
July 17, 1865; Knowlman, Caspar H., vet- 
eran, mustered out July 17, 1865; Krowb, 
Jacob, mustered out August 18, 1864, as 
sergeant; Krowley, Patrick G., killed at 
Shiloh; Littlepage, Jeffrey S., veteran, mus- 
tered out Jul}- 22, 1865, as sergeant; Lob- 
sher, Rudolph, unaccounted for; Logan, 
James, mustered out August 18, 1864, term 
expired; Lutz, Valentine, veteran, mus- 
tered out July 17, 1865, as cor- 
poral ; Manning, George, died at 
St. Louis, Mo., November 30, 1862; 
Martin, Henry, unaccounted for; McCourt, 
Patrick, mustered out August 18, 1864, 
term expired; McBroons, Gilbert, mustered 
out August 18, 1864, term expired; Meier, 
John J., veteran, mustered out July 22, 1865, 
as corporal; Miller, Frank, unaccounted for; 
Milledge, Aaron, veteran, mustered out 



July 17, 1865; Miller, Jacob, mustered out 
August 18, 1864, term expired; Moris, 
Casper, unaccounted for; Nebler, Ludwig, 
veteran, mustered out July 17, 1865; Neel, 
Thomas J., mustered out August 18. 1S64, 
term expired; Newman, George W., unac- 
counted for; Oliver, William, unaccounted 
for; Phister, Jacob,- unaccounted for; Picket, 
Michael, unaccounted for; Plaush, Henry, 
killed at Fort Donelson, Februar}' 15, 1862; 
i Powers, Frank, unaccounted for; Rader, 
Conrad, veteran, mustered out July 17, 
1865; Risinger, Martin, veteran, mustered 
out July 17, 1865; Robinson, Francis, unac- 
counted for; Schlauch, Charles, veteran, 
mustered out July 17,1865; Short, James, 
unaccounted for; Smith, Fred, mustered out 
August 18, 1864, term expired; Stricktield, 
John, veteran, mustered out Julv 17, 1865; 
Spatta, John, committed suicide at Memphis, 
, March 7, 1864; Stallings, John, unaccounted 
for; Strass, Charles, unaccounted for; Taylor, 
Franklin, veteran, mustered out July 17, 1865; 
Taylor, James, unaccounted for; Taylor, 
Nicholas, unaccounted for; Titzer, John J., 
veteran, mustered out, July 17, 1865, as cor- 
poral; Wakefield, James A., unaccounted 
for; Walker, Henr}-, unaccounted for; Web- 
ber, Nicholas, unaccounted for: Wiebert, 
Andrew, mustered out August 18, 1864, 
term expired; Weidenbaur, John, died at 
Memphis, Tenn., April 28, 1863, disease; 
Welker, William F., \eteran, mustered out 
July 17, 1865, as corporal: Wills, James S., 
discharged September 25, 1863; Woodruff, 
George, unaccounted for; Westborough, 
Paul, mustered out, August 18, 1864, term 
expired. 

Recruits. — Alsheid, Frederick, mustered 
out Juty 17, 1865; Berry, Benjamin F., mus- 
tered out July 17, 1865: Brown, Albert, sub- 
stitute, mustered out June 4, 1865; Cox, 
Willis, drafted, mustered out June 4, 1865; 
Elkins, William, mustered out June 4, 1865; 



500 



MILITAR YHISTOR Y. 



Green, William S., substitute, mustered out ' 
July 17, 1865; Hutchinson, Isaac H., mus- 
tered out July 18, 1865; Hall, Henry A., 
transferred to Veteran Reserve corps; 
Hubbert, George, mustered out July 17, 
1865; Hauchens, Dabner, mustered out 
May 29, 1S65; James, Samuel B., sub- 
stitute, mustered out • April 17, 1865; 
Koenig, Henry, veteran, died at Decatur, 
Ala., July 19, 1864; Lange, John 
H., veteran, mustered out Jul)^ 23, 
1865, fi''^'^ sergeant; Loening, Henry, 
mustered out July 17, 1865; Mills, 
William, died in hospital at Indian- 
apoHs, Ind., May 16, 1865; McCrary, Will- 
iam, discharged February 3, 1865, on 
account of disability; Olmstead, Charles, 
substitute, mustered out July 17, 1865; 
Pierson, Fobert F., mustered out July 17, 
1865; Powers, Frank, not mustered out; 
Shaffer, William, mustered out July 17, 
1865; Schmitler, Jacob, mustered out Au- 
gust 9, 1865; Salem, Herman, mustered out 
July 17, 1865; Schubert, Geo., veteran, mus- 
tered out July 17, 1865, as sergeant; Stinch- 
field, Daniel, died at Decatur, Ala., July 10, 
1864; Williams, Oscar, substitute, mustered 
out Jul}' 17, 1865; Woodruff, Joseph, died 
at Chattanooga, January 19, 1865. 

The original enrollment of this company 
was ninety-nine men; it received sixty-four 
recruits; lost by death twenty-two; by de- 
sertion two; and was unable to account for 
forty-two. 

Company C, of the Twenty-fifth, was 
commanded by Capt. Edward C. Hastings, 
from the commencement of its service until 
he resigned, August 20, 1864, and thereafter 
by Capt. James T. Reed, who entered the 
service as a sergeant, rose to second lieu- 
tenant April 10, 1S62, to first lieutenant 
August 26, 1863, to captain August 21, 
1864, and was commissioned major though 
the close of the regiment's service prevented 



his muster. Alfred G. Quinlin was first 
lieutenant until he resigned, December 9, 
1 861, the vacancy being filled by the 
promotion from second lieutenant of Henrv 
L. Brickett, who laid down his life at Shiloh. 
On April 10, 1862, William F. Reynolds, 
who from a sergeant had been promoted to 
second lieutenant January 20, 1862, was 
chosen as Lieutenant Brickett's successor, 
and served until his death, August 25, 1863. 
When James T. Reed was made captain of 
the company, John M. Ramsey, because of 
his manl}- qualities and faithful service, was 
taken from the ranks for the first lieutenancy 
and from that rank was mustered out with 
the company'. The following is the roster 
of the enlisted men of Company C, who 
went from Vanderburgh county : First Sergt. 
George C. Pope, mustered out August 
19, 1864, as private, term expired; 
Sergt. William F. Reynolds promoted to 
second heutenant; Sergt. James T. Reed 
promoted to second lieutenant; Sergt. 
Michael Keefe, mustered out August 19, 
1864, as first sergeant, term expired; 
Sergt. Henry Wilson, mustered out 
August 19, 1S64, term expired; Corp. 
Peter Smith, veteran, discharged March 
25, 1865, wounds; Corp. Charles H. Prater, 
discharged Ma}' 24, 1863; Corp. George 
W. Brown, discharged December 9, 1S62, 
as private; Corp. Milton H. Tribble, mus- 
tered out August 19, 1864, as private, term 
expired; Corp. James Glover, discharged 
January 17, 1863, sergeant-major; Corp. 
John Trent, died at St. Louis, January 9, 
1862; Corp. William Hudson, mustered out 
August 19, 1S64, as private, term expired; 
Corp. George B. Greene, veteran, discharged 
April 25, 1865, as sergeant; Musician James 
Stokes, veteran, mustered out July 17, 
1865; Musician John Vint, mustered out 
August 19, 1864, term expired; Wagoner 
Charles Jones, died in Florence, S. C, prison. 



TWENTY-FIFTH REGIMENT. 



501 



Privates. — Britting, C.,not mustered out; 
Cavins, Joshua A., died at Otterville, Mo., 
December 6, 1861: Cavins, F. J., veteran, 
mustered out July 17, 1S65; Capl, William, 
veteran, mustered out July 17, 1865 ; Chrisler, 
John H., died at St. Louis, December i, 
1861; Council, Rufus, discharged Septem- 
ber 18, 1862; Crawford, John, unaccounted 
for; Dale, Frederick, not mustered out; 
Davison, Benjamin, mustered out August 
19, 1864, term expired; Doig, David, died 
September 14, 1863; Dutton, Elijah F., 
died at Otterville, Mo., October 28, 1861; 
Falls, Harvey, veteran, mustered out July 
17, 1865; Fisher, John H., discharged Jan- 
uary r8, 1863; Fisher, Henry, not mustered 
out; Finley, James, not mustered out; Flinn, 
James, not mustered out; Gast, Martin, 
mustered out August 19, 1S64, term ex- 
pired; Gilson, William A., died at St. Louis, 
November 28, 1861; Green, Josiah, veteran, 
killed at Bentonville, N. C, March 19, 1S65; 
Harden, William H., discharged January i, 
1862; Hardiman, John, died at S3''racuse, 
Mo., December 4, 1861; Heatherly, David, 
killed by accident, August 3, 1862; Hollam, 
Roger, veteran, mustered out July 15, 1865; 
Hogen, Burnet, veteran, died at Louisville, 
Ky., July 4, 1865; Holder, Samuel R., mus- 
tered out August 19, 1864, term expired; 
Hulner, Paul, not mustered out; Hess, 
Philip, discharged December 16, 1862; 
Jones, Leroy W., mustered out August 19, 
1864, term expired; Kohlmann, Henry W. F., 
died at Bolivar, Tenn., September 12, 1862; 
Kramer, Christian, mustered out August 19, 
1864, term expired; Keller, Irvin, died at 
Georgetown, Mo., November i, 1861 ; Mahr, 
Patrick, discharged March i, 1863; Meyer, 
Joseph, not mustered out; Marce, Henry, 
discharged September 18, 1862; Merriman, 
Reuben, died at Fort Donelson, February 28, 
1862; Mingst, Christian, not mustered out: 
Murphy, Edward D., not mustered out; Mc- 



Rae, Samuel, mustered out August 19, 1864, 
term expired; McBride, Michael, veteran, 
mustered out July 17, 1865, as sergeant; 
McAllister, Alexander, died at Otterville, 
Mo., December i, 1861; Nelson, Albert J., 
not mustered out; Pelt, James M., mustered 
out August 19, 1864, term expired; Ram- 
sey, John, promoted tirst lieutenant; Rapp, 
John H., not mustered out; Ratley, Greens- 
bury, not mustered out; Reeves, Albert, mus- 
tered out August 19, 1864, term expired; Reel, 
Henry, discharged January 20, 1863; Rose, 
Jonathan G., veteran, mustered out July 17, 
1865; Robinson, Nicholas W., discharged 
September 18, 1862; RichendoUer, Stephen, 
veteran, mustered out July 17,1865; Ryan, 
Patrick, veteran, discharged June 16, 1865; 
Scott, Walter, veteran, mustered out July 
17, 1865, as corporal; Scott, Robert L., dis- 
charged December 5, 1861; Schimpff, 
Gustave A., mustered out August 19, 
1864, term expired; Seep, John, 
discharged June 30, 1865; Shook, Or- 
rin F., veteran, mustered out July 
16, 1865, as sergeant; Shaw, Elam, mustered 
out iVugust 19, 1864, term expired; Smith, 
William, killed at Fort Donelson, February 
13, 1S62; Smith, Truman B. not mustered 
out; Smith, Robert, c.ied at St. Louis, No- 
vember 6, 1861; Schmitt, Adam, died at 
Otterville, Mo., November 25, 1861; Sobe- 
ston, Joseph, veteran, mustered out July 17, 
1865; Snow, Franklyn, not mustered out; 
Timmons, James, died at Georgetown, 
Mo., October 22, 1861; Vandevere, 
Samuel H., died September 22,. 
1863; Walter, Michael, died August 31, 
1861 ; Walter, John, mustered out August 
19, 1864, term expired; Walters, Richard, 
not mustered out; Wallace, Alvin, not 
mustered out; Weber, Henr)-, veteran, 
mustered out July 17, 1865; Witcher, Will- 
iam, discharged, date unknown; Wiedig, 
Philip, veteran, mustered out July 17, 1865; 



oOi2 



MlLITAR Y HISTOB V. 



Winkles, Nicholas, died, date unknown; 
Winkles, Jasper N., mustered out August 
19, 1864, term expired; Wyerlocker, Samuel, 
not mustered out. 

Recruits. — Allen, James M. mustered 
out June 4, 1865: Bogart, Peter, mustered 
out July 17, 1865; Bigley, Franklin, 
mustered out July 17, 1865; Green, William 
G., transferred to Veteran Relief corps; 
Jincks, George W., discharged date unknown ; 
Kelly, Edward, veteran, mustered out July 
17, 1865, as corporal; McCansey, John, vet- 
eran, mustered out July 17, 1865; Robinson, 
Nicholas W., mustered out July 17, 1865; 
Sullivan, John, mustered out July 17, 1865. 
This company received ninety-nine original 
members and seventy recruits; lost by 
death, forty, by desertion, sixteen; and re- 
ported one unaccounted for. 

The Tzventy-jifth in the F'ield. — Leaving 
home on the 26th of August, 1861, the reg- 
iment moved to St. Louis, and spent the fall 
and winter in active dut}- in Missouri, at one 
time marching with Fremont's army 240 
miles in sixteen da^-s, with but two days' 
rest, and again aiding in the capture of 
1,300 rebels on the Black Water, on Decem- 
ber 19. From Benton Barracks, in Febru- 
ary, 1862, it moved to Fort Donelson and 
formed a part of the attacking force at that 
place. On the 13th, it was compelled ' to 
fall back with a loss of sixteen killed and 
eight)' wounded, but on the 15th it formed 
a part of the storming party that went into 
and held the outer works, sustaining a loss 
of four wounded, and after the surrender 
occupied the fort. It was next engaged at 
Shiloh, meeting the enemy on both days and 
losing twenty-seven killed, and 122 
wounded. It then took part in the siege of 
Corinth, and after the evacuation, marched 
to and occupied Grand Junction on the loth 
of June. Through the summer and fall it was 
in Tennessee, above Memphis and Bolivar 



chasing guerillas and scouting, and at one 
time, on October 5, at Hatchie River, fight- 
ing a brief but fierce battle. The enemy, 
at the time retreating from Corinth, and in- 
tercepted at this place, was defeated and 
compelled to retreat by another route. The 
loss to the regiment w'as three killed and 
seventy-six wounded. A campaign in north- 
ern Mississippi next engaged it, during 
which, on December 21, six companies under 
Col. Morgan, while doing guard duty along 
a line of railroad, were attacked b)' the rebel 
General VanDorn, with a large force of 
mounted infantry. The little band bravely 
resisted the attack and fought so gallantly as 
to drive the enemy from the field, leaving 
behind twent^'-three of his dead and many 
wounded and prisoners, while Col. Morgan's 
loss was but three slightly wounded. Dur- 
ing 1863 the regiment was on provost duty 
at Memphis, and guard dut}' along the rail- 
road between Moscow and Grand Junction. 
In Februar}', 1864, it marched with Sher- 
man's army on the raid through Mississippi, 
participating in the skirmish at Marion sta- 
tion. The regiment re-enlisted on February 
29, 1864 and came home on veteran fur- 
lough, returning to Decatur, Ala., on 
x'Vpril 24. It remained at that place till the 
4th day of August, participating in several 
skirmishes with Roddy's rebel cavalry. 
Moving by rail, it joined the Fourth division 
of the Sixteenth army corps before Atlanta, 
and was actively engaged in the siege of that 
stronghold from the 8th to the 26th of 
August, with a loss of three killed, six 
wounded, and four prisoners. At Jonesboro, 
two were wounded. After the occupj-ing of 
Atlanta, the regiment rested until October 
3, when it formed part of the pursuing force 
sent northwest after Hood's army. While 
in the advance, on the 15th of October, it 
attacked the rebels at Snake Creek Gap, 
driving them off, with a loss to the regi. 



FIRST CAVALRY. 



50S 



ment of nine killed and fourteen wounded. 
From Galesville, Ala., the regiment re- 
turned, reaching Atlanta in time to take 
part in Sherman's " march to the sea." 
From December 9th to i4t]i it participated 
in the investment of Savannah, with a loss 
of nine wounded, and thereafter did duty in 
and about that city. In January-, 1865, it 
moved with the Seventeenth army corps to 
Pocotaligo, and on the 30th commenced its 
march to Goldsboro, N. C, during which it 
was engaged in several skirmishes and in 
the battles at Rivers Bridge and Bentonville, 
losing two killed, twenty-two wounded, and 
three missing. It reached Goldsboro on 
March 24, having marclied 500 miles in 
fift3--four days. Marching thence to Raleigh, 
it remained there until the surrender of 
Johnston's arm}-, and then proceeded to 
Washington, arriving there May 17. 
From there it was transferred to Louisville, 
Ky., where it was mustered out of the serv- 
ice July 17, 1865, with twenty-six officers 
and 460 men, and proceeded to Indianapolis, 
where it was publicly received in the capitol 
(grounds on the 21st, and addressed by Lieut. 
Gov. Conrad Baker, Gen. Alvin P. Hovej' 
and others. During its term of service the 
T Afenty-fifth was engaged in eighteen bat- 
tles and skirmishes, sustaining an aggregate 
loss of seventy-six killed, 255 wounded, four 
missing and seventeen captured, making a 
total of 352. It marched on foot 3,200 
miles, traveled by rail 1,350 miles, and on 
transports 2,430 miles, making in all 6,980 
miles. At the original organization it must- 
ered 1,046 men and olficers, and received 
subsequently 686 recruits. Of these 391 
died of disease or of wounds, 695 were dis- 
charged on account of wounds, disability 
and other causes, thirtj'-seven were trans- 
ferred, and 133 deserted. 

First Cavalry — Twenty-eighth Regiment. 
— Pursuant to instructions from the War 



department, orders were issued on the loth 
of June, 1861, for the organization of a reg- 
iment of cavalry in the counties bordering 
on the Ohio river, and a camp of rendezvous 
was established at E\ansville, where the 
organization' of eight companies was com- 
pleted and mustered in on the 20th of August, 
1861 — the day following the muster of the 
Twenty-fifth infantry — with Conrad Baker, 
whose distinguished services as citizen and 
soldier form a brilliant part of the county, 
state and national history-, as its colonel. Of 
the field and staff officers the majority were 
from the adjoining counties, Vanderburgh 
having but four representatives besides Col. 
Baker. John Smith Gavitt went out as 
major, was commissioned lieutenant colonel 
October 21, 1861, and soon thereafter was 
killed at Frederickstown, Mo. Alexander M. 
Foster was adjutant from November i, 1862, 
and Dr. Isaac Casselberr}- was surgeon from 
August 13, 1861, both serving until the 
muster out of the regiment. William 
Baker was commissioned quartermaster, 
but was mustered out as a supernumerary 
Companies A and B were composed entirely 
of Vanderburgh county men. In the former 
companj' William C. Browe v^'ent out as 
captain, but resigning October 29, 1861, his 
place was filled by Joel F. Sherwood, pro- 
moted from a second lieutenancy, who also 
resigned August 5, 1863, from which time 
the company was commanded by Capt's 
McCauley and Shugart, residents of other 
counties. The first lieutenants from this 
county were: Patrick Raleigh, from 
August 20, to October 29, 1861; William 
R. Tracey, from November 16, 1861, to his 
death in 1862, and John Farrell, from 
August 16, 1862, to March 27, 1863, when 
he resigned. Of the residuary battalion. 
Company A, Samuel Lefler was first lieu- 
tenant, and Robert D. McCracken, second 
lieutenant, the former from February 6, 



oO]f. 



2IILITAR Y HISTOR Y. 



1863, to the muster out of the battaHon, and 
the latter from the same date to October 28, 

1864, when he resigned. In this company the 
enhsted men were as follows: First Sergt. 
William R. Tracey, promoted first lieuten- 
ant; Qrm. Sergt. James B. Evans, not mus- 
tered out; Sergt. Andrew Spiegelberg, dis- 
charged February 11, 1862, disability; 
Sergt. Jackson Brown, promoted second 
lieutenant; Sergt. William Bishop, mustered 
out September 12, 1864, term expired; 
Sergt. David D. Dougherty, discharged 
April 3, 1864, to accept commission in 
Fourth x\rkansas regiment; Corp. Will- 
iam C. Wilhelm, promoted second lieutenant; 
Corp. Alonzo N. Steele, mustered out Sep- 
tember 12, 1864, as sergeant, term expired; 
Corp. Shelton Franklin, mustered out Sep- 
tember 12, 1864, term expired; Corp. Spen- 
cer J. Mitchell, mustered out September 12, 
1S64, as private, term expired; Corp. 
Isaac N. Hutchinson, discharged Februarj- 
II, 1862, disability; Corp. William H. For- 
tune, mustered out September 12, 1864, 
term expired; Corp. Joseph Lennox, not 
mustered out; Corp. Augustus Galomut, 
mustered out September, 1864, term ex- 
pired; Bugler Albert Taffel, discharged 
March 16, 1863, disability; Bugler Freder- 
ick Wetzel, mustered out September 12, 
1864, term expired; Farrier Jacob Nehemire, 
mustered out September 12, 1864, term ex- 
pired; Farrier William A. Brokavv, mus- 
tered out September 12, 1864, term expired; 
Saddler, Benjamin P. Adams, mustered out 
September 12, 1864, term expired; Wag- 
oner James Ross, not mustered out. 

Privates. — Bachman, John P., mustered 
out September 12, 1S64, term expired; 
Bass, Howell, discharged May 25, 1863, 
disability; Bellam, John F., mustered out 
September 12, 1864, term expired; Berry, 
Peter, mustered out September 12, 1864, 
term expired; Bilderbach, John R., mustered 



out September 12, 1864, term expired; 
Bilderbach, William L., mustered out Sep- 
tember 12, 1864, "^^ corporal; Brokaw, 
Abraham, killed at Helena, Ark., July 4, 
1863; Broadwell, Le Roy R., discharged to 
accept commission in the Fourth Arkansas 
regiment, April 3, 1864; Burke, Richard, 
mustered out September 12, 1864, term ex- 
pired; Curry, Moses E., mustered out 
September 12, 1864, as corporal: 
Commerford, William, mustered out Sep- 
tember 12, 1864, term expired; Cummings, 
George, mustered out May 27, 1865; Dill, 
John, mustered out September 12, 1864, 
term expired; Edwards, William, mustered 
out September 12, 1864, as corporal; Fer- 
guson, John, promoted to chaplain; Fergu- 
son, Levi, discharged February 11, 1S62, 
disability: Ferguson, Peter, died at Memphis 
September 3, 1864; Gerard, Charles, mus- 
\ tered out September 12, 1864, term expired; 
Gilbert, James, discharged February 11, 

1862, disability; Hannah, Samuel, mustered 
out September 12, 1864, term expired; Har- 
rington, John W., mustered out September 
12, 1864, term expired; Hoke, Henry Cla}-, 
mustered out September 12, 1864, term ex- 
pired; Holman, Joseph, mustered out Sep- 
tember 12, 1864, term expired; Hopkins, 
Josiah M., mustered out September 12, 
1864, term expired; Jones, Francis, mustered 
out September 12, 1864, as sergeant, term 
expired; Judith, Benjamin, mustered out 
September 12, 1864, as corporal, term ex- 

j pired; Kenny, James, mustered out, Septem- 
ber 12, 1864, term expired; Kirkpatrick, 
Alfred, discharged October 30, 1863, dis- 
abilit}'; Langford, James, discharged Febru- 
ary 3, 1862, disability; Lyon, William, 
promoted second lieutenant of First Arkan- 
sas colored troops; Maeter, Robert, dis- 
charged March 19, 1862, disability; Mc- 
Cleland, Samuel, discharged Januar}' 19, 

1863, disability; Medkiff, Thomas D., mus- 



FIRST CAVALRY. 



BOS 



teredout September 12, 1S64, term expired; 
Molds, Stephen, mustered out September 
12, 1864, term expired; Rein, Jacob, mus- 
tered out September 12, 1864, term expired; 
Richardson, John F., mustered out Septem- 
ber 12, 1864, term expired; Richardson, Mah- 
lon, discharged February 3, 1S63, disability; 
Richardson, William H., mustered out Sep- 
tember 12, 1864, as sergeant; Risinger, John, 
discharged November i, 1861, disability; 
Schoff, Charles, discharged to accept com- 
mission in the First Arkansas regiment, 
January i, 1864; Scoville, James A., 
mustered out September 12, 1S64, term ex- 
pired; Skeens, John C, mustered out Sep- 
tember 12, 1864, as first sergeant; Smith, 
Pear^, mustered out September 12, 1864, 
ternr'expired; Somerfield, William, mustered 
out September 12, 1864, as sergeant; Steele, 
Martin A., mustered out September 12, 
1864, as corporal; Tortersman, John W., 
mustered out September 12, 1864, term ex- 
pired; Turner, James, mustered out Septem- 
ber 12, 1864, term expired; Wallace, David, 
mustered out September 12, 1864, term ex- 
pired; Wallace, James H., mustered out Sep- 
tember 12, 1864, term expired; Wallace, 
Theophilus A., mustered out September 
12, 1864, term expired; Welty, Emanuel 
F., died at Helena, Ark., December 26, 
1862; Westall, Daniel, mustered out Septem- 
ber 12, 1864, t<^'""i expired; Wilhelm, Au- 
gustus L., mustered out September 12, 1864, 
term expired; Wickham, Josiah, died May 
16, 1862, wounds; Wilheit, Samuel, dis- 
charged March 19, 1S62, disabihty; Wilson, 
Samuel II., discharged December 3, i86r, 
disability. 

Recruits.. — Eisler, George, transferred to 
Company A, First cavalry, reorganized; 
Hudson, Robert, transferred to Company A, 
First cavalry, reorganized; McClain, John 
H., transferred to Company A, First cavalry, 
reorganized; Leidenthal, George, trans- 



ferred to Compan}' A, First cavalry, reor- 
ganized ; Wilson, Peter, transferred to Com- 
pan}' A, First cavalr}- reorganized. This 
company went out with sevent\'-six men, 
received thirly-four recruits, and lost 
five by death and three by desertion. 
The command of Company B rested with 
Capt. Well H. Walker from the organiza- 
tion of the company until his death, which 
occurred in Evansville, January 23, 1863, 
and from that day until the company was 
mustered out with Capt. Sylvester J. Bing- 
ham, who had served as first lieutenant 
from August 20, 1861. Samuel Lefler and 
Robert D. McCracken were commissioned 
first and second lieutenants, respectively, in 
this compan3% but as indicated above were 
transferred to the residuary battalion. Com- 
pany A. The following is a roster of the 
non-commissioned officers and privates of 
Company B: First Sergt. Samuel Lefler, 
promoted first lieutenant: Qrm. Sergt. Rich- 
ard P. Robson, mustered out September 12, 
1S64, commissary sergeant, term expired; 
Sergt. Joseph Fravioli, killed at Pine Bluff, 
Ark., October 25, 1863; Sergt. Greenville 
Howe, mustered out September 12, 1864, 
term expired; Sergt. John W. Taylor, dis- 
charged November i, 1861, disability; Sergt. 
James B. Cuyler, discharged November i, 
1 861, disability ; Corp. Robert S. McCracken, 
promoted second lieutenant; Corp. Wesley 
Jones, mustered out September 12, 1864, 
term expired; Corp. Hamlet Martin, died at 
Pine Bluff, Ark., August 5, 1864; Corp. 
Francis A. Bradley, promoted first lieu- 
tenant First Arkansas colored regiment; 
Corp. Francis M. Thomas, mustered out 
September 12, 1864, as private, term ex- 
pired; Corp. Francis M. Conn, died He- 
lena, Ark., July 24, 1S63; Corp. Solomon 
Hunter, unaccounted for; Corp. William 
H. Parvin, killed Mark's Mills, April 25, 
1864; Bugler Thomas J. Love, discharged 



506 



MILITAR Y HISTOR Y. 



June i6, 1S62, disability; Bugler Jacob Huff, 
mustered out September 12, 1864, term ex- 
pired; Farrier James B.Smith, mustered out 
September 12, 1864, term expired; Farrier 
John Clayton, died Helena, Ark., December 
24, 1862; Saddler Alfred Balsover, captured 
Mark's Mills, April 25, 1864, mustered out 
June 13, 1865; Wagoner Jesse W. Alvis, 
discharged April 15, 1S62. 

Privates. — Abbott, William IL, mus- 
tered out September 12, 1864, as corporal, 
term expired; Alvis, Henry, discharged No- 
vember I, 1861, disability; Barrett, George, 
M., mustered out September 12, 1864, as 
corporal, term expired; Barclay, John, 
mustered out September 12, 1864, as cor- 
poral, term expired; Beloat, George, 
mustered out September 12, 1864, as ser- 
geant, term expired; Brothers, Benjamin, 
died of wounds. Pine Bluff, Ark., July 23, 
1864; Burns, James, mustered out Septem- 
ber 12, 1864, term expired; Carter, John 
T., missing in action at Mark's Mill, April 
25, 1S61 ; Case, James, discharged Septem- 
ber 6, 1S64, disability; Conner, Daniel, dis- 
charged December i, 1861, wounds; Cox, 
Levi, mustered out September 12, 1864, 
term expired; Cooper, James, died at home 
November 19, 1861, of wounds; Cunning- 
ham, John A., died at home, October 29, 1861 ; 
Dougherty, Joseph, died at home November 
27, 1863; Donnovan, Absalom, missing in 
action at Mark's Mill, April 25, 1864; Evans, 
Marcus L., discharged November i, 1861, 
disability; Fahrr, John, mustered out 
September, 12, 1864, term expired; 
Faisse, George E., mustered out Sep- 
tember 12, 1864, as corporal, term ex- 
pired; Frankhn, Benjamin, discharged No- 
vember I, 1 86 1, disability; Gilbert, Thomas 
J., missing in action at Mark's Mill, April 
25, 1864; Haddock, Thomas, discharged 
November i, 1861, disability; Haddock, 
Alexander, died at Pilot Knob, Mo., No- 



vember 10, 1861; Hays, Divin, mustered out 
September 12, 1864, term expired; Holderly, 
James W., mustered out September 12, 
1864, term expired; Howard, Henry W., 
mustered out September 12, 1864, term 
expired; Hunter, Francis F., mustered out 
September 12, 1864, term expired; Johnson, 
Wesley, mustered out September 12, 1864, 
term expired; Joyce, William, mustered out 
September 12, 1864, term expired; Kahler, 
Benjamin F., mustered out September 12, 
1864, term expired; Lagrange, John, miss- 
ing in action at Mark's Mill, April 25, 1864; 
May bray, William W., mustered out Sep- 
tember 12, 1864, as corporal; McClain, 
Charles K., killed at Fredericktown, Octo- 
ber 21, 1861; McReynolds, Leonard, mus- 
tered out September 12, 1864, as corporal; 
Miley, Samuel, killed at Pilot Knob, Octo- 
ber 28, 1861; Miley, David H., mustered 
out September 12, 1864, term expired; 
Orman, Aaron, died at Greenville, Mo., 
March 10, 1862; Perrigo, William H., dis- 
charged September 6, 1861, disability; 
Phillips, Peter, died at Pine Bluff, Ark, July 
16, 1864; Plantz, James A., mus- 
tered out September 12, 1864, term 
expired; Pride, Joel S., mustered out 
September 12, 1864, term expired; 
Pride, Wesley, mustered out September 12, 
1864, as corporal, term expired; Rawlings, 
Floyd W., discharged for promotion May 4, 
1863; Reeves, Henry M., mustered out 
September 12, 1864, term expired; Rogers, 
Franklin, discharged November 30, 1861, 
disability; Russell, Moses, discharged De- 
cember 18, 1862, disabilitv; Stephens, Obed, 
mustered out September 18, 1864, term ex- 
pired; Stewart, Michael, mustered out Sep- 
tember 18, 1864, term expired; Turner, 
John, mustered out September 18, 1864, 
term expired; Turner, Gilbert B., mustered 
out September 18, 1864, term expired; 
Turpin, Asa, captured at Mark's Mill, April 



t'iRST CAVALRY. 



501 



25, 1864, mustered out January 3, 1865; 
Walker, Charles, missing in action at Mark's 
Mill, April 25, 1864; Williamson, George, 
discharged September 6, 1861, disability; 
Williams, Albert, died at Helena, Ark., 
January 10, 1863; Whittaker, George W., 
died June, 1864, wounds received Camden, 
Ark. ; Whittaker, Robert A., died at Iron- 
ton, Mo., February 26, 1862; Willis, 
Abner, discharged November i, 1861, dis- 
ability. 

Recruits. — Chutte, Hale, mustered out 
May 31, 1865; Hitch, John, transferred to 
Company A, First cavalry, reorganized; 
Lyons, Harry, transferred to Company A, 
First cavalry, reorganized. The original 
enrollment of this companv was seventy-six; 
the number of its recruits, twenty-two; its 
loss bv death, twentv-three; desertion, four; 
unaccounted for, six. 

Exploits, of the First Cavalry. — Leaving 
Evansville August 21, i86i,the regimentpro- 
ceeded via St. Louis to fronton, Mo., and, on 
September 12, had a sharp skirmish with a 
party of rebels on Black river, in which five 
of the enemy were killed and four captured. 
During the fall and winter it remained on 
duty near Pilot Knob, and while campaign- 
ing in this region, participated in the battle 
of Fredericktown on the 21st of October, 
and in a charge that decided the fate of the 
battle, captured a piece of artillery and 
drove the enemy from the field, not, how- 
ever, without a serious loss — the death of 
Major Gavitt. In the spring of 1862, the 
First cavalry moved into Arkansas, on July 
7th fought tlie battle of Round Hill, and 
durintr the remainder of its term of service 
remained on duty in that state. For over a 
year it was stationed at Helena, engaging 
in various expeditions in every direction 
from that point, and during the last year of 
its service was stationed at Pine Bluff. The 
regiment, excepting the recruits whose 



terms of service had not yet expired, were 
mustered out of service at Indianapolis on 
September 6, 1864. 

The remaining recruits left behind in Ar- 
kansas, were on August 31st, organized into 
a detachment of two companies — A and 
B — and stationed at Pine Bluff. While on 
a scout on September 15th, it had a severe 
engagement with the enemy and was com- 
pelled to fall back, losing eight men vs'ounded 
and prisoners. It continued its service in 
Arkansas until June 24th, when it moved to 
Indianapolis, where it was finally discharged, 
numbering 125 men and three ofiicers. 

In this reorganized detachment there were 
from Vanderburgh count}' the following 
men: Companj' A — Hith, John, musician, 
mustered out June 22, 1865; Eisler, George, 
farrier and blacksmith, mustered out June 
22, 1865; Hudson, Robert, mustered out 
January 14, 1865; Miller, Andrew, mustered 
out June 22, 1865, as farrier; McClain, John 
H., mustered out March 25, 1865, as corpo- 
ral; Myers, Joseph, mustered out June 22, 
1865; Sidenthall, George, mustered out 
June 22, 1865; Wilson, Peter, mustered out 
June 22, 1865; Turner, James, recruit, 
mustered out June 22, 1865. Company 
B — Waldon, Joseph P., sergeant, mustered 
out June 22, 1865; Effinger, Thomas, cor- 
poral, mustered out June 22, 1865; Bates, 
John L., corporal, mustered out June 22, 
1865; Holmes, Jonathan, mustered out De- 
cember 9, 1864; McGark, Peter, mustered 
out March 10, 1865; Topf, William, 
mustered out June 22, 1S65, as saddler; 
Young, John B., mustered out June 22, 1865, 
as sergeant. 

Tlic Tliirty-second Regiment. — This was 
called the First German regiment, being the 
first to organize and be mustered in as ex- 
clusively composed of soldiers of German 
birth or descent. It was organized at In- 
dianapolis through the exertions of August 



508 



MILITAR Y HISTOR Y. 



Willich, a distinguished officer of the Ger- 
man revolution of 1848, who was mustered 
in with the regiment as its colonel on the 
24th day of August, 1861. Early in the 
spring of that year, indeed, immediately fol- 
lowing the first warlike demonstrations, a 
company of Germans, composed mostly of 
Turners, was organized in Evansville, with 
William Schnackenburg as captain. The 
company was armed with rifles, uniformed 
with blue blouses, soft cassimere hats and 
dark pants, and for some time did duty, 
guarding powder houses and protecting 
propert}-. On the afternoon of June 24, in 
front of the Mozart hall on First street, a 
large crowd of people assembled to witness 
the presentation of a beautiful American 
flag to this sterling corps by its lad}' ad- 
mirers. The Home guards were out in 
force; the Jackson artiller}- and Capt. 
Klauss' battery, the Lamasco guards, 
and the companies of Capts. Monk, 
Wolflein, Denby and Shanklin, were 
all there to add interest to the occa- 
sion. The assembled ladies sang the "Red, 
White and Blue " with inspiring effect, 
after which, in their behalf, Miss Pfaf- 
flin, with appropriate remarks, presented 
the flag. Capt. Schnackenburg received 
the emblem of liberty, expressing to 
the ladies on behalf of the company, 
a high appreciation of their patriotic 
encouragement, promising loyalty and 
love to the stars and stripes, and pledging 
the lives of himself and his men in its de- 
fense and protection from dishonor. The 
bands discoursed patriotic music, hearty 
cheers were given, German songs were 
sung, and the procession marched about the 
city, everywhere creating great enthusiasm 
by its loyal demonstrations. Upon the or- 
ganization of a regiment bv the Germans 
of the state, this company of Turners joined 
it, forming Company K. Capt. Schnacken- 



burg was commissioned major of the regi- 
ment, was promoted lieutenant colonel, and 
resigned October 19, 1S62. Wilham G. 
Mank, another Evansville citizen, went out 
as first lieutenant of Company A, was pro- 
moted captain of Company C, major 
of the regiment and lieutenant colonel, 
although mustered out September 7, 1864, 
before his muster in the rank last named. 
Charles Schmitt, who went out as adjutant, 
was commissioned major July 18, 1862, and 
resigned November 17, 1862, for promotion 
as assistant adjutant general. Ferdinand 
C. Meyer, first sergeant Company K, was 
promoted adjutant, and served from Septem- 
ber 25, 1862, to March 27, 1863, when he 
resigned. From October 7 to November 
15, 1861, Wilhelm Schmitt was chaplain, 
and from June 13, 1863, Emil Forstmeyer 
was assistant surgeon. The other regi- 
mental officers were from other parts of the 
state. Of the company officers several were 
from Vanderburgh county. Louis Beyreiss, 
a sergeant in Company A, was successively 
promoted second lieutenant Company H, 
first lieutenant Compan}^ A, and captain 
Company B, being mustered out September 
7, 1864, at the expiration of his term of en- 
listment John D. Ritter rose from second 
lieutenant Company K, to first lieutenant 
and captain Company B, a. id was killed at 
Chickamaugua September 20, 1863. Gus- 
tave Arnold, a recruit to Compan}- A, was 
commissioned, but not mustered, as second 
lieutenant of Company B. Phillip Wassem, 
a corporal in Companv K, was promoted 
second lieutenant, and subsequently captain 
of the residuary battalion. Company C, and 
resigned June I, 1S65. Charles H. Allen 
served as captain residuary battalion. Com- 
pany D, from October 4, 1864, to June 16, 
1865, when he resigned. Seigmund Selig, 
a sergeant Companv K, second liec.tenant 
Company F, and first lieutenant Company 



THIRTY-SECOND REGIMENT. 



',09 



D, resigned January 31, 1S63. Benjamin 
Hubbs, jr., served from October 4, 1864, 
to April 10, 1865, as first lieutenant Com- 
pany D, residuary battalion; Will- 
iam Birley was second lieutenant and 
first lieutenant in the same battalion. 
Isidore Esslinger entered the service as first 
lieutenant Company K, was promoted cap- 
tain Compan\' E, August 13, 1862, and re- 
signed October 16, 1S63. Charles W. Lang, 
rose from sergeant Company K, to second 
lieutenant Company H, and first lieutenant 
Compan\' G, from which rank he was mus- 
tered out at the e.xpiration of his term Sep- 
tember 7, 1864. The command of Com- 
pany K, at its organization rested with Capt. 
Andreas Winter, who resigned February 
13, 1863, and was succeeded by Capt. 
Adolph Metzner, of Indianapolis. The fol- 
lowing is a roster of the enlisted men who 
were from Vanderburgh count}-: First 
Sergt. Ferd C. Meyer, promoted adjutant; 
Sergt. Seigmund Selig, promoted second 
lieutenant Company F; Sergt. Louis 
Beyreiss, promoted second lieutenant Com- 
pany H; Sergt. Charles W. Lang, promoted 
second lieutenant Company H ; Corp. Fritz 
Nitzer, died January 4, 1863, wounds re- 
ceived Stone River; Corp. William Frieders- 
dorff, transferred to Company C, Thirty- 
second reorganized; Corp. Louis Eller, dis- 
charged April 24, 1862, disabihty: Corp. 
Julius Hauser, discharged May 4, 1863, disa- 
bility; Corp. Louis Nitz, died April 29, 1862, 
wounds received Shiloh; Corp. Phillip 
Wassem, promoted second lieutenant Com- 
pany I; Corp. Bernard Watt, promoted sec- 
ond lieutenant another regiment; Corp. 
Joseph Wack, died April 24, 1862, wounds 
received Shiloh; Musician CSristian Messer, 
mustered out September 7, 1864, term ex- 
pired; Musician William Keupert, not mus- 
tered out; Wagoner Freidrich Lichte, mus- 
tered out September 7, 1864, term expired. 



Privates. — Bartels, Ileinrich, mustered 
out September 7, 1864, term expired; Bin- 
der, Jacob, transferred to Veterans' Relief 
corps September 21, 1863; Burgdorff, Con- 
rad, mustered out September 7, 1864, term 
expired; Burgdorff, Julius, discharged on 
account of wounds March 17, 1864; Decker, 
John, discharged April 22, 1863, disability; 
Decker, Phillip, died in Andersonville prison 
July 26, 1864; Denzer, George, mustered 
out September "], 1864, term expired; Died- 
rich, George, died at Nolansville, Ky., De- 
cember 13, i86r; Disi^ue, Jacob, mustered 
out September 7, 1864, term expired; 
Drohm, Philip, unaccounted for; Druis- 
berry, August, mustered out September 7, 
1864, term expired; Eberlin, William, dis- 
charged May 7, 1863, disability; Felle, 
John, mustered out September 7, 1864, term 
expired; Fielich, Herman, mustered out 
September 7, 1864; Gessner, Jacob, died 
January 2, 1863, wounds received at Stone 
river; Heidman, John, discharged March 
12, 1863, disability; Jaeger, John, mustered 
out September 7, 1864, term expired; Jahn, 
Christian, mustered out September 7, 1864, 
as first sergeant; Johnson, Phillip, mustered 
out September 7, 1864, term ex- 
pired; Kamp, Robert, died at Lou- 
don, Tenn., x\pril 4, 1S64; Kamp, 
Berthold, mustered out September 7, 
1864, term expired; Kiehnz, Wilhelm, mus- 
tered out September 7, 1864, term expired: 
Kirsch, Peter, mustered out September 7, 
1864, term expired; Klein, Jacob, mustered 
out September 7, 1864, term expired; Kniese, 
Erikus, died April 7, 1862, wounds received 
at Shiloh ; Krause, Wilhelm, mustered out 
September 7, 1864, term expired; Krug 
Phillip, discharged April 21, 1S63, disability; 
Kuhlman, Ileinrich, mustered out September 
7, 1864, term expired; Kunow, Fritz, mus- 
tered out September 7, 1864, term expired; 
Launstem, Wilhelm, discharged March 16^ 



510 



MILITAR Y HISTOR Y 



1864, disability; Lartner, Joseph, discharged 
March 15, 1S62, disability; Mehr, Andreas, 
mustered out September 7, 1864, term ex- 
pired; Niehaus, Wilhelm, discharged Sep- 
tember 22, 1862, disability; Offerman, 
Joseph, discharged January 14, 1863, disabil- 
ity; Oswald, Jacob, mustered out September 
7, 1864, term expired; Pape, Franz, dis- 
charged February 22, 1862, disability; Pfist- 
ner, Heinrich, mustered out September 7, 
1864, as sergeant; Plank, Simon, died at 
Nolansville, Ky., November 29, 1861 ; Ploe- 
ger, Heinrich, discharged June 21, 1S62, 
disability; Rickerich, Philip, discharged 
May 18, 1863, disability; Roesner, Peter, 
mustered out September 7, 1864, term ex- 
pired; Rupp, Franz, not mustered out; 
Schaefer, Heinrich, mustered out September 
7, 1864, term expired; Schickel, Jacob, mus- 
tered out September 7, 1864, term expired; 
Schmacke, Martin, discharged Ma}^ 5, 
1863, disability; Schmidt, Jacob, mustered 
out September 7, 1864, term expired; 
Schreyer, George, discharged February 16, 

1863, disability; Schwell, Benedict, mus- 
tered out September 7, 1864, term expired; 
Schute, Christian, mustered out September 
7, 1864, term expired; Stiegman, Frederick, 
mustered out September 7, 1864, as cor- 
poral; Stroebel, George, mustered out Sep- 
tember 7, 1864, term expired; Stumpf, 
Ernst, mustered out September 7, 1864, 
from Company I ; Stumpf, Lains, mustered 
out September, 1862, as musician; Tiemayer, 
Hermann, transferred to Company' F; 
Wagner, Jacob, mustered out September 7, 

1864, term expired; Weber, Fritz, mustered 
out September 7, 1864, as sergeant, term 
expired; Weber, Samuel, not mustered out; 
Weinhoeppel, Joseph, mustered out Sep- 
tember 7, 1864, term expired; Weiter- 
shausen, Carl, discharged March 12, 1863, 
disability; Wentrup, Wilhelm, mustered out 
September 7, 1864, ^*i^^ expired; Zeuzins, 



John, mustered out September 7, 1864, as 
sergeant; Zugler, John, mustered out Sep- 
tember 7) 1864, term expired; Zeimmerman, 
John, discharged June 24, 1862, disabihty; 
Zielauf, George, died September 19, 1863, 
wounds received at Chickamauga. 

/^crni/'/s. — Balnitze, Henr}', transferred 
to Thirty-second, reorganized; Beeheer, 
George, transferred to Thirtv-second, re- 
organized: Blume, George, transferred to 
Thirty -second, reorganized, mustered out De- 
cember 4, 1865 ; Duisberg, Ernst, transferred 
to Thirt^'-second, reorganized, mustered out 
June 14, i865;Ehrhardt, William, transferred 
to Thirty-second, reorganized, mustered out 
October 19, 1S65; Faas, Christian, trans- 
ferred to Thirty-second reorganized, dis- 
charged June 22, 1865, disability; Grote, 
Frederick, transferred to Thirty-second, re- 
organized, mustered out July 12, 1865, as 
corporal; Heuschkel, Wilhelm, transferred 
to Thirt3'-second reorganized, mustered 
out December 4, 1865, as corporal; 
Koenig, George, transferred to Thirt}-- 
second, reorganized, mustered out Februar}- 
6, 1865; Lauer, Christoph, transferred to 
Veteran Reserve corps September i, 1863; 
Minsterman, Henr\-, transferred to Thirt)-- 
second, reorganized, mustered out October 
19, 1865, as corporal; Moes, Wilhelm, trans- 
ferred to Thu'ty-second, reorganized, dis- 
charged April 3, 1S65, disability; Michel, 
George, discharged December 20, 1862, 
disability; Niehaus, Gottlieb, died at Hunts- 
ville, Ala., August 29, 1862; Niehaus, Wil- 
helm, transferred to Thirty-second, reorgan- 
ized, mustered out July 27, 1S65: Roesner, 
Henry, transferred to Veteran Reserve 
corps September 16, 1863; Schelosky, 
Henrv, transferred to Thirtv-second, reor- 
ganized, to Veteran Reserve corps January 
21, 1865; Schwertpeyer, Christian, dis- 
charged March i, 1S63, disability; Trow, 
Philip, transferred to Veteran Reserve 



THIRTY-SECOND REGIMENT. 



511 



corps March 17, 1864; Wassem, Henry, 
transferred to Thirty-second, reorganized, 
mustered out June 14, 1S65, a corporal; 
Weyman, Henry, died June 21, 1864, of 
wounds received at Kenesaw ; Wund, Jacob, 
transferred to Thirtj'-second, reorganized, 
mustered out Januar}' 30, 1865, as sergeant. 
The original enrollment of this company 
was ninety-one; its recruits numbered thirty- 
eight; it lost by death sixteen, and by 
desertion six. 

Among other recruits to the regiment 
the following were furnished by Vander- 
burgh county : Company A — Dickman. 
John, transferred to Veteran Reserve corps 
April 30, 1864, mustered out August 26, 
1865; Frick, John, transferred to Thirty- 
second, reorganized, discharged, disability. 
Company C ^- Dutlenhausen, August, dis- 
charged February 3, 1863; Degg, William, 
transferred to Thirty-second, reorganized, 
mustered out June 15, 186S5 ^ cor- 
poral; Elfelder, Lenhardt, transferred to 
Thirt3'-second, reorganized, mustered out 
June 15, 1865; Euler, Matthias, trans- 
ferred to Thirty-second, reorganized, 
mustered out December 4, 1865; 
Gerlach, John, transferred to Thirth-second, 
reorganized; Hettenbach, Frederick, died 
July 12, 1S64; Krieger, William, transferred 
to Thirty-second, reorganized, mustered out 
December 4, 1865; Lipper, Christian, trans- 
ferred to Thirty-second, reorganized, mus- 
tered out June 15, 1865. Company D — 
Hauser, Jacob, transferred to Thirty-second, 
reorganized, mustered out December 4, 1S65; 
Schaefer, August, transferred to Thirty- 
second, reorganized, not mustered out; 
Weitzel, Rudolph, discharged November 
22, 1863, disability; Zuspann, Jacob, trans- 
ferred to Thirtv-second, reorganized, and 
mustered out June 15, 1865. Company 
E — Eberhart, Michael, transferred to Thirt}-- 
second, reorganized, mustered out June 14, 



1865, '^s sergeant; Graff, George, died at 
Chattanooga, Tenn., June 20, 1864; Hafen- 
drefer, Henry, transferred to Thirty-second, 
reorganized, mustered out June 14, 1865, as 
sergeant; Kleinlogel, Jacob, transferred to 
Thirty-second, reorganized, mustered out 
June 14, 1S65; Lantenschlager, John, died 
at Chattanooga Jul}- 18, 1864; Pfister, Ja- 
cob, transferred to Veteran Reserve corps, 
December 28, 1864; Ritt, Gustave, trans- 
ferred to Thirty-second, reorganized, mus- 
tered out December 4, 1864; Rittinger, 
V^alentine, transferred to Thirty-second, re- 
organized; Rickenck, Jacob, transferred to 
Thirty-second, reorganized: Risinger, 
Adam, died at Atlanta rebel prison, July 24, 
1864; Risinger, William, died at New Al- 
bany, June 25, 1864; Schneble, William, 
transferred to Thirt^'-second, reorganized. 
Company F — Bohlleber, John, transferred 
to Thirty-second, reorganized, mustered out 
June 14, 1865; Deussner, William, trans- 
ferred to Veteran Reserve corps, March 17, 
1864; Graf, Louis, transferred to Thirty-sec- 
ond, reorganized, mustered out June 14, 
1865, '^s sergeant; Steinmetz, Joseph, dis- 
charged December 26, 1862, disability. Com- 
pany G — Mann, Adam, discharged May 22, 
1863, disabilit}'; Mitz, Henry, transfered to 
Thirty-second, reorganized, mustered out De- 
cember 4, 1865. Company H — Grass, Con- 
rad, died in Andersonville prison August 30, 
1864; Kaiser, Frederick, transferred to 
Thirt} -second, reorganized, mustered out 
February 18, 1865; Raisinger, Jacob, not 
mustered out. Company I — Saalnaechter, 
Jacob, transferred to Thirty-second, reorgan- 
ized, mustered out October 19, 1865. Un- 
assigned — Broeker, Henry, unaccounted 
for; Ileil, John, unaccounted for; Hoffman, 
Peter, transferred to Thirt\--second, reorgan- 
ized; Kaiser, Jacob, unaccounted for; Stem- 
per, Charles August, unaccounted for. 
iikclch of the Regiment. — In the latter 



512 



MILITAR Y HISTOR Y. 



part of September, 1861, the regiment pro- 
ceeded to Louisville, Ky., and spent the fall 
and winter in various camps in tliat state, 
doing picket duty much of the time, along 
the south side of Green river. While so 
engaged on December 17, near Rowlett's 
station, four companies were attacked by a 
force of 1,100 infantry, four pieces of artil- 
lery and a battalion of Texan rangers. The 
struggle for a time was fierce and appar- 
ently hopeless, but the attacked companies 
were reinforced by the rema'^nder of 
the regiment, which came on the 
run to the scene of conflict, and the 
enemy was routed after a contest 
which brought out the highest qualities of 
skill, daring and endurance. For its gal- 
lantry on this occasion, the regiment was 
highly complimented in special orders by 
Gen. Buell and Gen. Morton and the name 
"Rowlett's Station" directed to be placed 
on the regimental colors. It participated 
in the battle at Shiloh, losing six killed, 
ninety-three wounded and four missing, and 
in the siege of Corinth was engaged for 
many days, losing eight wounded. After 
the evacuation of Corinth the regiment was 
with Buell's army, most of the time, and 
took part in the pursuit of Bragg, through 
Kentucky. From November, 1862, to June, 
1863, it was at Nashville and Murfreesboro, 
during which time it was engaged in the 
battle of Stone River, losing twelve 
killed, forty wounded, and 115 
missing. Moving with Rosecranz's arm}- 
toward Chattanooga, it engaged in a severe 
skirmish at Liberty Gap, on June 24, and on 
September 19 and 20 participated in the 
battle of Chickamauga, losing twenty-one 
killed, seventy-eight wounded, and seven- 
teen missing. Falling back to Chattanooga, 
it remained there until the battle of Mission 
Ridge was fought, on November 25, in 
which it bore an honorable part. Remain- 



ing in east Tennessee until just before the 
Atlanta campaign, it joined Sherman's army, 
and marched with it to Atlanta, engaging 
always with credit to itself in the following 
battles and skirmishes: Resaca, Allatoona 
Hills, Dallas, Peach Tree Creek, Paid 
Springs, Atlanta and man\- minor skir- 
mishes. The non-veterans were mustered 
out at Indianapolis, September 7, 1864. The 
remaining recruits were organized into a 
residuary battalion, did duty in Tennessee, 
Louisiana and Texas, and was finally 
mustered out December 4, 1865. 

T/'ic Thirty-pflh Regiment. — During the 
winter of 1861 authority was given Bernard 
F. Mullen, of Madison, Ind., to organize the 
Sixtv-first, or second Irish, regiment, the 
Thirty-fifth, or first Irish, regiment having 
been organized at Indianapolis, and mus- 
tered into the United States service on 
December 11, 1861, with John C. Walker 
as colonel. About twenty men went from 
Vanderburgh county to join the Sixty-first, 
and proceeded to Madison, the place of 
rendezvous. The attempt to raise this reg- 
iment being unsuccessful, the enlisted men 
and a few of the oflicers, including Col. 
Mullen, were transferred to the Thirty-fifth 
regiment on May 22, 1862. Prior to the 
date of this consolidation, however, many of 
the men had become dissatisfied and refused 
to muster. As a result but few Vander- 
burgh county men found their way into the 
ranks of this regiment. Among the regi- 
mental officers there was but one from here. 
James Fitzwilliams was commissioned sec- 
ond lieutenant, Company G, March 20, 
1S62, rose to first lieutenant and captain of 
his company, and then to major of the regi- 
ment on March i, 1865, but before muster- 
ing in this rank, he resigned, as captain, 
June 10, 1865, In the same company Tim- 
othy Dawson was second and first lieutenant 
and later was captain of Company H, being 



THIRTY-FIFTH REGIMENT. 



'>13 



mustered out with llie regiment. Michael 
Gorman was commissioned second lieuten- 
ant of Company 13 upon the consolidation 
of the two regiments, was promoted llrst 
lieutenant November 13, 1S62, and captain 
May I, 1S63, from which rank he resigned 
June 10, 1865. James Gaviske was second 
lieutenant and captain Company E, and re- 
signed July 21, 1864- Among the enlisted 
men from here there were in Company G 
the following: Ilumphries, Ignatius X., 
corporal, transferred to Veteran Reserve 
corps February 10, 1864; Fitzwilliams, 
Patrick, corporal, discharged September 
15, 1862, disability; Gaffney, Patrick, 
corporal, not mustered out; Williams, Sam- 
uel, corporal, veteran, transferred to Vet- 
eran Reserve corps, mustered out June 23, 
1865; Dawson, Michael, not mustered out; 
Gleeson, Cornelius, not mustered out; 
Holmes, Thomas, mustered out April 6, 
1865; Mill, Patrick, not mustered out; Ken- 
nedy, John, missing at Stone River, January 
2, 1863; Hughes, John, not mustered out; 
Nolan, William J., not mustered out; Ryan, 
Thomas, died February 20, 1863, of wounds 
received at Stone River; Summers, Timothy, 
veteran, mustered out September 30, 1865, 
as sergeant; Victor\-, John, discharged April 
7, 1863, disability; Tremble, John, mustered 
out September 30, 1865. In Company E, 
Thomas P. Cole, drafted in December, 

1864, was mustered out September 30, 

1865, and Isaac Miller, who joined the com- 
pany January 12, 1865, lt;ft it without being 
mustered out. 

Slcctr/i of the T/iir/y-fJl/i.~\i\.ftY the 
consolidation mentioned above, the regiment 
remained in Tennessee and Kentucky, in 
the fall of 1862 participating in the pursuit 
of, Bragg, the battle of Perry ville and the 
skirmishes of the march. In a skirmish at 
Dobbins Ford, December 9, it lost fortv 
men in killed and wounded. At Stone River 
30 



it lost one-third of the number engaged, 
having twentN'-nine killed, seventy-two 
wounded and thirty-three missing, making a 
total loss of 134. It also sustained heavv 
losses at Chickamauga. With the Second 
brigade, First division. Fourth corps, it par- 
ticipated in all the marches, battles, skirm- 
ishes and scouts of the historic Atlanta cam- 
paign of 1864. At Kenesavv Mountain in a 
hand to hand encounter with the enemy the 
regiment particularly proved its valor, losing 
eleven killed and fifty-four wounded. Near 
Marietta, while valiantly engaged capturing 
the enemy's rifle pits and twenty-eight pris- 
oners it again lost eleven in killed and 
wounded. It acted a conspicuous part in the 
battles following the fall of Atlanta and the 
pursuit of the enemy to the northward. At 
Franklin, Tenn., it gallantly repulsed the 
enemy, and at Nashville assisted in his rout 
and complete demoralization. It remained 
in Tennessee until June, 1865, when sent to 
Texas. Mustered out September 30, 1865. 
T/ic S/.\ih Battery, Light Artillery. — 
This battery was recruited at Evansville 
and mustered into the service at Indianapo- 
lis on the 7th of September, 1S61, with 
Frederick Behr, of Evans\'ille, as captain. 
When Capt. Behr gave his life .to his 
country, on the field at Shiloh, April 6, 
1S62, the command was entrusted to 
Michael Mueller, who had rendered faithful 
service as second and first lieutenant, and 
who afterward was ever active in the per- 
formance of his duty as captain until mus- 
tered out at the expiration of his term, 
September 19, 1864. The other ofiicers of 
the battery were residents of Indianapolis. 
The enlisted men contributed by Vander- 
burgh county to this battery were as follows : 
Sergt. Conrad Mushagen, mustered out 
September, 1864; Sergt. Heinrich Scludz, 
died, date unknown; Coip. Joseph Yuer- 
gensmayer, transferred to Veteran Reserv^ 



BlJt ■ 



MILITA R Y HISTOR Y. 



corps; Corp. Johann Kastner, veteran, 
mustered out July 22, 1865, ^^ sergeant; 
Corp. William Hogrefe, mustered out 
September, 1S64, as first sergeant; Corp. 
Charles Yuergens, mustered out Septem- 
ber, 1864; Corp. August Bergmann, mus- 
tered out September, 1864; Bugler Charles 
Mahler, discharged November 13, 1862; 
Artificer John HuUer, died at Memphis, 
Tenn.,July 20, 1864. 

Privates. — AUbach, Franz, veteran, mus- 
tered out July 22, 1865; Becker, David, 
mustered out September, 1864; Benke, 
Heinrich, mustered out September, 1864; 
Bickel, Johann, veteran, mustered out Septem- 
ber, 1864; Blum, Johann, veteran, mustered 
out July 22, 1865; Burggrabbe, Charles, dis- 
charged August 18, 1862; Druschel, Johann, 
mustered out September, 1864; Ebie, Con- 
rad, mustered out September, 1864; Feld- 
worth, Adam, mustered out September, 
1864; Fisher, Christian, never mustered out; 
Flurer, Tobias, mustered out September, 
1864; Firnhaber, Adolph, mustered out Sep- 
tember, 1864, '^^ *^''^'^ sergeant; Gardner, Au- 
gust, transferred to Veteran Reserve corps; 
Hortig, August, unaccounted for; Hartmann, 
Heinrich, mustered out September, 1S64; 
Heidorn, William, unaccounted for; Hess, 
Peter, mustered out September, 1S64; Hin- 
steadt, Heinrich, mustered out September, 
1864; Hirsch, Ferdinand, mustered out May 
28, 1865; Huller, Michael, mustered out 
September, 1864; Jochum, George, mus- 
tered out September, 1864; Jochum, 
Jacob, mustered out September 1S64; 
Jockol, Michael, mustered out September, 
1864 ; Jordon, Heinrich, veteran, mustered 
out July 12, 1865 ; Koffitz, Heinrich, mus- 
tered out February 6, 1865; Krueger, 
Charles, unaccounted for; Kutterer, Anton, 
unaccounted for; Krohnsager, Heinrich, 
mustered out September, 1864; Korff, 
Heinrich, discharged, date unknown; 



Kohl, Heinrich, mustered out Septem- 
ber, 1864; Longhaus, Adam, veteran, 
mustered out Juh' 22, 1865; Lim- 
bach, Peter, unaccounted for; Limbach, 
Casper, discharged July 30, 1862; Loebs, 
Johann, mustered out September, 1S64; 
Mehsens, Claus, unaccounted for; Maertz, 
Samuel, discharged, date unknown ; Piiaef- 
fle, Johann, accidental!}' killed; Pump, 
George, mustered out 1864; Peck, James, 
mustered out Maj^ 22, 1865; Riedle, Albert, 
nuistered out September, 1864; Roffen- 
sholfer, Christ., not mustered out;Rosem- 
meyer, Frederick, mustered out September, 
1864; Sickenberger, Johann, discharged 
November 13, 1862; Schneidthorst, Hein- 
rich, died at St. Louis, Mo., January 21, 
1864; Schaaf, Jacob, unaccounted for; Stern, 
Franz, unaccounted for; Schmidtz, Valen- 
tine, unaccounted for ; Schmidtz, Heinrich, 
died May 28, 1864; Steljes, Johann, mus- 
tered out September, 1864; Strohmayer, 
Xavier, mustered out September, 1864 ; 
Schuman, Heinrich, died at Memphis, 
Tenn., June 18, 1864; Trautt, Jacob, 
mustered out September, 1864; Un- 
hold, Frederick, mustered out Septem- 
ber, 1864; Wetzel, George, discharged 
November 26, 1862, wounds ; Wei- 
bel. Christian, mustered out September, 
1864; Wechmayer, Heinrich, mustered out 
September, 1864; teller, Louis, veteran, 
mustered out July 22, 1865; Zeigler, Franz, 
veteran, mustered out July 22, 1865, '>s 
corporal. 

Recruits. — Bechdolt, Erhard, mustered 
out July 10, i86S; Becker, Johann, mus- 
tered out Julj' 22, i865) as sergeant; Diet- 
rich, Charles, unaccounted for; Fenke, 
John H., unaccounted for; Horreben, Fred- 
erick, mustered out July 22, 1S65; Heiden, 
William, mustered out July 22, 1865; Hein- 
rich, Anton J., supposed lost on Sultana, 
April 27, 1865; Isler, Adam, mustered out 



SIXTH BATTERY. 



515 



July 22, r865;Klosen, Nicholas, unaccounted 
for; Kaiser, Gottleib W., mustered out July 
22, 1865; Michelfelder, Gottleib, mustered 
out July 22, 1S65; Pope, Charles, mustered 
out July 22, 1865; Rommel, Gottleib, mus- 
tered out July 22, 1S65; Sholl, Joseph, un- 
accounted for; Titt, John G., mustered out 
May 28, 1865; Williams, August, unac- 
counted for; Wengert, George, mustered 
out July 22, 1S65; Wolf, George P., not 
mustered out. This battery went out with 
133 men, and received seventy-eight re- 
cruits. Nineteen of its men re-enlisted as 
veterans, seventeen died, six deserted and 
twenty-six were unaccounted for. 

Field Service 0/ t/ic Sixt/i Batter \. — Oc- 
tober 2, 1861, the battery left Indianapolis 
by rail and proceeded bv way of Evansville 
to Henderson, Ky., whence it moved to Cal- 
houn, South Carrollton, and Owensboro, K}., 
being on dut}' at these places until the spring 
of 1862, when it joined Gen. Sherman's 
command at Paducah. On the 4th of March, 
with Sherman's division, it moved up the 
Tennessee river on steamers, disembarking 
at Pittsburg Landing. On the morning of 
April 6, when the rapid advance of the 
enemy opened the battle of Shiloh, it was 
guarding the bridge over Owl creek on the 
Purdy road. For over two hours it held 
its position su|-)ported bv McDowell's brig- 
ade, but was eventually forced back by the 
strong columns of the enemy. While the 
battery was retiring Gen. Sherman met it 
at the intersection of the Corinth road, and 
gave orders to Capt. Behr to bring his guns 
into battery. The captain had hardly given 
the order to his men when he was struck by 
a musket ball and fell from his horse. This 
caused confusion, and the enemy pressing 
forward vigorouslj-, captured most of the 
guns of the battery, and killed sixty-eight of 
its horses. Capt. Behr's wound proved 
fatal, and four more were wounded. After 



this battle new guns were procured, and the 
battery moved with the army upon Corinth. 
On May 2Sth, supported bv Gen. Denver's 
brigade, the battery had a sharp engage- 
ment with the enem\-. The guns were un- 
limbered and moved b}' hand to the crest of 
a hill, and opening a rapid tire drove the 
enemy from a strong position, demolished 
a block house, from which he annoyed one 
line of skirmishers, and dashing forward, the 
brigade captured and held the ground. 
Taking position in these advanced works, 
the battery was constantly engaged in the 
siege of Corinth until its evacuation by the 
enemy. The battery, with a portion of 
Sherman's troops, next engaged the enemy 
at Holly Springs, Miss., defeating and driv- 
ing him from the town. Thereafter, until 
November 26, it did garrison duty at Fort 
Pickering, near Memphis, Tenn. From 
here it moved with Sherman's forces upon 
the rebel Gen. Pemberton, on the Talla- 
hatchie river. The enemy, however, aban- 
doned his works and retreated to Grenada, 
the batter^' returning to La Grange, where 
one section was detached to LaFayette and 
the other to Colliersville, Tenn. In June, 
1863, the battery, proceeding by way of 
Memphis, joined the armv of Gen. Grant, 
then engaged in the siege of \'icksburg, 
taking part in the operations against that 
city until its surrender. It then moved with 
Sherman's column to 15ig Black river, 
where, July 6, it engaged the rebel forces 
under Gen. Johnson. It next took part 
in the siege of Jackson, Miss., until its evac- 
uation, when it was assigned to the Third 
brigade. Third division. Fifteenth army 
corps, and went into camp near Bear creek. 
Miss. On October 15, the battery moved 
with Gen. McPherson's command on an ex- 
pedition to Brownsville, Miss., and shelled 
the rebels out of a strong position. 
Soon afterward it went into camp 



516 



MILITAR Y HISTOR Y. 



at Pocahontas, Tennessee. January i, 
1864, ^ majorit}' of its members re- 
enlisted as veterans. It was stationed at 
Pocahontas, Black River Bridge, Vicksburg 
and Memphis until May, when it moved 
with Gen. Sturgis' command through north- 
ern Mississippi, and on June 10 was engaged 
in the battle of Guntown, losing three men 
and ten horses. At Tupelo, Miss., July 14, 
1864, it lost one killed and seven wounded. 
Thereafter, until ordered to Indianapolis for 
muster out, it served as a stationed batter}- 
at Fort Pickering. It reached Indianapolis 
July 15, 1S65, with two officers and forty- 
eight men, and was mustered out July 22, 
followinfj. 

The F'oiiy-secoiui Bcg/incnt. — The organ- 
ization of this regiment was completed on 
the 9th of October, 1861, and Company A, 
the onlv one composed exclusively of Van- 
derburgh county men, was mustered in un 
the same day. The colonel of the regiment 
during its entire service, was one of Evans- 
ville's foremost citizens, James G. Jones. 
Its lieutenant-colonel, was the distinguished 
statesman and soldier, Charles Denby, who 
being promoted colonel of the Eightieth 
regiment, resigned October 21, 1862, when 
the vacanc\- was filled by the appointment 
of another well-known man who went out 
as major of the regiment, James M. Shank- 
lin, whose service was terminated by death 
at his home May 23, 1863. Other staff 
officers from Vanderburgh county were: 
DeWitt C. Evans, adjutant, September 12, 
1861, to October 11, 1862 ; James L. Orr, 
quartermaster to November 9, 1862, when 
promoted captain and assistant commissar}' 
sergeant ; William Atcheson, chaplain, 
January 28, to May 24, 1862 ; Nicholas M. 
Patterson, chaplain, December 18, 1862, to 
October 20, 1S63; and John Mageniss, 
assistant surgeon, September 7, 1861, to 
August 21, 1864. Of the regimental non- 



commissioned officers Joseph C. Overell was 
sergeant-major from the date of muster un- 
til promoted second lieutenant of Company 
D, April 5, 1S62, which position he resigned 
August 27, 1864; George W. Shanklin was 
quartermaster sergeant, and Elder Cooper 
was commissary sergeant, from which rank 
he rose by successive stages to the captaincy 
of Company D, and w-as honorabl}' dis- 
charged after three years of active service. 
A regimental band, of twenty pieces, under 
the leadership of Charles C. Genung, was 
mustered in with the regiment, but orders 
from the war department dispensing with 
such organizations, prevented this body of 
men from leading the regiment through its 
brilliant career. 

Company A was first commanded by 
Capt. WiUiam Atcheson, who resigned 
January 28, 1862, to accept a commission as 
chaplain of the regiment. A promotion 
from the first lieutenancy was then given to 
Capt. Charles G. Olmstead, who was killed 
at Chaphn Hill, Ky., October 8, 1862. His 
successor was Capt. John Trimble, for a 
time second and then first lieutenant. Upon 
the muster out of Capt. Trimble, March 30, 
1S65, Jacob W. Messick, who had entered 
the service as a sergeant, was commissioned 
captain, but his term expiring, he was 
mustered out as second lieutenant, in which 
rank he was then serving. May i, 1S65, 
Andrew McCutchan, who had enlisted in 
the ranks, and been promoted therefrom to 
the first lieutenancy, was rewarded for his 
faithful service with a captain's commission, 
and was mustered out with the regiment. 
James W. Vickery passed successively from 
the rank of first sergeant to that of first 
lieutenant, from which he was mustered out 
at the expiration of his term of enlistment. 
William Shaw also rose from the ranks, and 
was mustered out with the regiment 
as first lieutenant of his company, 



FORTY-SECOXD REGUIENT. 



S17 



Jesse Gillett was commissioned second 
lieutenant Ma}^ i, 1S65, but was not mus- 
tered, beinfj disciiarged as first sergeant 
June 18, 1S65. The following isa complete 
roster of the company, as mustered October 
9, 1S61: 

First Sergt. James W. Vickery, pro- 
moted second lieutenant; Sergt. William 
Lant, mustered out October 10, 1864, 
term expired; Sergt. Jacob W. Messick, 
promoted second lieutenant; Sergt. Charles 
S. Talbot, discharged account disability; 
Sergt. Nathaniel Mathenj-, died Anderson- 
viile prison, August 29, 1864; Corp. John 
W. James, discharged account wounds; 
Corp. John Riggs, killed at Perry^■ilIe, Ky., 
October 8, 1862; Corp. Chauncey Glass- 
mith, killed at Stone River, December 31, 
1862; Corp. Thomas Trimbal, veteran, 
killed Lost Mountain, June 17, 1864; Corp. 
Lewis W. Short, mustered out, date un- 
known; Corp. Robert W. Woods, mustered 
out February 14, 1865 ; Corp. Christopher 
L. Scott, discharged July, 1862, disability; 
Corp. William Swanson, mustered out 
October 10, 1864, term expired; Musician 
John Messick, mustered out October 10, 
1864, term expn-ed; Musician Alonzo Brein- 
iard, transferred to gunboat service; Wag- 
oner Robert McCutchan, discharged May 
12, 1862, disability. 

Privates. — Abbott, Owen, discharged 
June, 1863, disability; Ahns, Louis, killed 
Penyville, Ky., October 8, 1862; Albacker, 
John, transferred to \"eteran Reserve corps; 
Ayers, James B., discharged Februar)-, 1862, 
disability; Barns, James, veteran, mustered 
out July 21, 1865; Benner,AshlevR., veteran, 
not mustered out; Bennet, Samuel, dis- 
charged May, 1862, disability'; Bicking, 
Heni-y, veteran, mustered out July 21, 1865; 
Black, Nathaniel, discharged July, 1863, 
wounds; Brightenhauger, Fred, died at 
Nashville, Tenn., January 3, 1S63, disease; 



Brown, Nicholas, discharged account of 
disability; Carter, William, veteran, died 
May 31, 1864, wounds; Chisler, Louis, dis- 
charged account of disability; Clinger, 
George, discharged account of disability; 
Calvin, Henry, mustered out October 10, 
1864, term expired; Copley, Charles, dis- 
charged October 3, 1862, disabiHty; Copley, 
Erastus, mustered out October 10, 1864, 
term expired; Dean, Charles, died February 
28, 1862, disease; Deitz, George W., dis- 
charged, 1862, account of disabilit}-; Deitz, 
Southmead, died March 29,1862; Delong 
Josiah, unaccounted for; Dennison, Thomas, 
died in i\ndersonville prison, August 23, 
1864; Depaw, John W., killed at Perryville, 
Ky., October 8, 1862; Elliott, WiUiam, mu.s- 
tered out October 10, 1864, term expired; 
Elwood, Benjamin, discharged January 6, 
1863; Fairchild, Isaac, discharged account 
of disability; Fleehearty, Joel, discharged 
December 22, 1863, disability; Fleehearty, 
Zadok S., discharged account disability ; 
Fogel, Conrad, mustered out October 10, 
1864, term expired; Gleichman, (jeorge, 
unaccounted for; Goodge, George, vet- 
eran, mustered out Jime 15, 1865; 
Hasanwinkle, John, veteran, mustered out 
July 21, 1865, as first sergeant; Headon, 
Robert, promoted in U. S. colored troops ; 
Huff, August, transferred to Veteran Re- 
serve corps ; Kirkpatrick, Andrew, trans- 
ferred to Veteran Reserve corps ; Kirkpat- 
rick, George, transferred to Veteran 
Reserve corps ; Laurence, Charles F., vet- 
eran, mustered out July 21, 1865, as corpo- 
ral ; Lawrence, Leslie, veteran, mustered 
out Juh' 21, 1865; Lockwiod, John R., 
mustered out October 10, 1S64, term ex- 
pired ; Louder, Andrew, discharged, disa- 
bility ; Lutz, Francis, discharged, date un- 
known; Martin, James, killed at Lookout 
Mountain, November 24, 1863 ; Mathias, 
John W., transferred to Veteran Reserve 



-,18 



MILITAR Y HISTOR Y. 



corps, not mustered out; McCutchan, An- 
drew, promoted first lieutenant ; McCutchan, 
Reuben, discharged April 29, 1864 ; Mc- 
Cutchan, Thomas, mustered out October 
10, 1864, term expired; McCutchan, Will- 
iam J., mustered out October 10, 1864, term 
expired ; McElroy, Albert, veteran, mus- 
tered out July 20, 1865 ; McFarland, Will- 
iam A., mustered out June 8, 1865 ; Mcln- 
nery, Michael, died at Pittsburg Landing, 
March, 1S63; Miller, Joseph, veteran, mus- 
tered out July 21, 1865, as sergeant; Mor- 
gan, George P., mustered out October 10, 
1864, term expired ; Moushart, Rening, lost 
on steamer Sultana, April 27, 1865 ; Nash, 
Richard, veteran, mustered out July 21, 
1865 ; Neihaus, David, died in Anderson- 
ville prison, September 3, 1864 ; Olmstead, 
Charles D., discharged in 1863, disability ; 
Otto, August, mustered out October 10, 
1864, term expired; Park, Alexander, 
veteran, mustered out July 21, 1865 ; 
Parrott, Matthew, veteran, discharged March 
2, 1865, wounds; Perry, James, veteran, 
mustered out June 15, 1865; Pitts, Josiah, 
not mustered out; Plowman, x\mon, trans- 
ferred to gunboat service; Rhoads, Joseph, 
veteran, mustered out July 21, 1865; Schel- 
ter, Bernhard, mustered out October 10, 

1864, term expired; Schroder, William, died 
in Andersonville prison June 4, 1864; See, 
William, discharged, 1863, wounds; Sell, 
Frederick, veteran, mustered out July 21, 

1865, sergeant; Shaw, William, promoted 
second lieutenant; Shook, Henr}', died of 
disease, date unknown; Skelly, Bryan, died 
November 11, 1862, of wounds; Smith, 
Joseph, lost on steamer Sultana, April 27, 
1865; Stone, Henry J-, killed at Stone River, 
December 31, 1862; Street, Benjamin, vet- 
eran, mustered out July 21, 1865, corporal; 
Tomlinson, Daniel, died of wounds, date 
unknown; Trindle, John, discharged Septem- 
ber 23, 1863; Truckey, Peter, discharged 



September 14, 1S64, disability; Tyrrel, 
John Q., discharged, 1863, disabilitv; 
Wagoner, Edward, died in Andersonville 
prison, August 29, 1864; Weatherspoon, 
Gran\ille, mustered out October 10, 1864, 
term expired; Webb, John, discharged July, 
1863, disability; Wills, Wilham, died at 
Evansville, Ind., February, 1862; Withrow, 
Leander, transferred to Veteran Reserve 
corps. 

Recruits. — Billiods, George, mustered out 
July 21, 1S65; Dixon, Matthew G., mus- 
tered out June 18, 1865; Freppon, Madi- 
son, mustered out July 21, 1865; 
Fairchild, Isaac, mustered out July 21, 1865 ! 
Hooker, George, mustered out July 21, 
1865, as corporal; Hoffman, Daniel, mus- 
tered out July 21, 1865 ; Jackson, Joseph A., 
mustered out June 18, 1865 ; Nightingale, 
William O., mustered out June 18, 1865 ; 
Olmstead, William L., mustered out July 8, 
1865 ; Pharr, Josiah, mustered out June 18, 
1865 ; Reed, Thomas E., mustered out July 
21, 1865 ; Wunt, George E., mustered out 
July 21, 1865. This compan}' went out 
with ninety-eight men, received eighty- 
eight recruits ; lost b\' death, twenty-eight ; 
b}' desertion, three, and reported two unac- 
counted for. 

Vanderburgh county was also represented 
among the officers in other companies of 
this regiment. In Company C, Worthing- 
ton W. Combs was second lieutenant from 
the company's organization, and though 
commissioned first lieutenant, resigned April 
23, 1863, before being mustered. In Com- 
pany D, in addition to those already- named, 
Francis M. Edwards served as captain, Sep- 
tember 12, 1861, to March 18, 1862, and 
James D. Saunders as first lieutenant, Sep- 
tember 12, 1861, to April 5, 1862, when 
commissioned captain, though discharged 
before being mustered. In Company K, 
Edward M. Knowles rose from first sergeant 



FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT. 



519 



by promotion to tirst lieutenant, and was 
killed in a rebel prison at an unknown date; 
and John D. Linxweiler rose from the ranks 
to the second lieutenancy, beinff commis- 
sioned May I, 1865, and serving until 
mustered out with the reffiment. Besides 
those recruits assigned to Company A, 
others joined the regiment from this county. 
In Compan)- F, there were: John Finn, 
March, 1864, to July, 1865; William Munn, 
December, 1862, to Jul}-, 1865, and Samuel 
C. Stitt, March, 1864, to July, 1865. Har- 
rison Farmer was in Company G, and 
Adam Leifert and John W. Smith in Com- 
pany I, as substitutes. In Company K, 
John Dressel served as a private and cor- 
poral from November, 1864, to July, 1865; 
and as substitutes during the same time 
there were: Bernard Knust, David King, 
Anton Maus, John Peters, James Swainey 
and William Walters. 

MovcDicnts ill the Field. — For some time 
after its organization the Forty-second regi- 
ment did dut\- in the interior of Kentucky, 
Tennessee and Alabama. Moving with 
Buell's army to Louisville, in the fall of 1S62, 
it took part in the pursuit of Bragg through 
Kentucky, participating in the battle of 
Perryville, on October 8, losing 166 in 
killed, wounded and missing. It was next 
engaged in battle at Stone River, where sev- 
enteen were killed and eighty-seven 
wounded, and after several months in camp 
at Murfreesboro and Chattanooga, it partic- 
ipated in the battle of Chickamauga, losing 
eight killed, fifty-three wounded and 
thirt}'-two missing. Subse(iuently it took 
part in the storming of Lookout Mountain 
and the battle of Mission Ridge, losing 
forty three in killed and wounded. January i, 
1864, ^'^^ regiment re-enlisted as a veteran 
organization at Chattanooga, and soon after 
returned to Indiana on veteran furloujih, 
where it was publicly received and ad- 



dressed by Governor Morton and other 
prominent men. 

Returning to the field in March, it joined 
Sherman's army near Chattanooga, and on 
the 7th of Ma}' marched from Ringgold on 
the campaign against Atlanta, participating 
in all the principal battles of that famous 
campaign, losing along the route 103 offi- 
cers and men, in killed and wounded. Dur- 
ing this campaign while in Six-mile Range, 
near Allatoona, the regiment was on picket 
duty seven daj-s and nights, within tift}' 
yards of the rebel skirmish line, without be- 
ing relieved. After the fall of Atlanta, it 
marched to Kingston, Rome, Resaca, and 
through Snake Creek Gap to the Chattuga 
valley, thence to Gaylesville, Ala., in pur- 
suit of Hood's army, and then back again 
to Rome and Atlanta. In November, mov- 
ing with Sherman from Atlanta to Savan- 
nah, it took part in the skirmishing along 
the route and the siege of that cit}-. Then, 
through the Carolinas it went to Goldsboro, 
engaging in the battles of Averysboro and 
Bentonville, losing ten men and officers killed 
and wounded. After the close of active opera- 
tions the regiment marched to Washington, 
and proceeded thence to Louisville, Ky., 
where on July 21, 1865, it was mustered 
out. Four days later at Indianapolis, it was 
present at a public reception on the capitol 
grounds, on which occasion addresses were 
made by Gen. Sherman and Gov. Morton. 
During its term of service the Fort}-- 
second lost in killed, wounded and missing, 
629, of which number eighty-six were killed 
on the field, 443 were wounded, and lOO 
taken prisoners. Its strength at the time 
of its muster out was 846, officers and men. 
It participated in battles and skirmishes at 
Wartrace, Perryville, Stone River, Elk 
River, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, 
Mission Ridge, Ringgold, Rocky Face 
Ridge, Resaca, Allatoona Mountains, Kene- 



S20 



MILITA R Y HISTOR Y. 



saw, Chattahoochie River, Peach Tree 
Creek, Atlanta, Jonesboro, vSavannah, 
Charleston, Black River and Bentonville. 

T/ic Sixtieth Regiment. — In the autumn 
of 1861, Col. Richard Owen, of New Har- 
mon}', celebrated throughout the stale as an 
erudite scholar and gallant commander, then 
heutenant colonel of the Fifteenth regiment, 
obtamed authority to recruit a regiment and 
rendezvous it at Evansville. A partial 
organization was made at that place in No- 
vember, 1861. During the progress of 
enlisting, the regiment was ordered to Camp 
Morton, Indianapolis, on February 22, 1862, 
to guard rebel prisoners, and, while on duty 
there the organization was perfected — the 
last companies being mustered in in the 
months of March and April. Except on the 
medical staff the only regimental officer 
from this county was Maj. Joseph B. Cox, a 
valuable and well-known citizen, who jomed 
the regiment as captain of Company F, was 
promoted major. May 27, 1862, and re- 
signed November 30 following, on account 
of ill health. Dr. Madison J. Bray, a recog- 
nized leader among Evansville physicians, 
was surgeon from November 15, 1 861, to 
November 28, 1862, when he resigned, 
whereupon Dr. W. W. Slaughter, an able 
physician and ripe scholar, well-known 
in Vanderburgh county, though not a 
resident then, was conmiissioned as 
his successor. Upon Dr. Slaughter's 
resignation, June 11, 1864, Dr. James B. 
Hunter, another well-known Evansville 
ph3'sician, who had served as assistant sur- 
geon from September 27, 1S62, was ap- 
pointed to this vacancy, and served until 
March 21, 1865, when the regiment was 
mustered out and disbanded. In Company 
B there was one otTicer from this county, 
George W. Fairfield, who rose from the 
ranks of Company C to second lieutenant, 
September i, 1862, and to first lieutenant. 



December ist of the same j'ear, serving as 
such until his death at Young's Point, La., 
on the 4th day of February following. The 
officers of Companies F and G were, with 
few exceptions, Evansville men. In the for- 
mer company, upon the promotion of Capt. 
Cox to the majority, George W. Merrill, 
then first lieutenant, ascended to the va- 
cancy. Upon his resignation, December 6, 

1862, David Greathouse was given com- 
mand of the company, he having previously 
served as second and first lieutenant. Cressy 
K. Cole and George Peva were both the 
recipients of a captain's commission, but 
neither was mustered into that rank, the 
former resigning June 24, 1864, because of 
disability, and the latter being mustered out 
at the expiration of his term of enlistment. 
James M. Miller, from November 15, 1862, 
•to April 14, 1863, served as second and first 
lieutenant, and Lewis Ragland, a sergeant, 
was commissioned first lieutenant, though 
not mustered. 

Of Company G, Philip Hench was first 
lieutenant and captain from September 3, 

1863, to the muster out of the regiment, 
March 21, 1865. Ferdinand G. Borges, 
October 7, 1861, to November 30, 1862, 
and Herman Knoll, October i, 1863, to De- 
cember 31, 1864, were first heutenants; 
Frederick Merz, October 7, 1861, to April 
12, 1863, and Conrad Hedwig, December i, 
1862, to September 3, 1863, were both sec- 
ond and first lieutenants successively. The 
only officer from Evansville in Company I 
was Oliver H. P. Ewing, who, as first lieu- 
tenant from February 10, 1S62, and as cap- 
tain from March 9, 1863, rendered faithful 
service until September 23, 1863, when he 
resigned, afterward re-entering the service 
in the First Heavy artillery. Company K 
also drew upon Evansville for one of its offi- 
cers, Charles Larch, who achieved an envi- 
able record, serving as first lieutenant from 



SIXTIETH REGIMENT. 



531 



July 3, 1862, and as captain from April 3, 

1863, until his death from wounds received 
in action, whicli occurred on the 5tli day of 
December, 1863. 

Company F of this ret^fiment was made up 
of Vanderburgh count}- men. The follow- 
ing is a roster of the company: First Sergt. 
David Greathouse, promoted to captaincy; 
Sergt. James M. Miller, promoted to first 
lieutenant ; Sergt. Mason O. Newman, dis- 
charged November 14, 1862, disability; 
Sergt. Cressy K. Cole, discharged June 24, 

1864, wounds; Sergt. George Peva, pro- 
moted first lieutenant; Corp. John M. 
Gregory, discharged March 21, 1863, dis- 
abilit}-; Corp. John J. Parks, mustered out 
March 21, iS65j term expired; Corp. George 
W. Newman, discharged November 14, 
1862, disabiHty; Corp. Peter W. Welton, 
mustered out March 21, 1865, term expired; 
Corp. Lewis Ragland, mustered out March 
21, 1865, term expired; Corp. Benjamin F. 
Greathouse, discharged Januarj' 24, 1S64; 
Corp. Calvin Conner, died at Vicksburg, 
Miss., June 12, 1863; Corp. Thomas Elder- 
field, died at Indianapolis May 15, 1862; 
Musician John D. Dunn, transferred to 
Eleventh United States infantry December 
3, 1862; Wagoner Ptolfemy P. Wells, dis- 
charged November 29, 1862, disabihty. 

Privates. — Ashcraft, Jacob, died in hands 
of enem}', December, 1863 ; Asher, Da- 
vid, discharged August 4, 1862; Beene, 
Edward H., drummed out of service Au- 
gust 13, 1862; Behagg, Charles, discharged 
Marcii I, 1864, disability ; Benthall, William 
H., mustered out March 21, 1865, term 
expired; Blair, James M., mustered out 
March 21, 1865, term expired; Bowers, 
Charles, mustered out March 21, 1865, term 
expired ; Bradky, Thomas J., discharged 
November 13, 1862, disability; Broth, John, 
killed at Vick.sburg, June 14, 1863; Buzzell, 
Julius, di.scharged November 20, 1862, disa- 



bility; Bunch, Andrew J., mustered out 
March 21, 1865, term expired; Burre, Her- 
man, transferred Eleventh United States in- 
fantry, November 29, 1862; Canady, James 
W., mustered out March 21, 1865, term ex- 
pired; Cato, Henrj- R., not mustered out; 
Chamberlain, William, mustered out March 
21, i865> term expired; Chenoweth, Jona- 
than K., died in hands of enemy December, 
1863; Chamberlain, Samuel, not mustered 
out; Combs, Jessie, discharged Novem- 
ber I, 1862, disability; Collins, James H., 
not mustered out; Davis, William R., mus- 
tered out March 21, 1865, term expired; 
Dawley, Alexander, died March 31, 1862; 
Donaldson, William C, discharged June 20, 
1862, disability; Drieman, Alford, tran.s- 
ferred Eighteenth United States infantry 
December 3, 1S62 ; Dubois, Henr}', not 
mustered out ; Duty, William, died at Mil- 
liken's Bend, La., March 22,1863; Elder- 
lield, John R., mustered out March 21, 
iS65) term expired ; Finney, Joseph, mus- 
tered out March 21, 1865, term expired; 
Foulks, Isaac, mustered out March 21, 
1865, term expired; Floyd, Thomas E., 
not mustered out ; Grivens, William B., dis- 
charged June 4, 1864, wounds; Grant, 
Henr}-, died at Milliken's Bend, La., March 
27, 1863; Grant, Peterson, di.scharged No- 
vember 19, 1864, disability; Hamilton, 
James T., discharged December i, 1S62, 
disability; Hancock, Alexander D., nuis- 
tered out March 21, 1865, term expired; 
Hawkins, George F., mustered out March 
21, 1865, term expired; Hock, John, 
drummed out of service August 13, 1862; 
Jewett, Rice O., killed at Arkansas Post, 
January 11, 1863; Kellogg, William, mus- 
tered out March 21, 1S65, term expired; 
Kiler, James, discharged November 12, 
1862, disabilit}'; Klotz, Henry J., mustered 
out March 21, 1865, term expired; 
Mcintosh, James M., mustered out March 



S22 



MILITAR Y HISTOR Y. 



21, 1865, term expired; Mockbell, Augus- 
tus, discharged November 7, 1862, disabil- 
ity ; Morgan, Edward, mustered out Marcli 
21, 1865, disability ; Holder, Columbus T., 
discharged October 3 1S63 ; Moore, Martin 
B., not mustered out ; Morris, Elisha, trans- 
ferred to Eleventh United States infantry, 
December 5, 1862 ; Moses, James H., mus- 
tered out March 21, 1865, term expired. 
Murphy, John, died April 14, 1S63 ; Nare, 
Charles, transferred to Eleventh United 
States infantry November 29, 1S62 ; New- 
man, Henrv O., discharged to accept com- 
mission in Seventh Kentucky cavalry; Noble, 
Robert, mustered out March 21, 1S65, term 
expired: Osterhage, Frederick, transferred 
to Eleventh United States infantry Novem- 
ber 29, 1S62; Osterhage, Ernest, transferred 
to Eleventh United States infantr}- Novem- 
ber 29, 1862; Osterhage Alfred, transferred 
to Eleventh United States infantr\', Novem- 
ber 29, 1862; Payne, John W., transferred to 
Eleventh United States infantry December 3, 
1862; Peters, Harvey B., transferred to 
Eleventh United States infantry December 
3, 1862; Pickett, James, not mustered out; 
Ragan, John R., discharged October 22, 
1862, disability; Schoenfeld, Jacob, died at 
Indianapolis, December, 1863; Smith, Fran- 
cis, discharged November 4, 1862, disa- 
bility; Smith, John, died at Indianapolis, 
March 6, 1862; Snyder, Hiram F., not mus- 
tered out; South, William, died Newburgh, 
Ind., February i, 1863; Stelling, Frederick 
A., mustered out March 21, 1865, term 
expired; Utley, David, not mustered out; 
Watson, Augustus B., mustered out March 
21, 1865, term expired; Walker, Fred- 
erick, transferred to Compan\' D, 
and mustered out March 21, 1865; 
Way, James, discharged November 12, 
1862, disability; Whipple, Lawrence, dis- 
charged November 7, i863,disability;White, 
William, discharged June 20, 1S62, disabil- 



ity; Williams, Anthony, discharged March 
20, 1863, disabihty; Young, John, discharged 
April 15, 1862, disability; Young, Charles 
A., not mustered out. 

J^ccniits. — Behr, Jacob, discharged No- 
vember 5, 1862 ; Benson, John, discharged as 
a minor; DeBusler, Aver}' J., died at Mil- 
liken's Bend, La., February 22, 1863; Ed- 
wards, William II., discharged as a minor; 
Filstead, John, discharged as a minor; Huff- 
man, John, mustered out March 21, 1865; 
Young, Henry, discharged as a minor. 
Companv F went to the front with eighty- 
eight enlisted men, and received fourteen 
recruits. It lost sixteen by death and thir- 
teen by desertion. 

The Field Opcratioui of the Sixtieth. — 
Even before its organization was perfected 
this regiment was ordered on dut\- to guard 
prisoners at Camp Morton. Leaving In- 
dianapolis on June 20, 1862, it went to 
Lebanon, Ky., and from there to Mumfords- 
ville, where, on September 14, the advance 
of Bragg's ami}- surrounded the place and 
its works, and compelled the garrison to 
surrender, after a gallant resistance. Seven 
companies of the regiment were captured, 
the remainder of it being near Lebanon Junc- 
tion under command of Maj. Cox, guarding 
a railroad bridge over Rolling Fork. The 
captured companies were paroled, and went 
into camp at Indianapolis, and were then 
joined by the other portion of the regiment. 
Upon being exchanged in November, the 
regiment joined the army of the Mississippi 
at Memphis, and participated in the move- 
ments of that arm\' during the winter of 
1S62, and on January 10, 1863, took part in 
the battle of Arkansas Post, losing a num- 
ber in killed and wounded. In the campaign 
against Vicksburg, it acted a gallant part. 
Moving from Milliken's Bend, on April 14, 
it made rapid and fatiguing marches 
through swamps, bayous and streams, 



EiaHTH BATTERY. 



523 



under scorching suns, drcncliing rains, 
and engaging in five desperate and 
hard fought battles. At Port Gibson 
it was among the first to enter the town; 
at Champion Hills it was in the ad\ance; at 
Black River it behaved with gallanlr\-, and 
in tlie siege of Vicksburg it took an active 
part, remaining in the trenches until the sur- 
render, on the 4th of July. x\fter the ca- 
pitulation it marchen, with its brigade, to 
Jackson, participating in the skirmishes along 
the route. 

In August it was transported to New Or- 
leans, and assigned to Banks' army. It 
spent the fall and winter in the Teche coun- 
try, engaging in the battle of Grand Cou- 
teau Plains, on November 3d, and other 
parts of Louisiana and Texas, until it joined 
Banks' unfortunate expedition up Red river. 
At Sabine Cross Roads, on April Sth, 
where the rebels charged on our forces, 
routed and drove them back in great disor- 
der, the Sixtieth lost heavily in killed, 
wounded and prisoners. The shattered 
armv fell back to Grand Ecore, and thence 
to tlie Mississippi river. After this cam- 
paign the regiment re-enlisted and came 
home on veteran furlough. Its re-muster 
was not, however, approved by the war 
department, the regiment in its opinion not 
having served a sufiicient length of time to 
warrant its re-muster as a veteran organiza- 
tion. Returning to the field it was stationed 
at Thibodeaux, La., where it remained until 
the fall of 1S64. On November 3d it par- 
ticipated in the battle of Carrion Crow 
Bayou, losing largely in killed, wounded and 
prisoners. Subsequently the regiment was 
stationed at Algiers, remaining there until 
February 24, 1865, when the remaining re- 
cruits were transferred to another command, 
and the balance of the regiment proceeded 
to Indianapolis, where, on March 21, 1865, 
it was mustered out. 



Eiiihth Battery Liiiht Artillery. — Many 
of the officers and men of this battery 
were residents of Vanderburgli county, and 
it was therefore one in whose victories and 
trying experiences the people of the county 
took a deep personal interest. It was or- 
ganized and mustered into service at Indian- 
apolis on the 13th of December, 1861, with 
George T. Cochran as captain. On Febru- 
arj- I, 1863, Capt. Cochran and Lieut. Rich- 
ard Jervis, who, when the battery was 
formed, was its second lieutenant, and after- 
ward was promoted to first lieutenant, were 
dismissed from the service by a court mar- 
tial. On Februar}- 2, 1863, George Estep 
was advanced from his position as first lieu- 
tenant to fill the vacanc}' in the captainc}', 
and thereafter, until the battery was mus- 
tered out, served in that rank. John W. 
Thompson served as first lieutenant until 
June 15, 1862, when he resigned. William 
Stokes, who entered the service as a ser- 
geant, was second lieutenant from February 
2, 1865, until April 11, 1S65, when he became 
captain of the Seventh battery. Charles B. 
Eldred was also second lieutenant from June 
I, 1863, to the muster out of the battery at 
the termination of its service. The 
following V'anderburgii county men 
were in the ranks of the bat- 
tery; Sergt. Frank Burkhart, veteran, 
transferred to Seventh battery; Sergt. Will- 
iam Stokes, promoted second lieutenant; 
Sergt. Bart. Mclnernv, unaccounted for; 
Sergt. Milton 11. Catlett, discharged Sep- 
tember 25, 1863, disability; Sergt. Charles 
B. Eldred, promoted second lieutenant; 
Corp. Thomas McCorkle, mustered out 
with battery; Corp. Theodore F. Dunlap, 
veteran, transferred to Seventh battery; 
Corp. Louis Weisenthal, veteran, transferred 
to Seventh battery; Corp. Joseph Mariscen, 
mustered out with battery; Corp. Jerome 
Ingram, killed at Chickamauga, September 



521^ 



MILITARY HISTORY. 



19, 1863; Bugler Samuel Day, promoted 
second lieutenant, mustered out with battery ; 
Artificer Jacob Lynn, mustered out with 
battery. 

Privates. — Allsup, George, mustered out 
with battery; Anderson, Charles, transferred 
to Veteran Reserve corps; Brown, John T., 
mustered out with battery; Carr, William, 
mustered out with batter}-; De Witt, George 
H., mustered out with battery; Griffith, 
John W., discharged for disabilit}-; Hampton, 
David, died at Evansville, Ind., August 16, 
1862; Hampton, John, discliarged for disa- 
bility at Shiioji; Hampton, James T., died 
at Evansville, Ind., April 15, 1864; Hamp- 
ton, Green S., died at Chattanooga, Tenn., 
September 10, 1S64; Ingram, Joshua, mus- 
tered out with battery; In wood, William, 
mustered out with battery; Milliman, 
Joseph, died at Nashville, Tenn.; Racine, 
Peter, discharged for disability at Shiloh; 
Reed, Andrew J., died at Evansville, Ind., 
January- 15, 1S64; Robertson, William A., 
mustered out Februar}' 10, 1S65; Robertson, 
William H., discharged for disability ; Skeels, 
George, mustered out with battery; Smith, 
Warren S., discharged for disability', Hunts- 
ville, Ala.; Stahlefer, Joseph, mustered out 
with battery; Stephens, Thomas T., mus- 
tered out with battery; Winters, Christian, 
mustered out June 14, 1865; Wood, Garrett, 
discharged for disability; Young, William, 
honorably discharged. 

Kecrtiits. — Burdit, Lenzy, died at Indian- 
apolis; Bond, William, transferred to Sev- 
enth battery; Root, John H., transferred 
to Seventh batter\'. At its organization the 
battery enrolled iii men, and during its 
seivice received 103 recruits. Twelve of 
its men re-enlisted as veterans, ten died, two 
deserted, and ninety-seven were unaccounted 
for. 

Sketch of the Eighth Battery. — Januar}- 
24, 1862, the battery proceeded by rail 



from Indianapolis to Louisville, Ky., 
and was assigned to Gen. Nelson's divis- 
ion. It took part in the movement 
upon Nashville, and was the first Union 
battery to pass through the streets of that 
cit}'. Being assigned to Gen. Wood's di- 
vision, a forced march to Pittsburg Landing 
was made, arriving there at the close of the 
battle of Shiloh. In the siege of Corinth 
the battery was an active participant, and 
upon the evacuation of that place moved 
with the main army through Alabama to 
Tuscumbia, iiaving several skirmishes with 
the eneni}-. On August 30th, it had a 
sharp engagement with Forest's rebel cav- 
alry, near McMinnville, Tenn., the rebel 
command being cut in two and utterly 
routed b}' the fire of artillery alone. It en- 
gaged in tlie pursuit of Bragg, drove the 
rebels from Mumfordsville, and held the 
town while the army moved to Louisville. 
Soon afterward it proceeded to Louisville, 
and thence pursued the retreating forces of 
Bragg, skirmishing constantly, and losing 
several horses, until Perryville was reached. 
It was present at that fierce engagement. 
When the pursuit of Bragg was abandoned, 
it returned to Nashville, and while near 
there had several skirmishes with the 
enemy. December 26, 1862, the battery 
left Nashville, and moved with Rosecrans' 
army toward the enemy, encountering and 
driving him from position near Lavergne. 
During the next da\- the enemy was driven 
to within three miles of Murfreesboro, 
where he showed a determination to resist 
the further advance of the Union troops. In 
line of battle the brigade bivouacked on 
their arms. On the morning of the 31st, 
the passage of the Stone river was com- 
menced, and in the memorable battle which 
followed, the Eighth batter\- acted a con- 
spicuous and honorable part, aiding in gal- 
lant style in driving the enemy back and 



SIXTY-FIFTH REGIMENT. 



o'^ti 



holding him in clieck on various parts of 
the blooch' lie'ld. It lost so heavil\- that it 
became necessary to make a detail of infan- 
trymen to assist in working its guns. 
Shortly after the battle of Stone River the 
enemy evacuated Murfreeshoro antl the 
battery moved, witli its division, through that 
town and took position in its fortilications, 
remaining there until the advance of 
Rosecrans' armv upon Tidlaiioma in June, 
1863, when it joined in the niox'enient wiiich 
resulted in the expulsion of the rebel army 
from middle Tennessee. 

From Hillsboro, where for some timi' it 
was in camp, the battery moved to Chat- 
tanooga, and on September 9, entered that 
place, being the hrst Union batter\- to pass 
through its streets. Thence it proceeded to 
Ringgold, Ga., constantlv skirmishing with 
the enemy's rear guard, and thence to 
Gordon's Mill, where Rosecrans' army 
was endeavoring to concentrate. x\t Chick- 
amauga the battery was severely engaged, 
losing two oflicers wounded, two men killed, 
seven wounded and seven captured, and 
fortj'-three horses killed and disabled. A 
tierce charge of the enemy through a gap in 
the Union lines captured the battery, but it 
was soon recaptured by Bradley's brigade, 
Sheridan's division. After two days of ter- 
rible fighting, Rosecrans' army fell back to | 
Chattanooga, and the Eighth battery was 
stationed in the fortifications of that place. 
On November 25, it was engaged in the 
battle of Mission Ridge, which resulted in 
raising the siege of Chattanooga, and driv- 
ing tlie rebel army beyond Rocky Face 
Ridge. It was then assigned as a stationed 
battery to the important militar}- post of 
Chattanooga. In April, 1864, a number of 
the men re-enlisted as veterans. In Janu- 
ary, 1865, the non-veterans were mustered ; 
out and left for home. On March it,, the 
Eighth was consolidated with the Seventh 



Indiana batter_v, with Lieut. William Stokes 
as captain of the consolidated companies, 
known as the Seventh battery. This bat- 
tery was stationed at Chattanooga until its 
muster out Jul)- 20, 1865. 

T/ic S/x/y-ji/7// Bco/mcii/. — The first 
year of the war had drawn to a close, its 
extent and probable long continuation began 
to be realized by the people and the admin- 
istration, tlie success of the nation in crusli- 
ing out the rebellion required a large force 
in the field, and calls upon the loyal states 
for additional men continued to be made. 
The response to these calls on the part of 
the people was prompt and gratifying.. The 
first three years' regiment raised in south- 
western Indiana under the calls of 1862, in 
which the citizens of Vanderburgh county 
figured conspicuoush', was the Sixty-iifth. 
It was organized at Princeton and mustered 
in at Evansville (with the exception of one 
of its companies) on the i8th and 
20th of August, 1862, with John W. 
Foster, the able soldier and accom- 
plished diplomat, as its colonel, wiio 
after gallant service, resigned March 
10, 1864, because of phvsical disabilitv, sub- 
sequently re-entering the service as colonel 
of the One Hundred and Thirty-sixth. 
William A. Page was its adjutant from its 
organization until physical disability caused 
him to resign February i, 1865. Robert 
Henry was commissioned assistant surgeon, 
but before his muster into that rank was 
mustered out as hospital steward, June 22, 
1865. Company H was composed of Van- 
derburgh count)' men. Saunders R. Horn- 
brook, who, by his erudition and manliness 
of character has long adorned the society 
and bar of Evansville, being its captain 
throughout its career. Because of his meri- 
torious service he was commissioned major 
of the regiment January i, 1865, but de- 
clined the acceptanc*? of the honor. Robert 



526 



MILITARY HISTOR Y. 



P. Mcjohnson rendered efficient service as 
second and first lieutenant and was commis- 
sioned captain upon the advancement of 
Captain Hornbrook, but was mustered out 
with the refriment before assuminjr com- 
mand of the company. Samuel K. Leavitt 
went out with the company as its second 
lieutenant, was promoted first lieutenant 
October 17, 1S62, captain of Com- 
pany I, December 21, 1S63, trans- 
ferred to Company G,"as its captain, January- 
31, 1865, and mustered out with the regi- 
ment. John Ruston from October 17, 1S63, 
to December 21, 1863, served as second 
lieutenant, being promoted at the latter date 
to first lieutenant, from which rank he was 
honorably discharged on account of disabil- 
ity November 22, 1864. James Brodie, of 
]McCutchan\-ille, was commissioned first 
lieutenant, but the close of the company's 
service prevented his muster. Thomas J. 
Groves held a commission in the compan\' 
as second lieutenant from January 31, 1865, 
to May 18, 1865, when he resigned. Of the 
regimental non-commissioned staff Elam 
McRitchey was sergeant major, James 
D. Parvin, commissary sergeant, (dis- 
charged on account of physical disabilitv), 
John Ingle, quartermaster sergeant (pro- 
moted commissary Tenth cavalrv), and John 
Alsop, hospital steward. The following list 
comprises the non-commissioned officers and 
enlisted men of Company H, who joined it 
as residents of Vanderburgh county. Sergt. 
William C. Bacon, discharged March 24, 
1865, disability ; Sergt. George W. Hill, 
mustered out June 22, 1865, as private, term 
expired; Sergt. Thomas J. Groves, promoted 
second lieutenant; Sergt. Daniel V. Lar- 
abee, not mustered out; Corp. Arthur In- 
wood, discharged February 5, 1865, 
disability; Corp. Joseph Phar\-, dis- 
charged August 24, 1864, '^'^ fii'st sergeant ; 
Corp. Robert Mcjohnston, promoted second 



lieutenant, first lieutenant and captain; Corp. 
William P. Filo, mustered out June 22, 
1865, term expired; Corp. Henry Cromwell, 
not mustered out; Corp. Daniel Grim, dis- 
charged November 10, 1S62, disability; 
Corp. Arthur F. Mcjohnston, mustered out 
June 22, 1865, term expired; Corp. John L. 
McCutchan, mustered out June 22, 1865, as 
sergeant, term expired; Musician John 
Rollins, not mustered out; Musician Thomas 
Cattenberger, mustered out June 22, 1865, 
term expired. 

Privates. — Baxter, Kennedy, died at 
Owensboro, Ky., April 5, 1863; Bennett, 
George, mustered out June 22, 1865, as cor- 
poral, term expired; Bishop, Frank, dis- 
charged October 24, 1864, wounds; Bitz, 
Polser, mustered out May 25, 1865; Bacook, 
Samuel, mustered out June 22, 1865, as 
sergeant; Borre, John, died in Andersonville 
prison June 9, 1S64; Brodie, James, mustered 
out June I, 1865, as first sergeant; Chap- 
man, Jesse, killed at Nashville April 9, 
1865; Cannon, Curtis, died at Evansville, 
Ind., Januar\' 3, 1863; Craig, Smiley, died 
at Bowling Green, K3-., February 21, 1864; 
Duncan, John, killed x\pril, 1864; Denner, 
Octave, mustered out Jul}- 7, 1865; Evans, 
William C, not mustered out; Fisher, 
George D., discharged November 7, 
1863, disabiHty; Green, Jonas, mustered 
out June 22, 1865, term expired; 
Hall, Thomas, died December 14, 1863, o^ 
wounds received in action ; Harrison, Henrv, 
mustered out June 22, 1865, term expired; 
Henr}-, Robert, mustered out June 22, 1865, 
as hospital steward; Ilogan, Bennett, trans- 
ferred to Twenty-fifth regiment, July 26, 
1863; Holt, Parker, killed October iS, 1862, 
by accident; Horan, Thomas W., mustered 
out June 22, 1865, term expired; Hunsinger, 
Charles, died at Rochester, Ky., February 
7, 1863; Keefer, Carl, mustered out June 
22, 1865, term expired; Lingfield, Carl, dis- 



SIXTY-FIFTH REGIMENT. 



537 



charged November 29, 1S64, wounds; 
Lampe, Benjamin, died at Tazewell, Tenn., 
December 28, 1863; Lorance, Alexander 
H., mustered out June 22, 1865, term ex- 
pired; Lovelace, Albert H., died at Hender- 
son, Ky., March 2, 1863; Mansel, William 
B , mustered out June 22, 1865, term ex- 
pired; McCutchan, Robert, mustered out 
June 22, 1865, term expired; McCutchan, 
James A., mustered out June 22, 186.S) term 
expired; McGrath, Patrick, mustered out 
June 22, 1865, term expired; Martin, Perry, 
mustered out June 2 2, 1865, tt^>"m expired: 
May, John M., not mustered out; Moffit, 
Charles J., mustered out June 22, 1865, term 
expired ; Moffit, John F., mustered out June 22, 
1865, as corporal; Perry, Matthew, transfer- 
red to marine service; Ptinijston, August, 
mustered out June 22, 1865, term expired; 
Powell, Willougliby, died at Madison, Ind., 
August 24, 1864; Ragland, Martin S., dis- 
charged June 15, 1863, disability, as cor- 
poral; Reeves, James M., mustered out June 
22, 1865, as corporal; Riggs, James, mus- 
tered out June 22, 1865, term expired; 
Rosey, Conrad, mustered out June 22, 
1865, term expired; Ruston, John, promoted 
to second lieutenant; Stinson, Andrew J., 
discharged March 18, 1865, wounds; Stinson, 
Benoni C, discharged March 4, 1865, disa- 
bility; Strange, John, transferred to Veteran 
Reserve corps March 17, 1864; Strange, 
William J., mustered June 22, 1S65, as cor- 
poral; Skeels, William, died at Aiidersonville 
September 26, 1864; Taylor, Thaddeus, 
transferred to Veteran Reserve corps, mus- 
tered out July 12, 1865; Ullerick, John, 
mustered out May 25, 1865; W.u^ren, Ed- 
ward, died at Andersonville, June 14, 1864; 
Weber, Lewis, discharged February 8, 
1865; Withrow, Alonzo, discharged Jul}' 
25, 1863, disability; Wood, Alfred II., mus- 
tered out June 22, 1865, Wyatt, WilHam, 
died at Evansville, Ind., March 18, 1865. 



Recruits.. — Berger, Frederick, never re- 
ported to company; Crist, James L., dis- 
charged from hospital May 26, 1865; Cos- 
tello, John, transferred to One Hundred and 
Twentieth regiment June 15, 1865; Hall, 
John, died at Rochester, Ky., January 25, 
1863; Headen, Thomas F., died at Chatta- 
nooga, May 14, 1864, wounds; Hawkins, 
Sanford J., transferred to One Hundred and 
Twentieth regiment June 15, 1865; McMur- 
ran, Marshall, transferred to One Hundred 
and Twentieth regiment June 15, 1865; 
Odell, Isaac H., transferred to One Hundred 
and Twentieth regiment June 15, 1S65; 
Strange, Augustine, transferred to One Hun- 
dred and Twentieth regiment June 15, 186 5; 
Wells, Walter F., dischargedjune 28, 1864, 
disability; Westgate, Wilfred M., trans- 
ferred One Hundred and Twentieth retxi- 
ment. 

This company at the outset had 
ninet3'-six men, and received thirtv-one re- 
cruits. It lost by death twentv-nine, and 
by desertion ten. The following men were 
in other companies of this regiment; 
CompanyA — Blakely, James, mustered out 
June 22, 1865; Poule, Christopher, mus- 
tered out June 22, 1S65. Compan}' B — 
Howell, Henry, recruit, mustered out Jul\- 
15, 1865. Company C — Fuqua\-, William, 
discharged February 27, 1863, disability; 
Feagle}-, Mark C, mustered out June 22, 
1865, as corporal; Unde, Wilhelm, mus- 
tered out July 10, 1865; Hodson, William T., 
transferred to One Hundred and Twentieth 
regiment; Inwood, Thomas R., mustered 
out May 27, 1865; Inwood, Arthur, died 
at Marietta, Ga., August 4, 1864; Ingler, 
James, transferred to One Hundred and 
Twentieth regiment; Ingler, David, not 
mustered out; Kell, Robert, transferred to 
One Hundred and Twentieth regiment; 
Martin, Charles V., not mustered out; 
Murphy, James, transferred to (Jne Hun- 



528 



MIL ITAR Y HISTOR Y. 



dred and Twentieth regiment; Riley, 
Abraliam, discharged April 8, 1S65, 
disability; Ruston, IIenr\', died Nashville, 
December 14, 1864; Smith, Hiram T., 
mustered out May 27, 1865. Company 
E — Witherspoon, Milton B., transferred to 
One Hundred and Twentieth regiment 
Company G — Harris, Napoleon S., trans- 
ferred to One Hundred and Twentieth regi- 
ment. Company K — Heckman, Geise, 
died at Knoxville, Tenn., September 14, 
1864. 

The Field Work of the Sixty-fifth.— 
Immediately after its muster this organi- 
zation was stationed at Henderson, Ky., 
affording to that place valuable protection 
from guerilla warfare. After a severe skir- 
mish with Adam Johnson's rebel regiment, 
on August 28, 1862, it took possession of 
Madison\-ille, and for a year following this 
event, performed duty in the western coun- 
ties of Kentucky, there engaging in several 
skirmishes. In April, 1863, the regiment 
was mounted. Being moved to east Ten- 
nessee, the regiment there engaged in sev- 
eral important expeditions, engaging the 
enemy near Zollicoffer, at Blountsville, 
Rheatown, and Bristol, at each place acting 
with gallantry. In November it moved to 
Tazewell, and on December i had a severe 
tight at Walkersford, assisted by the Fifth 
cavalry, in which both regiments fought all 
day against great odds, the Sixt3'-fifth losing 
two killed, eight wounded and two missing. 
Its next engagement was at Bean Station, 
on December 14, with Longstreet's in- 
fantry, losing two killed, ten wounded and five 
missing. On the following day it engaged 
the enemy at Powder Spring Gap and 
Skagg's Mills, and a month later at Dan- 
dridge, losing, in the three engagements, 
eighteen men killed, wounded and captured. 
In April, 1864, it was dismounted and 
joined Sherman's army, participating in the 



Atlanta campaign and all the battles and 
skirmishes attending it, losing along the 
route eleven killed, twenty-three wounded, 
and five prisoners. It followed Hood into 
Alabama and Tennessee, and fought bravely 
at Columbia, Franklin and Nash\ille. Be- 
ing transferred to the east in January, 1865, 
on February 18 it bore the brunt of the at- 
tack on Fort Anderson and did the skirmish- 
ing for the troops at Town Creek on the 
20th. It was not afterward entraffed. 
Mustered out June 22, 1S65. 

The Fourth Cavalry [Seventy-seventh^ 
Regiment. — In the ranks and among the 
officers of this organization the men of Van- 
derburgh county were prominent. The 
regiment was organized at Indianapolis on 
August 22, 1862, with Isaac P. Gray, now 
governor of the state, as colonel. It was 
with Company F that the citizens of this 
county were identified. John T. Deweese 
was its captain. He was promoted major, lieu- 
tenant colonel, and colonel in rapid succes- 
sion, but resigned March 11, 1864, before 
his muster into the rank last named. Albert 
C. Rosencranz went out as its first lieuten- 
ant, rose to the command of the company, 
and was commissioned major of the regi- 
ment; his honorable discharge, May 15, 
1865, however, preventing his muster as a 
regimental officer. John Y. Urie, who be- 
gan his service as commissary sergeant of 
the companj', was promoted first lieutenant 
and then captain. Alonzo Stone and John 
W. Peck, corporals, received, June i, 1865, 
commissions as first and second lieutenants 
respectively'. The close of the company's 
career prevented the muster of the last three 
named officers in the advanced rank in which 
they had been commissioned. The en- 
listed men from this county were as follows: 
.First Sergt. Robert Wheeler, mustered out 
June 29, 1865, term expired; Com. Sergt. 
John Y. Urie, promoted to first lieutenant; 




-rf*^ ^') 



FOURTH CAVALRY REGIMENT. 



531 



Sergt. Arthur Trimble, mustered out June 
29, 1S65, term expired; Sergt. William 
Earle, mustered out June 29, 1865, term ex- 
pired; Corp. James Barton, mustered out 
June 29, 1865, as commissary sergeant, 
term expired; Corp. William Hilliard, mus- 
tered out June 29, 1865, as sergeant, term 
expired; Corp. John W. Peck, mustered out 
June 29, 1S65, 'IS sergeant, term expired; 
Corp. Alonzo Stone, mustered out June 29, 
1865, as first sergeant, term expired. 

Privates. — Barton, Charles S., mustered 
out June 29, 1865, term expired; Clark, 
John, mustered out June 29, 1865, term ex- 
pired; Covey, John W., mustered out June 
29, 1865, term expired; Crisp, James, dis- 
charged December 18, 1862; Euler, Jacob, 
mustered out June 29, 1865, term expired; 
Fields, Green, mustered out June 29, 1865, 
term expired; Fields, Edmund, discharged 
September 22, 1863; Hompej-, Richard, 
mustered out June 29, 1865, term expired; 
Harrison, John, mustered out June 29, 1865, 
as corporal, term expired; Jarrell, Theo- 
dore, discharged November 14, 1862; Jones, 
William L., mustered out June 29, 1865, 
term expired; Korb, Nicholas, died at Nash- 
ville, Tenn., November 11, 1863; Korb, 
Anthony, mustered out June 29, 1865, term 
expired; Lodge, Henry, promoted to 
second lieutenant; Losee, Stephen G., mus- 
tered out June 29, 1865, term expired; 
Morris, John T., mustered out June 29, 
1865, term expired; Miller, Christian, mus- 
tered out June 29, 1865, term exjiired; 
McCutchan, Charles R., mustered out June 
29, 1865, '1^ corporal, term expired; McCut- 
chan, John T., mustered out June 29, 1865, 
term expired; Sherry, Andrew J., mustered 
out June 29, 1865, as corporal; Trimble, 
Arthur B., died at Madison, Ind., Novem- 
ber 22, 1863; Wheeler, John F., discharged 
December 11, 1862; Walker, William, died 
at Bowling Green, Ky., January i, 1863. 
81 



Recruits. — Gillett, Benjamin F., mustered 
out June 29, 1865, term expired; Homer, 
John, mustered out June 29, 1865, term ex- 
pired; Lee, George, mustered out June 29, 
1865, term expired; Stogel, Henry R., miss- 
ing at Newman, Ga., July 30, 1864. This 
company enrolled 102 men, received eight 
recruits, lost by death sixteen; by desertion 
two, and two reported unaccounted for. 
Among the recruits who went to the regiment 
in the earl}- part of 1864 from Vanderburgh 
county, the following were assigned to 
Company K : Brewster, William E., mus- 
tered out June 29, 1865, term e.xpired; Con- 
ner, Willliam D., mustered out June 29, 
1865, term expired; Inman, James, mustered 
out June 29, 1865, term expired; Kirkman, 
James O., mustered out June 29, 1865, 
term expired; Richey, Hezekiah, mus- 
tered out June 29, 1865, term expired; 
Skeggs, Abram D., mustered out June 29, 
1865, term expired; Snider, Robert B., mus- 
tered out June 29, i865,term expired; Webb, 
Samuel, mustered out June 29, 1865, term 
expired; William Street, who joined Com- 
pany K, as a recruit, October i, 1S62, died 
at Henderson, Ky., March 5, 1863. 

The Regimenfs Field Record. — On the 
completion of its organization this regiment 
was sent to the interior of Kentucky, and 
performed valuable service there, engaging 
the enemy twice at Madisonville, and at 
other places in 1862. A portion of the 
command, stationed in eastern Kentucky, 
pursued Morgan's forces toward Green 
River, fought and defeated that rebel near 
Munfordsville on December 25, and after- 
ward did active duty in the vicinity of Mur- 
freesboro, Tenn., for some months, occa- 
sionally skirmishing and fighting the enemy. 
The regiment was in Rosecrans' campaign 
toward Tullahoma and Chattanooga, fought 
at Chickamauga, and elsewhere, with valor, 
and spent the winter of 1863-4 '" ^^^^^ 



5S2 



MILITAR YHISTOR Y. 



Tennessee, holding the advanced position in 
all the cavalry movements, and being con- 
spicuously engaged at Mossy Creek, Tal- 
bot's and Dandridge, for which it was 
highly complimented in the reports 
of brigade and division command- 
ers. At Fair Garden, in a severe 
fight, on January 27, 1864, it particularly 
distinguished itself in a sabre charge led by 
Lieut. Col. Leslie, which resulted in the 
capture of a battery, one battle flag and 
more prisoners than the charging party had 
men engaged. While gallantly leading his 
men to victory, Leslie fell pierced through 
the breast by a rebel bullet. The regiment 
moved with Sherman's campaign against 
Atlanta, fighting the enemy at Varnell's 
Station and at Burnt Church ; participated in 
the McCook raid, was in the battle of New- 
man and all the movements of that expedi- 
tion; and after the capture of Atlanta, 
marched into Tennessee, engaging the 
enemy at Columbia. Later it was stationed 
at Louisville, at Nashville and at Waterloo, 
Ala. In the spring of 1865, it actively 
participated in the campaigns in Alabama 
and Georgia, being in the battles of Planters- 
ville and Selma. June 29 it was mustered 
out and disbanded at Nashville, Tenn. 

The A'iiicfy-Jirst Infantry. — This regi- 
ment was recruited from the first con- 
gressional district during the month of 
August, 1862, and rendezvoused at Evans- 
ville. Only seven companies were raised, 
and they were formed into a battalion, and 
mustered into service with John Mehringer, 
of Jasper, Ind., as lieutenant colonel, on Oc- 
tober I, 1862. To the people of Vander- 
burgh county the regiment is known as Col. 
Butterfield's regiment, it being with this 
command that that well-known citizen 
achieved his military honors, while serv- 
ing as major of the regiment, which rank he 
held from its organization, In 1S63, three 



recruited companies were assigned to the 
command, Lieut. Col. Mehringer was pro- 
moted to colonel, and at the same time Maj. 
Butterfield was advanced to the rank of 
lieutenant colonel, in which he served with 
distinction until mustered out with the regi- 
ment, June 26, 1865. Oscar Mills served as 
adjutant and quartermaster throughout the 
regiment's service. The other regimental 
officers were from other parts of the state. 
The men from this county found their way 
into several of the companies of the 
regiment, but most of them were in the 
ranks of Company G, the officers of which 
were with one exception Evansville citizens. 
William P. Hargrave was captain, and on 
May I, 1864, was appointed assistant com- 
missary of musters. Robert Rowland, en- 
tering the service as a sergeant, was pro- 
moted second lieutenant, June 24, 1863, and 
first heutenant April 8, 1865, serving in that 
rank until mustered out with the regiment. 
Stephen H. S. Cook went out with the com- 
pany as second lieutenant, and resigned June 
23, 1863. Thomas M. Smith, a sergeant, 
was commissioned second lieutenant, but the 
termination of the company's service pre- 
vented his muster. The men of this com- 
pany accredited to Vanderburgh county, 
were as follows: Sergt. Robert Rowland, 
promoted second lieutenant; Sergt. Thomas 
M. Smith, mustered out June 26, 1865, as 
first sergeant, term expired; Sergt. Daniel 
S. Wilson, mustered out June 26, 1865, 
term expired; Corp. Frederick Meier, mus- 
tered out June 26, 1865, term expired; Corp. 
William H. Hardin, discharged August 11, 
1864; Musician Leander Lewis, mustered 
out June 26, 1865, term expired; Wagoner 
John Cavin, discharged March 6, 1863. 

Privates. — Curnich, S3'dney, mustered 
out June 26, 1865, as corporal, term ex- 
pired; Chism, Jacob, died at Hender- 
son, Ky., December 13, 1862; Chism 



NINETY-FIRST REGIMENT. 



533 



Jesse, discharged Februarj' 24, 1S65; 
Cady, John, died at Nashville, Tenn., July 
5, 1864, disease; Daly, James, not mustered 
out; Gates, Charles, died at Evansville, 
October 22, 1863; Godfrey, Daniel, died at 
Cumberland Gap, May i, 1864; Hoffman, 
Lewis, mustered out June 26, 1S65, term 
expired; High, Robert, died at Madisonville, 
Ky., March 10, 1S63; Jones, John, mustered 
out June 26, 1S65, term expired; Milliman, 
John, discharged October 28, 1864; Nagle, 
George, mustered out May 15, 1865; Olds, 
William H., died at Baby town, December 
28, 1S62; Overdieck, Conrad, drowned at 
Spottsville, Ky., August 10, 1863; Peck, 
William, mustered out June 26, 1865, term 
expired ; Thompson, WiUiam, mustered out 
June 26, 1S65, term expired; Tieman, John, 
died at Madisonville, Ky., February 13, 1S63; 
Warren, Henry, mustered out May 24, 
1865; Wiedenbaugh, Nicholas, mustered 
out June 26, 1865, term expired; Duckworth, 
William (recruit, 1863), mustered out Jul}' 
21, 1865. This company went to the front 
with eighty-four men, received thirtj^-one 
recruits, lost by death twenty, by desertion 
fourteen, and was unable to account for 
eighteen. Vanderburgh countj^ men in 
other companies of the Ninety-first 
regiment were : Company A — Hooker, 
George, mustered out June 26, 1865, term 
expired; Reese, Jerome, mustered out 
June 26, 1865, term expired; Usery, 
Joseph S., discharged February 14, 
1865, account wounds. Company D — 
Purett, Isaac J., musician, mustered out June 
26,. 1865, term expired; Adler, Nicholas, 
mustered out June 26, 1865, term expired: 
Koch, Andrew, mustered out June 26, 1865, 
term expired; Koch, William, mustered out 
June 26, 1865, as sergeant major, term ex- 
pired; Stinchtield, Washington, 'mustered 
out June 26, 1865, as corporal, term ex- 
pired; Thomas, Henry C., recruit, 1864, 



died at Knoxville, Tenn., September 28, 
1S64, wounds. Company E — McDonald, 
Bushrod, sergeant, transferred Veteran 
Reserve corps, January 22,1864; Andies, 
Charles, mustered out June 26, 18655 term 
expired; Abbing, Bernard, mustered out 
June 26, 1865, term expired; Bippus, John 
J., mustered out June 26, 1865, 
as quartermaster sergeant, term expired; 
Kuhn, John, mustered out June 26, 1865, 
term expired; Kruger, Henr}', mustered 
out June 26, 1865, term expired; Laub- 
shire, John, mustered out June 26, 1865, 
term expired; Lush, David H., not mustered 
out; Lupking, WiUiam, mustered out June 
26, 1865, term expired. Company F — • 
Neel, WiUiam H., not mustered out; War- 
ren, Orlando, recruit, 1863, died February 
II, 1864. 

Movements, of the Ninety-first. — From 
October 10, 1862, to June 15,1863, the reg- 
iment performed guard duty, and protected 
the western Kentucky interior from rebel 
raids. In June, 1863, it assisted in the pur- 
suit of the rebel Gen. John H. Morgan, 
then making a raid through Kentuck}', but 
being distanced by Morgan's fleet horses 
went into camp at Russellville without over- 
taking the raider. It was at this place on 
September 11, 1863, that three companies, 
of six months' men joined the command, 
thus completing the regiment. At the ex- 
piration of their term they were mustered 
out, and the regiment again had but seven 
companies until the winter of 1864, when it 
received an assignment of three companies. 
At Russellville and other points in Kentucky 
and Tennessee, the regiment remained until 
January, 1864, when it moved to east Ten- 
nessee, Company A engaging in a sharp 
fight with a rebel force 1,200 strong, near 
Cumberland Gap, on February 22. It 
moved with Sherman's Atlanta campaign, 
taking an active part in the desperate but 



53k 



MILITAE Y HISTOE Y. 



successful engagements at Pine Mountain 
and New Hope Church, and in that constant 
skirmishing which engaged the armies of 
Gens. Schofield and Thomas, through the 
month of June and until the enemy was 
driven from his strong position on Kenesaw 
Mountain. It was engaged at Decatur, Ga., 
the whole hne skirmishing heavily, was in 
the battle at Peach Tree Creek, and played 
a conspicuous part in the siege and capture 
of Atlanta, performing many valiant acts 
and always honorabh' conducting itself. In 
October it joined in the pursuit of Hood, and 
at Cedar Bluffs was detached from Sher- 
man's army and ordered to report to 
Gen. Thomas. It took part in the battles 
at Franklin and Nashville in November and 
December; and from Tennessee went via 
Cincinnati, Ohio, to Washington, D. C. , 
where it arrived January 28, 1S65. It par- 
ticipated in the Peninsular campaign, during 
the following spring, and with its corps cap- 
tured Wilmington, N. C; then moved to 
Goldsboro and Raleigh, and soon thereafter 
to Salisbury, where it remained until mus- 
tered out, June 26, 1865. The regiment 
lost eighty-one in killed and wounded, and 
returned to the state with nineteen officers 
and 315 men, having gone to the front with 
an aggregate of 635 otficers and men. Ar- 
riving at Indianapolis, after muster out, it 
was greeted with an ovation in the state 
house grove, and welcomed home with ad- 
dresses by Gov. Morton and others. 

T/ie One Hundred and Twentieth Regi- 
ment. — During the month of September, 
1863, Gov. Morton received authority 
from the \yar department to raise eleven 
regiments of three years' volunteers. Six 
of these regiments were raised, organized, 
armed, equipped and turned over to the 
command of Brig. Gen. Alvin P. Hovey. 
Among these was the One Hundred and 
Twcentieth, the only one of the si.\ in which 



Vanderburgh county people were to be 
found, and there only in small numbers. 
John M. Simmerman, who enlisted as a pri- 
vate in Company D, was promoted first 
lieutenant, and subsequently captain of his 
compan}^, but no other man from Vander- 
burgh county, in the regiment, received a 
commission. The enlisted men from the 
county, all in Company F, were: Corp. 
Henry C. Walker, not mustered out; Corp. 
James L. King, mustered out January 8, 
1866, term expired; Butler, Harrison, mus- 
tered out January 8, 1866, term expired; 
Davis, James, mustered out January 8, 1866, 
as corporal, term expired; Fraker, William, 
mustered out January 8, 1866, term ex- 
pired; Fairchild, William, mustered out Jan- 
uary 8, 1866, term expired; Giser, Matthew, 
mustered out January 8, 1866, term expired; 
Hampton, John T., mustered out May 25, 
1865; Hofnagle, Henry, mustered out Janu- 
ary 8, 1866, term expired; Layton, John H., 
transferred to Veteran Reserve corps, 
mustered out October 11, 1865; Parker, 
Charles, not mustered out; Sanders, Will- 
iam, not mustered out; Simpson, Henry, 
mustered out May 31, 1865 ; Short, John M., 
mustered out January 8, 1866, term expired; 
Shakelford, William, mustered out January 
8, 1866, term expired; Thompson, John, not 
mustered out; Wilson, William, mustered 
out January 8, 1866, term expired. 

Exploits of the Reg-iment. — Leaving 
Indianapolis March 20, 1864, ^^is organiza- 
tion proceeded to Nashville, Tenn., where 
it was equipped for active service. It 
marched over 200 miles to reach Charles- 
ton, Tenn., and was with the Twenty-third 
army corps in the campaign against Atlanta, 
and in the pursuit of Hood, its historj' being 
identified with that of this gallant corps. It 
especially distinguished itself by bravery and 
effective fighting at Resaca, Kenesaw Moun- 
tain, Atlanta and Jonesboro, and lost many 



TENTH CAVALRY REGIMENT. 



CSS 



killed and wounded in these battles and the 
heavy skirmishing attending the campaign 
and siege. In October, it moved to Tennes- 
see with Thomas' army; fought firmly and 
bravely at Franklin, losing its major and 
forty-eight men in killed and wounded, 
and took part in the utter defeat of Hood's 
army at Nashville, December 15 and 16, 
pursuing the rebel fugitives to the Tennes- 
see river, then going into camp at Clifton. 
Going east, it acted a conspicuous part in 
the Peninsula campaign during the spring 
of 1865, and when active operations had 
ceased, did guard, provost and garrison 
duty at Goldsboro, Raleigh, Charlotte and 
elsewhere, not being mustered out until 
January 8, 1S66. Well commanded and 
finely disciplined, this regiment ever con- 
ducted itself in a manner that elicited much 
genuine admiration and praise. 

The Tenth Cavalry [One /it/ //(/red 
and Tventy -fifth') Regi/nc/it. — This or- 
ganization was recruited during the fall 
and winter of 1863, its first camp of ren- 
dezvous being at Vincennes and the next at 
Columbus. A considerable number of men 
from Vanderburgh county, enough indeed 
to have formed one company, were distrib- 
uted about in its various commands. Very 
few of its officers were drawn from here. 
Thomas G. Williamson went out as captain 
of Company B, rose rapidly to the lieuten- 
ant colonelcy and servedthroughout the regi- 
ment's career. In the same company Oliver 
Babcock, enlisting as a private, was ad- 
vanced to second and then first lieutenant, 
and remained with the company until its 
muster out. Edward A. Pitts, another who 
enlisted in the ranks, was appointed ser- 
geant and commissioned second lieutenant, 
though the termination of the company's 
service prevented his muster. The enlisted 
men from the county in this regiment were : 
Company A., (mustered March 30, 1864). 



— Bills, William F., mustered out May 29, 
1865; Britton, Francis L., mustered out 
August 31, 1865, as sergeant, term expired; 
Dodson, James F. N., not mustered out; 
Davidson, Samuel M., died of wounds re- 
ceived at Pulaski, Tenn., October 27 1864; 
Gibson, Richley, mustered out June 29, 1865; 
Grider, Hamilton, mustered out August 31, 
1865, term expired; Martin, Jackson, dis- 
charged July 28, 1865, as corporal; Phar, 
John F., mustered out August 31, 1865, 
term expired; Terry, Elias, mustered out 
August 31, 1865, as wagoner, term expired; 
Wagoner, Joseph, mustered out September 

12, 1865, term expired; Wolfinger, George, 
mustered out August 31, 1865, term expired; 
Wesbicker, Joseph, mustered out August 
31, 1865, term expired; Weise, Franklin, 
mustered out August 31, 1865, term expired. 
Company B (mustered January 8, 1864) — 
Babcock, Oliver, promoted second lieuten- 
ant; Behler, George, mustered out August 
31, 1865, term expired; Bell, Ortha C, 
mustered out August 31, 1865, term ex- 
pired; Bruce, John M., mustered out July 
21, 1865; Bradshaw, George, mustered out 
August 31, 1865, term expired; Benton, Ed- 
ward M., mustered out August 31, 1865, as 
corporal; term expired; Cash, Francis M., 
mustered out June 19, 1865; Green, Arthur, 
mustered out August 31, 1865, term expired; 
Greathouse, Enoch, discharged December 

13, 1864; Graham, Simeon, mustered out 
August 31, 1865, as commissary sergeant, 
term expired; Gregley, George S., mus- 
tered out June 19, 1865; Gumbert, Simon, 
mustered out August 31, 1865, term ex- 
pired; Higgenbotham, James G., mustered 
out July II, 1865, as corporal; Hopkins, 
Charles W., mustered out June 24, 1865 ; 
Hubert, Casper, discharged June 13, 1865; 
Jackson, James J., mustered out August 31, 
1865, term expired; Jolly, Charles, mustered 
out August 31, 1865, term expired; Kall^ 



536 



MILITAR Y HISTOE Y. 



Andrew, mustered out August 31, i865> 
term expired; Kirkpatrick, John C, 
mustered out August 31, 1865, term ex- 
pired; Knight, G. C, died at Pulaski, 
Tenn., October 3, 1864; Martin, John T., 
mustered out June 19, 1865; McClellan, 

Thomas, mustered out August 31, 1865, 
term expired; Parker, Lewis, mustered out 
August 31, 1865, term expired; Potter, 
William L., mustered out May 29, 1865; 
Priest, Erastus, mustered out August 31, 
1865, term expired; Rodgers, James, mus- 
tered out August 31, 1S65, term expired; 
Romine, Abraham, mustered out July 14, 
1865; Romine, Ephraim, mustered out June 
22, 1865; Rutherford, Daniel R., mustered 
out August 24, 1865, term expired; Staggs, 
Martin, mustered out August 31, 1865, term 
expired; Stainbrook, Philip, mustered out 
August 31, 1865, as corporal, term expired; 
Strody, George W., died at Pulaski, Tenn., 
September 30, 1864; Stubblefield, Beverly 
M., mustered out August 31, 1865, term ex- 
pired; Taylor, Thomas, not mustered out; 
Waller, William S., mustered out July 25, 
1865; Walter, Thomas A., mustered out 
August 31, 1865, term expired; Williamson, 
Philip H., killed by accident at Gallatin, 
Tenn., May 5, 1864; Weres, Joseph, dis- 
charged July 17, 1864; Zehmley, William, 
mustered out August 31, 1865, as. corporal; 
Company F (mustered January 8, 1864) — 
Beavers, Joseph W., not mustered out; 
Chaney, Thomas, mustered out August 31, 
1865, term expired; Collins, Shelb}', mus- 
tered out August 31, 1865, term expired; 
Jordon, Adam T., died in Andersonville 
prison, March 16, 1865; Shafer, Samuel, 
died at Columbus, Ind., April 5, 1864; Wil- 
son Amos, never mustered in; Williams, 
Samuel, mustered out, August 31, 1865, 
term expired; Company G, (mustered Janu- 
ary 8, 1864) — -Able, George W., mustered 
out August 31, 1S65, as corporal, term ex- 



pired; Berry, James R., mustered out Au- 
gust 31, 1865, term expired; Herron, John, 
died at Fort Gaines, Ala., May 7, 1864; 
Herrick, Charles, mustered out August 31, 
1865, term expired ; Jones, William, mus- 
tered out July 31, 1865; McCleland, James 
A., mustered out June 23, 1865; Wage, 
George, mustered out August 31, 1865; 
term expired; Company K (mustered 
March 6, and April 14, 1864) — Lewis, 
Thomas W., mustered out August 31, 1865, 
term expired ; Lutz, Frederick, not mustered 
out ; Pitts, Edward A., mustered out Au- 
gust 31, 1865, as sergeant, term expired; 
Pitts, Warren, discharged June 13, 1865; 
Wiles, John, mustered out August 31, 
1865, ^s bugler, term expired; Company 
M (mustered March 8, 1864)— Bell, John, 
mustered out August 31, 1865, term ex- 
pired; Jett, Henry C, mustered out August 
31, 1865, term expired. 

T/ic Regiiiiciirs Work in the Field. — - 
This command did not leave the state until 
May 3, 1864. It then moved to Pulaski, 
Tenn., where, and at Decatur, Ala., during 
the Atlanta campaign, it guarded a railroad 
over which supplies were sent to Sherman's 
army. It had several skirmishes with the 
forces under Rodd}', Wheeler and Forrest, 
and in the battle of Pulaski, September 28, 
fought bravely, losing fifty officers and men, 
killed and wounded. A detachment at De- 
catur fought Hood four days in October, 
and a portion of the regiment fell back on 
Nashville, engaging in the battles of Nash- 
ville, Little Harpeth, Reynolds' Hill and 
Sugar Creek, losing in officers and men 
sixty-three killed and wounded, and seventy- 
five captured; and on the other hand cap- 
turing from the enemy in these several en- 
gagements, four stands of colors, and 300 
men and officers with their arms. During 
the winter the detachment at Decatur, under 
Maj. Williamson, participated in the battles 



ONE HUNDRED DAYS' MEN. 



757 



of Flint River, Indian Creek, Courtland 
and Mount Hope, and succeeded in captur- 
ing ten pieces of artillery, 150 officers and 
men, and a supply train consistincr of 150 
wagons and 500 mules. In February, 
1S65, the regiment proceeded, by steamer, 
to New Orleans, and thence to Alobile Bay, 
participating in the reduction of Spanish 
Fort and Fort Blakely, which resulted in 
the surrender of Mobile. The regiment 
then made an expedition to Eufala and 
Montgomery, Ala., and moved thence to 
Vicksburg, Miss., reaching there in July. 
Thereafter, until muster out, August 31, 
1865, it was engaged in garrison and patrol 
duty in Mississippi. On April 28, 1865, the 
regiment lost three officers and thirty-five 
men by the explosion of the ill-fated steamer. 
Sultana. These soldiers had been paroled 
and were on their way home when killed. 
In May, 1864, it also lost five men killed and 
seventy wounded by a railroad collision on 
the L. & N. railroad. The regiment went 
out with 1,254 officers and men, and re- 
ceived forty-six recruits. It returned to the 
state with twenty-eight officers and 519 
men. 

T/ic Hundred Days' Volunteers. — When 
the winter of 1863-4 ^^^ passed and the 
life of the nation was still in danger, 
preparations were made for a vigorous 
prosecution of the war. The victories and 
campaigns of the preceding year were bril- 
liant and in a large measure effective, but it 
was hoped that the achievements of the year 
just commencing might terminate the re- 
bellion and restore peace. The governors 
of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, and Wiscon- 
sin offered to raise for the service of the 
general government a force of volunteers to 
serve for 100 days, and on the 23d 
day of April, 1864, Gov. Morton issued his 
call for Indiana's portion of that force. The 
troops thus raised were to perform such 



military services as might be required of 
them in any state, and were to be armed, 
subsisted, clothed and paid by the United 
States, but were not to receive any bounty. 
These troops were designed to make the 
campaign of 1864 successful and decisive by 
relieving a large number of veterans from 
garrison and guard duty and allowing them 
to join their companions in arms, then about 
entering one of the most active and im- 
portant campaigns of the war. Their places 
were filled by the 100 daj's' men as 
fast as the latter could be organized into 
regiments and sent forward from the camps 
of rendezvous. The organizations from 
Indiana consisted of eight regiments, num- 
bered consecutively from the One Hundred 
and Thirty-second to the One Hundred and 
Thirt^'-ninth, inclusive. The One Hundred 
and Thirty-sixth R:o-i.niznt was composed 
almost entirely of men from the First con- 
gressional district, there being three entire 
companies. A, B and C, from Vanderburgh 
count}^ the largest body of citizens that had 
yet gone out with any organization. The 
regiment was organized and mustered into 
service on the 23d day of May, 1864. 
Vanderburgh county gave to the regiment 
the following officers, all of whom were com- 
missioned May 21, 1S64, ^"^^ mustered out 
with the regiment: Col. John W. Foster, 
Lieut. Col. William H. Walker, Maj. Blythe 
Hynes, and Qrm. Robert Early; to Com- 
pany A, Capt. Adolphus Pfafilin, First Lieut. 
Philip Euler, Second Lieut. Charles Ritter, 
all commissioned May 3, 1864: to Company 
B, Capt. William B. Ilollingsworth, First 
Lieut. Frank M. Thayer, Second Lieut. 
Christopher L. Scott, all commissioned May 
5, 1864; and to Companj' C, Capt. William 
H. Caldwell, First Lieut. Edward P. Elliott, 
Second Lieut. Frederick Geiger, all com- 
missioned May 21, 1864. At the organiza- 
io!i of Compan}' C, May 5, 1S64, William 



S38 



MILITAR Y HISTOR Y. 



H. Walker was commissioned captain, and 
the officers above named were each one 
grade lower than as stated, but upon his ad- 
vancement to lieutenant colonel of the regi- 
ment, promotions were made which officered 
the company as indicated above. The fol- 
lowing is a complete roster of the enlisted 
men serving in these companies : Company 
A — John Alderton, Ernst Andel, George 
Brown, William G. Boepple, William Bisch- 
man, Leopold Bernheimer, John Berner, 
George Bambe, George Baisch, Charles 
Coply, Henr}' Dreier, Frank Dougherty, 
Peter Deal, John Dean, Tliomas Doyle, 
Peter Dam, Thomas Dickerson, Henry 
Eisler, Michael Eisler, Henry Ehman, 
WilHam H. Edwards, Stephen Ensner, Al- 
bert Enstein, William A. Fritsch, Albert 
Fisher, George Geisler, Henry C. Green, 
Henry Gumberts, John Gebing, Henry J. 
Glein, John M. Gleichman, John Huber, 
Frederick Hoelscher, Jacob Hirch, Phillip 
Haumer, Jacob Hahn, August Heinekamp, 
Louis Hanschilds, Henry Hewig, John 
Jordan, Rudolph Kehr, Frederick Kercher, 
George Kissel, August Korsemeyer, Fred- 
erick Krohne, Francis Krug, Henry Kruse, 
Theodore L. Kuhlman, Louis Kramer, 
Christian Koehler, George Kinkel, Charles 
Kretschmar, John Linde, Gottlieb Lerch, 
John H. Lambers, Henry Moellenkamp, 
John Mosel, Louis Metzner, Gustave 
Mathias, John McDonough, Reinhard Orth, 
John Polhaus, Theodore Pfafflin, Gottlieb 
Pfisterer, Jacob Rifflin, Jacob Rickling, 
John Roepple, Christian Ressler, John L. 
Straub, Harry Smith, Henry Schmitt, Ernst 
Schorr, Jacob Schlintenhard, Gottheb 
Schieber, Peter Schindler, Charles 
Schweitzer, Albert Severet, John Straub- 
miller, Albert Schumaker, Charles Schlange, 
Joseph Schoene, Christian Steinhauer, 
William Schneider, Jacob Showener, 
William F. Schlotter, August Schlange, 



Frederick Teipel, John Voll, William Vier- 
ling, John Walter, Charles West, Christian 
Walter, Peter Wilsbacher, Joseph Witz, 
Henry F. Wilke, Charles White, Isaac 
Weiss, Nicholas Yost, Christian Ziss. 
Company B — Henry J. Ashley, Augustus 
C. Ames, John C. Barnes, James W. Bar- 
bour, Adam Belling, David W. Burns, Jud- 
son G. Burtis, Jackson Belford, Benjamin 
H. Beggs, Samuel W. Blackburn, Henry 
W. Beppus, Robert H. Blackburn, William 
W. Brownell, Eleazer V. Burnett, George 
Burkhart, John Burrucker, William T. Car- 
ne}', Martin N. Christ, William Christian, 
John W. Collins, James Crafts, ji^xiam Con- 
rad, James Corduroy, George B. Davison, 
Fletcher O. DeBruler, John C. l)uvendork, 
Isaac F. Demerit, Robert Early, George 
Elsperman, Oliver Evans, James C. Farrow, 
Joseph Fitzgerald, John Fitzgerald, Isadora 
A. Flack, James S. Floyd, George Forsyth, 
Spencer Glazier, James Gorman, WiUiam 
Grammer, Joseph Gugaraus, Christian Her- 
man, J. Blythe Hendricks, William E. Hows- 
lev, John T. Hutchinson, Thomas Hum- 
phreys, James P. Hy^nes, Thomas Ingle, 
William Johnson, John Kattenbacher, 
Franz Kirchner, Josiah Kightly, Rob- 
ert B. Kirkpatrick, Madison B. Kirk- 
patrick, William H. Kirkpatrick, Isaac 
H. Kimbly, John Koenig, John Kohl, 
Leo Kuhn, Adolph Lagant, WiUiam B. 
Lindsey, Marion Lockwood, Joseph Lyron, 
Walter M. Lewis, Michael Mackedon, 
Thornton Males, George F. Mayer, John 
Mum, James McKinney, Charles Miller, 
John A. Miller, Herman Miller, Jacob Miller, 
Henr\- Morris, John Nester, James O. Byrne, 
Charles W. Osborne, William E. Quinn, 
Lewis Raple, John Roeder, Mathew W. 
Rogers, George J. Reeves, John M. Samp- 
son, Louis Schmitt, Frank S. Schu, 
John H. Sonntag, Henry Steiper, James 
Swanson, jr., James Taylor, George A. 



LAST REGIMENTS. 



539 



Urie, Abram Van Strickland, George 
Vickery, Samuel W. Wallace, William 
T. Wade, Frank C. White, Samuel Wyt- 
tenbach, John Yocum, Adrian Youngs. 
Company C — Charles H. Allen, William 
F. Beard, John Baile}-, Jacob Bippus, Louis 
Birtis, Henry Browne, John Burns, WilHam 
Burroughs, F. Bruce Carson, Albert W. 
Carpenter, Henry Clark, David Cory, Henry 
Curry, W. H. Day, John Dick, James E. 
Eargood, James H. Foster, John F. Foster, 
Frank France, James B. Gammel, 



Geiger, Frederick Geiger, Christopher 
Garst, Jefferson Girman, Frank Gray, Fred- 
erick Guth, Samuel Hays, Jacob Heddrick, 
John Heilman, George Henninger 
Louis Hess, A. B. Hinkle, Henry Huber, 
John Hopkins, Calvin P. Howard, Benja- 
min Hubb, jr. Jacob Hurmell, John Hurly, 
Heber Ingte*Charles T. Jenkins, Frank M. 
Kennison, Moses C. Kohn, Joseph P. Kra- 
mer, James Larue, Bruce Lechner, John 
Maine, George W. Mayhu, Joseph B. 
Mayhu, jr., George F. Mansell, William W. 
Manning, John Monks, William McDowell, 
Isaac Miller, Conrad Miller, Allen G. 
Mills, Henry Myers, Benjamin Newman, 
George W. Newman, Henry C. Newman, 
Philip Nester, John O'Brien, Dennis 
O'Brien, Patrick O'Brien, James H. Phil- 
lips, Jacob Reerer, William Ryan, John H. 
Re3nolds, Andrew J. Rudisil, William L. 
Sauer, James M. Scantlin, John Scotield, 
Charles Sewsemier, Charles Seedrel, John 
Sheppard, John D. Sheppard, John Sheer, 
Joseph E. Schu, Thomas Shaw, Eson Shap- 
taugh, John List, Jesse B. Start, George M. 
Stinson, John M. Slinson, Burnett Taylor, 
Cornelius Totten, Levi H. Tower, Howard 
Walker, William Warren, Nicholas Weber. 
John White, George White, William Wil- 
son, George H. Williams, Nicholas Winter, 
Joseph Winer, Robert F. Woods, William 
Zast. 



T/ic Field Service of the One Hundred 
and Thirty-sixth. — Soon after its organiza- 
tion the regiment departed for Tennessee. 
Arriving at Nashville it was assigned to 
duty along the railroads over which were 
transported supplies for Sherman's arm}', 
then advancing on Atlanta, and until the 
latter part of August, 1864, ^^'''^^ kept con- 
stantly engaged in guarding these import- 
ant lines of communication. Its service was 
valuable as an important adjunct to the bril- 
hant and successful campaign of 1S64. The 
three companies from this county went out 
with 294 men. They lost one b}' death — - 
Albert Schumacher, who died June 20, 1S64, 
and one by desertion. Immediately after its 
final discharge, Joseph Kramer, of Company 
C, was killed by a shot fired b}- an unknown 
person. The regiment was mustered out 
September 2, 1864, at Indianapolis. 

The Last Regiment for the Front. — In 
December, 1864, Abraham Lincoln again 
called on the loyal people of the north for 
300,000 volunteers. In response to this, the 
final call for troops made by the president 
during the civil war, Indiana sent eleven 
regiments to the front, among them being 
the One Hundred and Forty-third^ com- 
posed of companies from the first congres- 
sional district, organized and mustered into 
service at Indianapolis on the 21st day of 
Februar}-, 1S65, with John F. Grill, as 
colonel. Earl}' in 1861, Col. Grill had gone 
out as captain of a company in the Twenty- 
fourth, had rendered valiant and faithful 
service with that gallant regiment, had won 
and received advancement to the rank of 
lieutenant colonel, had just returned to his 
home from active service, and it was a fitting 
recoenition of his worth that he should com- 
mand the last regiment that went out com- 
posed largely of \'anderburgh county men. 
His commission was dated the 20th day 
of February, 1865, and he served 



5i0 



MILITAR Y HISTOR Y. 



until mustered out with the regiment. 
Other regimental officers from the county 
were: Edward P. Elliot, adjutant; Peter 
Schmuck, quartermaster, and Benjamin 
Davidson, assistant surgeon. The following 
were the officers of Company A, all resi- 
dents of Evansville: Justin A. Kellogg, 
captain; Joseph B. Maghee, jr., first lieu- 
tenant, and George H. Dearing, second 
lieutenant. Lieut. Dearing resigned June 
23, 1865, and John Mossell was commis- 
sioned to fill the vacancy, but was not mus- 
tered. The officers of Company F were: 
Christopher L. Scott, captain: Frank W. 
Fickas, first lieutenant, and George J. 
Reeves, second lieutenant. Captain Scott 
resigned May 26, 1865, the lieutenants were 
each promoted, and John T. Fickas filled 
the vacancy occasioned by Lieut. Reeves' 
advancement. In Company G, Frank 
France went out as second lieutenant, was 
promoted first lieutenant May 16, 1865, and 
resigned August 18, 1865; John W. Griffith 
was commissioned but not mustered as 
second lieutenant in this same company. 
The following is a roster of the enlisted men 
who were accredited to this count}^: Com- 
pany A — First Sergt. Frank M. Kennison, 
mustered out May 22, 1865; Sergt. Chris- 
topher C. Harris, not mustered out; 
Sergt. Miles Scales, mustered out October 
17, 1865, as first sergeant; Sergt. John 
Morehead, not mustered out; Corp. Peter- 
son Grant, mustered out October 17, 1865, 
as sergeant; Corp. Andrew J. Angel, mus- 
tered out October 17, 1865, as sergeant; 
Corp. Bruce Lechner, mustered out Octo- 
ber 17, 1865, as sergeant; Corp. Patrick 
Burns, mustered out October 17, 1865, ^s 
private; Corp. Henry Kerf, not mustered 
out; Musician Theodore Pfefflin, mustered 
out October 17, 1864, as principal musician. 
Privates. — AicHe, John, mustered out 
October 17, 1865; Bowers, John, not mus- 



tered out; Bishop, Lee, mustered out Octo- 
ber 17, 1865 ) Brown, George, mustered 
out October 17, 1865; Brown, Lewis, died 
at Tullahoma, Tenn., June 14, 1865; Coul- 
ter, William, mustered out October 17, 
1865; Dunbush, William, mustered out 
October 17, 1865; Effinger, Frederick, 
mustered out October 17, 1865; Eiseman, 
Lorenz, mustered out October 17, 1865; 
Fickas, Benjamin A., mustered out October 
17, 1865; Fe_v, John, mustered out October 
17, 1865; Folz, John, mustered out Octo- 
ber 17, 1865; Folz, Joseph, mustered out 
October 17, 1S65; Grill, Edward, mustered 
out October 17, 1865, ^s quarter- 
master sergeant; Green, John, not mus- 
tered out; Grant, Perr}', mustered out 
October 17, 1865; Gephart, August, mus- 
tered out October 17, 1865; Hawkins, 
Isaac, mustered out October 17, 1865; 
Irons, William, mustered out October 17, 
1865; Kirkpatrick, William H., mustered 
out October 17, 1865, as corporal; Knott, 
Alexander, not mustered out; Loranze, 
John, mustered out October 17, 1865; Mo- 
selle, John, mustered out October 17, 1865, 
as commissar)' sergeant; McGee, Joseph B., 
promoted to first lieutenant; Miller, John, 
mustered out October 17, 1865; Martin, 
Henr}' E., mustered out October 17, 1865; 
Mc Andrews, J. F.,not mustered out; Rieder, 
Christopher, mustered out October 17, 
1865; Raubb, Frank, mustered out October 
17, 1865; Reisinger, John, mustered out 
October 17, 1865; Shore, Lewis L., mus- 
tered out October 17, 1865, as corporal; 
Shanks, John, mustered out October 17, 
1865; Smith, Pa^-ton, died at Clarksville, 
Tenn., July 25, 1865, of wounds; Strange, 
Leonard, mustered out October 17, 1S65; 
Strange, Thomas, mustered out October 17, 
1865, as corporal; Smith, Robert, mustered 
out Jul)' 14, 1865; Steinhizzen, John, mus- 
tered out October 17, 1S65; Wagner, 



COLORED TROOPS. 



5U 



Charles, mustered out October 17, 1S65; 
Wise, Isaac, mustered out October 17, 
1865. At its organization this company 
mustered 107 men; it lost eight by death 
and twenty-one by desertion. In the other 
companies of the regiment were the 
following men from this county: Com- 
pany D — Sergt. Berr}' P. Robertson, 
mustered out October 17, 1865. Privates — 
Judith, Andrew, mustered out October 17, 
1865; Lumsden, William, died at Murfrees- 
boro, Tenn., March 20, 1865; Town, Cyrus, 
mustered out October 17, 1865. Company 
E — Privates — Feil, Martin, mastered out 
October 17, 1865; Huff, Adam, mustered 
out October 17, 1865. Company F — Sergt. 
Isaac F. Demoret, mustered out October 17, 
1S65; Corp. John R. Williams, mustered 
out October 17, 1S65; Corp. Cornelius H. 
Lawrence, mustered out October 17, 1865. 
Privates — Burkhart, Jacob, mustered out 
October 17, 1S65; Bresnahan, Jeremiah, 
mustered out October 17, 1865; Butler, 
Joseph, mustered out October 17, 1865; 
Bonafield, Gustave, mustered out October 
17, 1865; Brandis, Thomas, mustered out 
October 17, 1865; Brown, James, mustered 
out January 2, 1866; Byron, Levi, mustered 
out October 17, 1865; Carson, Charles H., 
mustered out October 17, 1865; Dean, Will- 
iam S., mustered out October 17, 1865; 
Dregg, Philip, mustered out October 
17, 1865; Elkins, Henry, died at 
Indianapolis, Ind., February 19, 1865; 
Ellis, Andrew J., not mustered out; 
Gregor, Jacob, mustered out October 17, 
1865: Hybarger, George, mustered out Oc- 
tober 17, 1865; K.emp, August, mustered 
out October 17, 1S65; Krouse, George, 
mustered out October 17, 1865 ; Lipper, 
Henr}-, , mustered out October 17, 1865; 
Lohmaer, Henry, mustered out October 17, 
1865; Loveless, William J., mustered out 
October 13, 1865; Lockwood, Francis M., 



mustered out October 17, 1865, as corporal; 
Muse, Thomas J., mustered out October 17, 
1865, as corporal; Morgan, Henry I., mus- 
tered out October 17, 1865; Morguis, Elli- 
son, mustered out October 17, 1865; Nevil, 
Henry C, died at Murfreesboro, Tenn., 
June 22, 1865; Rinckle, George, mustered 
out October 17, 1S65 ; Reed, John, mus- 
tered out October 17, 1865; Sandman, Her- 
man, mustered out October 17, 1865; Trim- 
ble, Joseph, mustered out July 4, 1865; 
Finley, Patrick, not mustered out; White, 
John, mustered out October 17, 1865; Wun- 
derlich, Charles, mustered out October 17, 
1865. Company G — Privates — Euler, 
John C, mustered out October 17, 1865; 
Faver, James R., not mustered out; Griffith, 
John W., mustered out October 17, 1865; 
Smith, Thomas, mustered out October 17, 
1865. Company H — Privates — Miller, 
Herman A., mustered out October 17, 1865; 

Company I — Privates — Lenn, James P., 
mustered out October 17, 1865, as 
corporal ; Priest, Francis M., mustered 
out October 17, 1865; Vanbiffer, Rat- 
chffe B., not mustered out. 

Sketch of the Regiment. — This command 
left Indianapolis February 24, 1865, for 
Nashville, Tenn., and moved thence to Mur- 
freesboro, where it performed guard duty 
until the 13th of May, when it proceeded to 
Tullahoma. Moving from that place on the 
26th of June, to Nashville, it was sent to 
Clarksville, at which place three companies 
were detached and sent to garrison Fort 
Donelson. Receiving orders for muster 
out, the regiment was brought together and 
marched to Nashville, when it was mustered 
out on the 17th of October, 1865. Return- 
ing to Indianapolis, it was publicly received 
at the state house grove h\ the citizens and 
state authorities and tinallj- discharged. 

United States Colored Troops. — No or- 
ganized body of colored men was sent to 



54^ 



MILITAR Y HISTOR Y. 



the front by Vanderburgh count}-, but many 
individuals joined organizations made in 
other localities and rendered effective ser- 
vice. In the Twenty -eighth regiment United 
States colored troops, there were from 
this county the following enlisted men: Re- 
cruits for Company A — Bluff, Charles, sub- 
stitute, mustered out November 8, 1865 ; 
Bishop, Abner, mustered out November 8, 
1865 ; Cheatem, John, not mustered out ; 
Green, Henry, substitute, mustered out No- 
vember 8, 1S65 ; Green, John, mustered 
out November 8, 1865, as corporal; John- 
son, Joseph, not mustered out; Johnson, 
Silas, substitute, mustered out November 8, 
1865; Todd, Moses, mustered out Novem- 
ber 8, 1865; Washington, Wesley, substi- 
tute, mustered out November 8, 1865; 
White, Robert, substitute, mustered out 
November 8, 1865. Recruits for Company 
B — Buford, Jackson, substitute, mustered 
out November 8, 1865; Frankhn, Colvin, 
substitute, mustered out November 8, 1865 ; 
as corporal ; Green, Jacob, substitute mustered 
tered out November 8, 1865 ; Jordan, Joseph, 
substitute, mustered out November 8, 1865 ; 
Randolph, Pollace, substitute, mustered out 
November 8, 1865 ; Sutton, Daniel, substi- 
tute, mustered out November 8, 1865, as 
wagoner ; Taylor, Henry, substitute mustered 
out November 8, 1865; Walker, Henderson, 
mustered out November 8, 1865; Young, 
William, mustered out Novembers, 1865; 
Recruits for Company D — Cox, John, 
mustered out November 8, 1865; Duncan, 
James, not mustered out; Goens, Bryant, 
mustered out November 8, 1S65; Grandison, 
John, mustered out November 8, 1865; Han- 
cock, John, mustered out November 8, 1865 ! 
Hatchett, John, discharged June 26, 1865; 
Harris, William, mustered out November 
8, 1865; Jones, Peter, mustered out Novem- 
ber 8, 1865; McClure, Dred, substitute; 
Tyler, Harvey, mustered out November 8, 



1865. Recruits for Company G — Barrett, 
Aaron, mustered out November 8, 1865; 
Carr, Alexander, mustered out November 
8, 1865 ; Cobble, Thurston, mustered out 
November 8, 1865, as corporal; Clay, Grant, 
mustered out November 8, 1S6S5 as cor- 
poral; Davis, Payton, mustered out Novem- 
ber 8, 1865; Fleming, Samuel, died at City 
Point, Va., November 25, 1864; Field, 
Thomas, mustered out November 8, 1865; 
Graham, William H., mustered out Novem- 
ber 8, 1865; Reed, Charles, substitute, mus- 
tered out November 8, 1865; Snead, James, 
mustered out November 8, 1865, as ser- 
geant; Scott, William, mustered out Novem- 
ber 8, 1865; Washington, George, ist, mus- 
tered out November 8, 1865 ; Washington, 
George, 2d, mustered out November 8, 1865; 
Washington, George 3d, mustered out No- 
vember 8, 1865; Williams, Henry 2d, 
mustered out November 8, 1865. Recruits 
for Company H — Spalding, Thomas J., 
substitute, mustered out November 8, 1865; 
Sanders, Aaron, mustered out Nov. 8, 1865. 

Original Enrollment of Company I. — 
Sergt. James Barnett, mustered out No- 
vember 8, 1865; Hollo way, Gale, mustered 
out November 8, 1865; Jones, Lewis, mus- 
tered out November 8, 1865; McCallister, 
Archibald, mustered out November 8, 
1865; McElroy, Green, mustered out 
November 8, 1865 ; McElroy, Samuel, 
mustered out November 8, 1865, as cor- 
poral; Thompson, Henry, substitute, mus- 
tered out November 8, 1865. 

Recruits for Company I. — Campbell, 
Henry, mustered out November 8, 1865; 
Green, WilHam H., mustered November 
8, 1865; Hughes, William, mustered out 
November 8, 1865, as corporal; Hughes, 
Dennis, mustered out November 8, 1865; 
Wagoner, James, mustered out November 
8, 1865, as corporal; Waldon, Moses, mus- 
tered out November 8, 1865. 



COLORED TROOPS. 



5^3 



Unassigned Recruits. — ■ Abram, Jolin, un- 
accounted for; Anderson, Benjamin, unac- 
counted for; Avery, Jesse, unaccounted for; 
Arnold, Sanford, unaccounted for; Bates, 
Harrison, unaccounted for; Bates, Joun, un- 
accounted for; Brown, L., unaccounted for; 
Berry, John, unaccounted for; Bruner, 
George, unaccounted for ; Beverly, Joseph, un- 
accounted for; Barrett, Stephen, unaccounted 
for; Bradford, George, unaccounted for; 
Cooke, Preston, unaccounted for; Camp- 
bell, Charles, Unaccounted for; Common 
George, unaccounted for; Cheatem, Wash- 
ington, unaccounted for; Cooper, Henry, 
unaccounted for; Farley, Samuel, died, date 
not stated; Goldman, Robert, unaccounted 
for; Green, Daniel, unaccounted for; Hollo- 
way, Gabe, unaccounted for; Holloway, 
Abram, unaccounted for; Herndon, William, 
unaccounted for; James, Robert, unaccounted 
for; Jones, Thomas, unaccounted for; Long, 
Philip, unaccounted for; Long, Lewis, unac- 
counted for; McHenry, Joshua, unaccounted 
for ; Monroe, William, unaccounted for ; Ross, 
Jacob, unaccounted for; Reader, William, un- 
accounted for; Robinson, John, unaccounted 
for; Robinson, Milton, unaccounted for; 
Roley, Milton, mustered out November S, 
1865; Smith, Lee, unaccounted for; Street, 
James, unaccounted for; Stanley, Albert, 
unaccounted for; Smith, Charles, unac- 
counted for; Tall, Charles, unaccounted 
for; Tate, Benjamin, unaccounted for; 
Taylor, Alfred, unaccounted for;Vaughan, 
Moses, unaccounted for ; Wilkinson Sam- 
uel, unaccounted for; Watkins, William, 
unaccounted for; Webber, Louis, unac- 
counted for; Watson, Frank, discharged, 
date unknown, disabilit}'; Wilson, Dick, un- 
accounted for; Williams, Nathan, unac- 
counted for; Williams, George, unaccounted 
for; Williams, David, unaccounted for; 
Williams, Lewis, unaccounted for; Weltz, 
John, unnaccounted for; Williamson, Benja- 



min, unaccounted for ; Young, Henry, un- 
accounted for. The Twenty-eighth regi- 
ment. United States Colored Troops, 
as at first organized in April, 1864, 
formed a part of Indiana's quota, and 
did valuable service in the field, especially 
in the campaign against Petersburgh, dur- 
ing the summer and fall of 1864. 
It lost heavily in the seven engagements in 
which it participated. Its decimated ranks 
were filled with recruits, and after some ac- 
tive field service the regiment was selected 
for duty in the quartermaster's department 
at City Point, at which place it remained 
until called on to assist in operating against 
Richmond. It was among the first organi- 
zations to enter Richmond, and was de- 
tained at Camp Lee for three days. From 
there it was sent to City Point, to take 
charge of prisoners. Here it remained 
until the Twenty-fifth corps, to which it be- 
longed, was ordered to Texas, when it pro- 
ceeded to Brazos Santiago, where it 
arrived Jul}' i, 1S65. It remained some time 
at Indianola, and then at Corpus Christi, 
until mustered out of service November 8, 
1865. 

Recruits for Eighth Regiment Iiifantry, 
United States Colored Troops. — Austin, 
John, unaccounted for; Berry, Daniel, unac- 
counted for; Blain, Manuel, unaccounted for; 
Baxter, Aaron, unaccounted for; Berry, 
Benjamin, unaccounted for; Cannon, Sam- 
uel J., unaccounted for; Calvin Alfred, unac- 
counted for ; Davis, George, unaccounted for; 
Dodd, Abe, unaccounted for; Farquar, 
Lafayette, unaccounted for; Goeus, James, 
unaccounted for; Givens, Jasper, unaccounted 
for; Henry, John, unaccounted for; Hamil- 
ton, James, unaccounted for; Johnson, Ben- 
jamin, unaccounted for; Johnson, Nelson, 
unaccounted for; Johnson, Samuel, unac- 
counted for; Johnson, Joseph, unaccounted 
for; Morton, Thomas, unaccounted for; 



5Vt 



MILITAB Y HISTOR Y. 



Morgan, George, unaccounted for; McCoy, 
Spencer, unaccounted for; Moore, Robert, 
unaccounted for; Parker, George, unac- 
counted for; Smith, Horace, unaccounted 
for; Suttlemeir, Augustus, died, date un- 
known; Tyler, Ciiarles, unaccounted for; 
Washington, George P., unaccounted for; 
Wilson, William, unaccounted for; Williams, 
John, unaccounted for. 

(J)!assig)icd Colored Recriiils. — Bell, 
Emanuel, substitute, unaccounted for; 
Brown, George, substitute, unaccounted for; 
Gibson, Samuel, substitute, unaccounted for; 
Johnston, Preston, substitute, unaccounted for; 
Perkins, Abe, substitute, unaccounted for; 
Thompson, Ross, substitute, unaccounted 
for; McKinney, Alexander, substitute, un- 
accounted for; Richard, Preston, substitute, 
unaccounted for. 

Miscellaneous List of Officers and Men. — 
At the outbreak of the war there was such 
a general desire to enhst, that many men in 
the county of Vanderburgh, and especially 
in the city of Evansville, were unable to get 
their names on the rolls of companies being 
formed at home, and joined the organiza- 
tions of other counties and of other states. 
A captain who had failed to get his company 
into the organizations of our own state, 
busied himself in negotiating for an attach- 
ment to some regiment belonging to a neigh- 
boring state, and if he succeeded was 
considered fortunate. In the spring of 1861 
there was a ver}' strong complaint, which 
found its way into the press, that Indiana 
was not allowed to furnish her just propor- 
tion of the troops needed. The prominent 
public men were called to account for their 
failure to look after the interests of the 
people. Because of this it is impossible to 
say how manj^ men Vanderburgh county 
gave to the nation in the hour of its peril. 
They were accredited to other localities, and 
it is not possible to record their names here. 



Later in the war many recruits obtained 
by voluntarj' enrollment and by the draft, 
were unassigned, and the muster out rolls 
fail to afford information as to their places 
of residence. Indeed, many cases appear 
where men rendered valuable and honorable 
service, such as entitles them to the grateful 
remembrance of the present generation, 
the beneficiaries of their heroic endeavors, 
and yet because of a failure on the part of 
the mustering officer to make a record of 
the soldier's residence it is impossible to 
write their names in the account of what 
Vanderburgh county did in the war of 
1S61-5. The following is a list of such 
officers and men as have not heretofore 
received mention, and is as accurate and 
complete as it is possible to secure: Com- 
pany F, Ninth regiment — Douglas, Lee, 
drafted 1864, mustered out August 20 > 
1S65; Kaiser, Frederick, drafted 1864, 
mustered out August 20, 1865; Maffit, John 
J., drafted 1864, died at Indianola, Tex., 
August 7, 1865; Skeels, Daniel, drafted 
1S64, mustered out August 20, 1865. 
Company H, Ninth regiment — Farney, 
Adam, drafted 1864, mustered out 
August 13, 1865; Pifer, Ignatius, 
drafted, 1865, not mustered out; Yates, 
Edward, drafted 1864, mustered out 
September 11, 1865; Easton, Daniel, sub- 
stitute, 1864, mustered out September 28, 
1865; Ramsey, John, substitute, 1864, died 
September 13, 1865; Tafel, Albert, substi- 
tute, 1864, mustered out 1S65. Company 
C, Twelfth Regiment — Duske}-, James, 
drafted 1864, transferred to Fifty-ninth regi- 
ment. Thirteenth Regiment — In this or- 
ganization Dr. Isaac N. Craig served as 
surgeon from July 16, 1863, until August 2, 
1S64, when mustered out at the expiration 
of his term. WilHam Riley served in Com- 
pan)- H of this regiment as a private from 
January 20 to September 5, 1865. Seven- 



OTHER OFFICERS AND MEN. 



5J^ 



teenth Regiment — In Company G, Philip 
Hill was second and first lieutenant from 
February 4, 1S65, until mustered out with 
the regiment. June 12, 1861, the following 
were enrolled as priv-ates in Company D : 
Brinkman, Frederick, veteran, mustered 
out August 8, 1865; Cell, Charles, not mus- 
tered out; Donley, John, not mustered out; 
Gensman, Jacob, mustered out June 20, 
1864; Guise, William, not mustered out; 
Koontz, John, not mustered out; Long, 
George W., discharged October 28, 1861, 
disability. At the same time the following 
were enrolled as privates in Company F: 
Herse, Henry, transferred to Veteran Re- 
serve corps; Maguire, Alexander, not mus- 
tered out; March, Joseph, transferred to 
Company K, mustered out June 20, 1864; 
Melcher, John F., transferred to Fourth 
United States artillery December, 1862; 
JNIiller, Frank, transferred to Company K; 
Sheoffer, Andrew, transferred to Fourth 
United States artillery, December, 1862. 
In Company H the two first named below 
were enrolled as privates January 12, 1864, 
and the two last named came to the com- 
pany as recruits in February, 1864: Holtman 
John, veteran, mustered out August 8, 1865; 
McClure, James N., veteran, mustered out 
August 8, 1865; McCutchan, Marcus C, 
mustered out August 8, 1865; Smith, Will- 
iam, mustered out Ma}-^ 31, 1864. 

Company C, Twentieth regiment — Joseph 
Gaul was transferred as a veteran to this 
company from the Seventh regiment, Janu- 
ary 3, 1864, and was mustered out Jul)' 12, 
1865. 

Twenty-first regiment — Dr. Isaac T. 
Conn was commissioned assistant sur- 
geon June 5, 1865; Henry Henning and 
Robert Stinson joined Company D as 
recruits, April 6, 1864, and were 
mustered out January 13, 1866. 

T-Mcnty-sccond Regiment. — • In the fall of 



1864, this regiment received many of its re- 
cruits from Vanderburgh county. The fif- 
teen first named below were assigned to 
Company B, the two succeeding these to 
Company F, the nine next thereafter to 
Company G, and the remaining seventeen 
to Company K: Davis, Benjamin, mus- 
tered out Jul}' 24, 1865, term expired; 
Gable, Joseph, drafted, mustered out 
October 14, 1865; Harve}-, George, drafted, 
never reported; Kalkman, August, drafted, 
mustered out Julj^ 24, 1865, term expired; 
Kendall, William C, drafted, mustered out 
July 24, 1865, term expired; Kohler, Nich- 
olas, drafted, never reported to company; 
Korhessel, Frank, drafted, never reported 
to company; Kohlmire, Fred, drafted, never 
reported to company; Kohler, August, 
drafted, mustered out July 24, 1865, term 
expired; Lamb, Isaac L., drafted, never re- 
ported to company; Reno, William H., 
drafted, mustered out July 24, 1865, term 
expired; Ruark, Davis, drafted, mustered 
out July 24, 1865, term expired; Weston, 
Stephen, drafted, mustered out July 24, 1865, 
term expired; Whitman, Adam, drafted, 
mustered out July 24, 1S65, term expired; 
Wilkerson, James F., drafted, mustered 
out July 24, 1S65, term expired; Monhol- 
land, Owen, mustered out July 24, 1865, 
term expired ; Ude, Henry, drafted, mustered 
out July 3, 186.S; Gates, Jacob, mustered 
out July 24, 1865, term expired; 
Meyer, Henry P., drafted, never reported to 
company; Mathew, John, mustered out July 
24, 1S65, term expired; Mayall, Malphus, 
substitute, mustered out July 24, 1865, term 
expired; Padgett, William B., substitute, 
mustered out Juh' 18, 1865; Phillips, Ed- 
ward, drafted, mustered out July 24, 1865, 
term expired; Powell, Squire, drafted, mus- 
tered out July 13, 1865; Rader, John, 
drafted, never reported to company; Rice, 
James C, drafted, never reported to com- 



5^6 



MILITARY HISTOB Y. 



pan\-; Bonke, John, drafted, mustered out 
July 24, 1865, term expired; Brandenburgh, 
Frederick, substitute, mustered out July 24, 
1865, term expired; Mulligan, James, sub- 
stitute, mustered out July 24, 1865, term -ex- 
pired; Smith, John, substitute, mustered out 
July 24, 1865, term expired; Smart, Alfred, 
drafted, mustered out July 24, 1865, term 
expired; Stinchfield, Mark, drafted, mus- 
tered out July 24, 1865, term expired; 
Snyder, Philip, drafted, mustered out Jul}' 
24, 1865, term expired; Stohl, Felix, 
drafted, mustered out Jul}- 24, 1865, term 
expired; Stuckmann, Frederick, drafted, 
mustered out July 24, 1865, term expired; 
Schmadel, August, drafted, mustered out 
Jul}' 24, 1865, term expired; Shrotguth, 
Frederick, mustered out May 25, 1865; 
Sharum, Cornelius, mustered out May 22, 
1865; Tyser, Henry, drafted, mustered out 
July 24, 18655 term expired; Trautreter, 
Traugott, mustered out June i, 1865; Wal- 
ter, Frederick, substitute, mustered put 
July 24, 1865, term expired; Williams, 
John L., substitute, mustered out July 24, 
1865, term expired; Wilcox, George 
W., mustered out May, 25, 1865; 
Hiram F. Wilson, as substitute, was assigned 
to the Eight3--second regiment, and after- 
ward to Company I, of this regiment, and 
mustered out July 24, 1865. 

Tzvcnty-sixth Reg-iiiieiit. — Parvin, John, 
recruit Companj' E, 1864, mustered out 
January 11, 1866; Sissell, Erastus, recruit 
Company F, mustered out September 6, 
1865, drafted 1864; Goldsmith, Frederick, 
recruit Company H; Staub, Frederick, re- 
cruit Company I, 1864, mustered out Janu- 
ary 15, 1866. 

Tzvcntv-ninth I^co-iinenf. — Grundman, 
William H., substitute. Company A, 1S64, 
mustered out October 21, 1865. 

Thirtieth Regiment, Reorganized. — Les- 
lie, James P., private Company A, died at 



Victoria, Tex., November 9, 1865; Stewart, 
Mark C, private Companj- A, mustered out 
November 8, 1865; Taber, Henderson, pri- 
vate Company A, mustered out October 23, 
1865; Vanderhoof, John, private Company 
A, mustered out October 23, 1865; Wood, 
Charles W., substitute, Company A, not 
mustered out; Wilson, David, private, Com- 
pany A, never reported to the company; 
Rapple, John, private, Company E, mustered 
out June 23, 1S65; Seuff, WiUiam, sergeant, 
Company F, mustered out November 25, 
1865; Harter, Henrj-, substitute. Company 
G, mustered out October 13, 1865. 

Thirty-first Regiment. — All in the list 
below, with three exceptions, were recruits, 
in Company C, joining it in 1864. The last 
in the list belonged to Company I, and the 
two preceding the last to Company F : Boof- 
man, Henry, drafted, never mustered out; 
Beck, Samuel, drafted, mustered out 
August 18, 1865; Blackburn, Cyrus, 
drafted, mustered out December 8, 1865; 
Coon, John, drafted, mustered out August 
18, 1865; Emer}', William, drafted, mus- 
tered out August 18, 1865; Frelinghuysen 
Frank, drafted, mustered out August 18, 
1865; Gastenfelt, John, drafted, mustered 
out August 18, 1865; Kemberle, Charles, 
drafted, mustered out August 18, 1865; 
Johnson, John R., drafted, died at Camp 
Harker, Tenn., May 11, 1865; Martin, 
James S., substitute, never mustered out; 
McKinnis, John R., drafted, mustered out 
August 18, 1865; Queen, Elijah, drafted, 
mustered out August 18, 1865; Richard, 
John R., drafted, never mustered out; 
Sterm, Jacob, drafted, mustered out Decem- 
ber 8, 1865; Slicer, William, drafted, mus- 
tered out November 16, 1865 ; Wilkinson, 
James B., substitute, mustered out Novem- 
ber 16, 1865; Zint, George, mustered out 
November 15, 1S65; Smoak, John, drafted, 
mustered out October 20, 1865 ; Strah, 



OTHER OFFICERS AND MEN. 



5Jfl 



Andrew, drafted, mustered out December 
8, 1865 ; Saltzman, John, drafted, mustered 
out October 17, 1865. 

Thirl Y - third Regiment. — Shepherd, 
James L. B., recruit. Company B, vet- 
eran, mustered out July 21, 1865; Robin- 
son, John A., recruit, Company C, substi- 
tute, mustered out July 21, i86S- 

Thirt\-cight Regiment. — Bower, Freder- 
ick, substitute, 1864, mustered out July 15, 
1865; Hill, James N., drafted, mustered out 
July 15, 1S65; Hook, John, substi- 
tute, mustered out July 15, 1S65; 
Kramer, August, drafted, mustered out July 
15, 1S65; Kohn, Leo, substitute, mustered 
out July 15, 1865; Miller, Henry, drafted, 
mustered out July 15, 1865; Mank, Austin, 
mustered out July 15, 1865 ; Sartore, Andrew, 
substitute, mustered out July 15, 1S65; Til- 
man, Henry, drafted, mustered out July 15. 
1865; Vouble, Henry, substitute, mustered 
out July 15, 1865; Winternheimer, Jacob, 
substitute, mustered out July 15, 1865 ; Her- 
mann, Christian, substitute, mustered out 
July 15, 1865; Kattenbocher, John, substi- 
tute, mustered out July 15, 1865. The 
above were in Company C, as recruits, ex- 
cept the two last named, who were in Com- 
pany E. In the following list the first named 
fifteen were in Company G, and the remain- 
ing twenty-seven were in Company I: Ax, 
WiUiam A. H., drafted, never reported to 
company; Ax, Joseph, drafted, mustered 
out June 29, 1865; Althouse, John A., 
drafted, mustered out June 7, 1865 ; Bennett, 
David J., drafted, died at Jeffersonville, Jan- 
uary' 18, 1S65; Pendall, Jefferson, drafted, 
mustered out July 15, 1865; Richardson, 
Edward, drafted, never reported to com- 
pany-; Stewart, Peter, drafted, never reported 
to company; Stallings, Henry C, drafted, 
discharged by order war department: 
Stallings, James W. H., drafted, lost on 
steamer Sultana; Schnarr, Henry, drafted, 
83 



mustered out July 15, 1865; Smith, Rich- 
ard, drafted, mustered out July 15, 1865 ; 
Smith, Henry G., substitute, mustered out 
July 15, 1S65 ; Sollaman, John IL, drafted, 
never reported to company; Stotts, John L., 
drafted, died at Ringgold, Ga., February 
9, 1865; Underbill, John, drafted, died at 
Ringgold, Ga., February 26, 1865 ; Bias, 
James S., drafted, mustered out July 15, 
1895; Coroline, George, died at Savannah, 
Ga., February 28, 1865 ; Cartiniel, James, 
died at Bridgeport, Ala., March i, 1865 ; 
Donaldson, Abraham, drafted, never re- 
ported to company ; Davis, Philip, drafted, 
mustered out June 20, 1865 ; Everett, 
George W., drafted, never reported to com- 
pany ; Emerson, Thomas, drafted, never re- 
ported to company; Fisher, Thomas, 
drafted, died at Chattanooga, February 21, 
1865 ; Ferguson, Thomas, drafted, mustered 
out June 29, 1865 ; Fillinger, John, drafted, 
mustered out June 29, 1865 ; Fishall, 
Henry, mustered out June 22, 1865; Good- 
night, John, substitute, never reported to 
company; Garder, VViUiam, substitute, never 
reported to compaay; Goodage, James L., 
substitute, died at Bridgeport, Ala., 
January 9, 1865 ; Green, David R., died 
at Chattanooga, January 7, 1S65 ; Gar- 
rett, John, mustered out June 7, 1865 ; 
Hall, John, substitute, never reported to com- 
pany; Harmon, Reuben, mustered out June 
7, 1865; McDonald, James A., drafted, mus- 
tered out June 29, 1865 ; Mayne, Philip, 
mustered out June 29, 1865 ; Palmer, Zach- 
ariah, drafted, mustered out June 29, 1865 ; 
Prechler, Joseph, drafted, mustered out June 
29, 1865; Stafford, William, mustered out 
July 15, 1865 ; Stowe, Charles D., mustered 
out June 29, 1S65 ; Tonna, Elias P., mus- 
tered out June 29, 1865; Wade, John, 
drafted, mustered out June 29, 1865; Ward, 
George W. R., drafted, mustered out June 
29, 1865 ; Isaac Brown was a substitute in 



5i8 



MILITARY HISTOR Y. 



Company H, of this regiment, serving from 
November lo, 1864, to Jul}'^ 15, 1865. 

Forty-fourth Regiment. — In this regi- 
ment Dr. Isaac N. Plummer served as as- 
sistant surgeon from March i, 1865, to Sep- 
tember 14, 1865. The following recruits 
joined company D in October, 1864: Cook, 
Andrew J., drafted, mustered out July 25, 
1865; Fisher, Matthias, substitute, mustered 
out September 14, 1865; Flack, Simon, 
drafted, mustered out Jul}' 25, 1865; Irons, 
John, drafted, mustered out July 25, 1865: 
Kennedy, Charles, substitute, mustered out 
September 14, 1865. 

Forty-ninth Regiment. — Manhall, James, 
recruit company C, served April i, to Sep- 
tember 13, 1865. 

Fifty-first Regiment. — • Buckthal, Her- 
man, Company E, private and sergeant, 
served December 14, 1861, to December 13, 

186S. 

Fifty fourth Regiment {Jhrcc montlis'). — 
In this organization L. Gilbert Knox ren- 
dered service as major and lieutenant 
colonel, being mustered out with the regi- 
ment in September, 1S62. 

Fifty-seventh Regiment. — Smith, Freder- 
ick G., recruit Company H, missing in 
action at Franklin, November 30, 1864. 

Fifty-eighth Regiment. — Ruston, Thomas, 
iirst lieutenant. Company A, commissioned 
September i, 1864. mustered out July 25, 
1865; Halt, Horace A., first lieutenant and 
captain Company K, commissioned Febru- 
ary 13, 1865, and June 28, 1865, mustered 
out July 25, 1865; Jones, James H., musi- 
cian Company' B, served November 12, 
1861, to November 11, 1864; Howard, Geo. 
W., Company F, mustered out July 25, 1865. 

Fifty-ninth Regiment. — Samuel M. 
Blackburn, Andrew A. Scales and John 
Wilder were drafted, mustered into Com- 
pany G, of this regiment December 8, 
1864, ^"d mustered out July 17, 1865. 



Sixty-third Regiment. — In May, 1862, 
the following men were mustered into Com- 
pany A, of this regiment to serve three 
years: Mitchell, Edward J., sergeant and 
private, mustered out May 3, 1865; 
Bounds, Andrew L., not mustered out; 
Keisch, Jacob, mustered out May 3, 1865, 
term expired; Nightingale, Robeit F., trans- 
ferred to Eighteenth United States infantry; 
Unfried, Franz, mustered out May 3, 1865, 
term expired. 

Eightieth Regiment. — Hon. Charles 
Denby, one of Evansville's most prominent 
men, and now United States minister to 
China, was colonel of this regiment from 
October i, 1862, to January 17, 1863, when 
he resigned. Alonzo Coleman served as a 
private in Company G from August 14, 
1862, to April 10, 1863, and John Bucken- 
berger as a private in Company F from 
October 3, 1863, to June 22, 1865. 

Eleventh Cavalry ( One Hundred and 
Tznentv-sixth) Regiment — Abram Sharra 
was commissioned lieutenant colonel May 9, 
1864, and colonel May 10, 1865, remaining 
in command till the regiment was mustered 
out September 28, 1865. 

One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Regiment 
— Brock, Christian, private Company E, 
served January 12, 1864, to April 10, 1866. 

Thirteenth Cavalry [^One Hundred and 
Thirty-first Regiment) — Norcross, Daniel 
B., recruit Company H, mustered out as 
corporal November 13, 1865. 

One Hundred and Fortieth Regiment — 
Winkles, Jasper N., recruit Company C, 
mustered out July 11, 1865. 

Seventh Battery Light Artillery — Will- 
iam Stokes, already mentioned in connection 
with the Eighth battery, was captain of this 
organization from April 11, 1865, to July 
20, 1865. Louis Weisenthal was its second 
lieutenant from May i, 1865, to July 20, 
1865. 



INDIANA LEGION. 



5]fi 



Indiana Le_<>[ion. — When the rebel forces 
first offered resistance to national authority, 
and fired upon the national fla<f, the militia 
of this state had not been organized for 
thirty years, and the fragmentary laws 
passed at various times, and remaining un- 
repealed, were of no force or effect what- 
ever. The legislature, in special' session, 
immediately provided for the organization 
and regulation of the militia. In the organ- 
ization as effected, with Maj. Gen. John 
Love as commander-in-chief, the only gen- 
eral officer from Vanderburgh count}- was 
Bh'the Hynes, who was afterward provost 
marshal, fourteenth district, and later major 
One Hundred and Thirty-sixth regiment. 
The Vanderburgh count)' forces formed the 
Second regiment, First brigade. Second divis- 
ion of the Legion. Carl Schmitt, as major 
and aide-de-camp, was among the division 
officers. Gen. James E. Blythe, a well- 
know.i citizen, rose to the command of the 
brigade, and died during service. The staff 
officers were: William H. Walker, major 
and inspector; Thomas E. Garvin, major 
and judge advocate; Victor Bisch, major 
and paymaster ; Martin Klauss, major and 
chief of artillery ; Cyrus K. Drew, captain 
and aide-de-camp. The field and staff offi- 
cers of the Second regiment, at various 
times, were: James E. Blythe, colonel ; Will- 
iam E. HoUingsworth, colonel ; Victor Bisch, 
colonel ; John T. Walker, lieutenant colonel ; 
William E. HoUingsworth, lieutenant colonel; 
Henry C. Gwathney, lieutenant colonel 
Morris S.Johnson, major; John H. Sonntag, 
adjutant; Charles S. Wells, quartermaster; 
Robert Earley, quartermaster; Joseph P. 
Elliott, ([uartermaster. The following were 
the officers in the companies of the regi- 
ment, and the dates of organization: Jack- 
son artillery, July 15, 1861 — August Ellis, 
captain; Albert Runroth, first Heutenant; 
Charles Edelman, second heutenant. Van- 



derburgh Greys, August 9, 1861 — Victor 
Bisch, captain; Jesse W. Walker, first lieu- 
tenant; Adolph Pfafflin, first lieutenant; 
T. W. Simpson, second lieutenant. Union 
artillerj-, September 21, 1861 — George 
Cochran, captain; James Taj lor, captain; 
John J. Haj-es, first lieutenant; John How- 
den, first lieutenant; James Taylor, second 
lieutenant; Thomas W. Hopkins, second 
lieutenant. McCiellan Guards, October 14, 
1S61 — William Reitz, captain, William 
Leonard, first lieutenant; Thornton P. 
Males, second lieutenant. Evansville Artil- 
lery, October 14, 1861 — W. H. Chandler, 
captain; F. W. Cook, first lieutenant and 
captain; John Nurre, first lieutenant; George 
H. Stockwell, second lieutenant; C. L. 
Scott, second lieutenant. Goodsellville Rifle 
Guards, September 18, 1S62 — Henry 
Brumelhaus, captain; John Reich, first lieu- 
tenant; A. McCutcheon, second heutenant. 
Evansville Rifles, October i, 1861— Will- 
iam E. French, captain; C. H. Butterfield, 
first lieutenant; I. Haas, second lieutenant. 
City Guards, October i, 1861 — William 
Gwyn, captain; R. S. Hornbrook, first lieu- 
tenant; B. H.Griffith, second lieutenant. Em- 
met Guards, October 12, 1861 — Thomas D. 
Smith, captain; James M. Keever, first lieu- 
tenant ; James Filzwilliams, second lieutenant. 
Brownlow Guards, October 14, 186 1 — P. G. 
O'Reilly, captain; Oscar Miles, captain; 
Edward S. Martin, first Heutenant; B. F. 
Tribble, second lieutenant. Centre Rangers, 
September iS, 1S62 — Alex Kirkpatrick, 
captain; James Erskine, first lieutenant; 
Lee Douglass, second lieutenant. Perry 
Rangers, September 18, 1862 — Will- 
iam Collins, captain; Henry Weitze, 
first lieutenant; Christian Ochenforth, 
second lieutenant. Armstrong Guards, 
September 18, 1862 — Joseph A. Pruitt, 
captain; George Huffman, first Heuten- 
ant; Balthus Meyer, second lieutenant. 



550 



MILITARY HISTORY. 



Washington Guards, September i8, 1862, 
— John Kraft, captain; Robert Header, first 
lieutenant; C. Becker, second lieutenant. 
City Blues, September 18, 1862 — John 
Greek, captain; Fred Sharpe, captain; A. 
H. Jones, first lieutenant; Valentine Schmitz, 
second lieutenant. Evansville Guards, 
September 18, 1862 — J. G. Sauer, captain; 
George Houston, William Sauer, second 
lieutenants. Morton Guards, September 18, 
1862 — J. P. Carson, captain; B. H. Griflith, 
captain; John Wymond, first lieutenant; 
Matthew Henning, second lieutenant. 
Brownlow Guards, September 18, 1862 — 
Emil Schoenlaub, captain; Henry L. 
Mitchell, first lieutenant; J. D. Payne, first 
lieutenant; John D. Payne, second lieuten- 
ant; Charles L. Reese, second lieutenant. 
Grey Jaegers, September 18, 1862 — John 
Monk, captain; Casper Schelhouse, first 
lieutenant; Charles Ritter, second lieutenant. 
Crescent City Light-Horsemen, September 
18, 1862 — B. A. Kinsey, captain; A. J. 
Dennis, first lieutenant; J. H. Morgan, 
second lieutenant. Sigel's batterj^ Septem- 
ber 18, 1862 — Albert Rimroth, captain; 
B. W. Waldkinch, first lieutenant; William 
E. Boepple, second lieutenant. Vander- 
burgh Cavalry Scouts, September ig, 1862 — 
Thomas H. Rucker, captain; E. Mcjohnson, 
first lieutenant; John Whitehead, second 
lieutenant. Darmstadt Guards, October 29, 
1862, F. Richardt, captain; A. Schillinger, 
first lieutenant; E. Maidlow, second lieuten- 
ant. Besides these several companies were 
formed, but were not organized \inder 
lejjion law. A battalion of the Second resri- 
ment was formed of the following compa- 
nies: Crescent City Tigers, September 18, 
1862 — Joseph J. Reitz, captain; William 
Leonard, first lieutenant, John Haney, 
second lieutenant. Union Guards, Septem- 
ber 18,1862 — WilHam Martin, captain, S. R 
Neal, first lieutenant, Louis Kamp, second 



lieutenant. Knight Township Rangers, Sep- 
tember 18, 1862— Edward S. Morris, captain, 
John Hall, first lieutenant and captain, 
Thomas J. Linn, second and first lieutenant, 
Samuel Granger, second lieutenant. Bot- 
tom Rangers, September 18, 1862 — James 
L. Gardner, captain, J. W. Irvin, first lieu- 
tenant, Henderson Reese, second Heutenant. 
Aluvia Guards, September 18, 1S62 — B. 
F. Williamson, captain,- EH Gerard, first 
lieutenant, John Robinson, second lieutenant. 
McClellan Guards, September 18,1862 — 
George Muntzer, captain, John Holland, first 
lieutenant, Henry Jacobs, second lieutenant. 
Evansville Rifles, September 18, 1862 — 
William H. Walker, captain, I. Haas, first 
lieutenant and captain, B. F. Tribble, second 
and first lieutenant, Caleb Davidson, second 
lieutenant. Scott Guards, October 29, 1862 
— Francis Talbot, captain, A. McCutchan, 
first lieutenant, Richard Ruston, second lieu- 
tenant. Sigel Guards, October 29, 1862 — 
Joseph Venemann, captain, Charles Lenne- 
man, first lieutenant, August Schafer, second 
lieutenant. Independent Guards, Octo- 
ber 29, 1862 — Alexander Simpson, captain, 
James P. Swift, first lieutenant, Philip Koch, 
first lieutenant, Henry Reitman, second lieu- 
tenant. Of this battalion WilHam H. 
Walker, jr., was commissioned major April 
9, 1864, but on May 22d following he en- 
tered the United States service as lieuten- 
ant colonel of the One Hundred and Thirty- 
sixth regiment. 

Services of the Legion. — As fast as or- 
ganized companies were supplied with arms 
and accoutrements, drills were frequent, 
and, for some time, attended with such 
promptness and regularity that the com- 
mand, in a few months, attained a highly 
creditable proficiency in company and bat- 
talion movements. Important service was 
rendered in keeping alive the martial spirit, 
promoting genuine loyalty, and preventing 



INDIANA LEGION. 



invasions and raids. The city of Evansville 
owed its immunity from guerilla incursions 
to the fact, well known on the opposite side 
of the river, that one thousand of her citi- 
zens, armed, equipped and organized, could 
have been called from their beds and 
formed in line of battle in thirty minutes 
from the first sound of alarm. The officers 
and men in this branch of the service dis- 
plaved such patriotic zeal as to entitle them 
to the lasting gratitude of their fellow- 
citizens. 

During the occupation of Bowling Green 
and Russellville, Ky., b}- Buckner's com- 
mand, frequent demonstrations were made 
in the direction of the Ohio river, threatening 
the destruction of the locks on Green river 
and the capture of the city of Henderson. 
At one time a force was detailed by order of 
Gen. Buckner to destroy the first lock. A 
regiment of volunteers marched for the pro- 
tection of the lock, accompanied by a detail 
of artillery from Col. Hollingsworth's 
command. They succeeded in pro- 
tecting the threatened point, and 
held possession of this important place 
for several days. Other demonstrations 
were constantly threatening th© securitj- of 
Evansville, and scouting parties were sent 
into Kentucky and up and down the Ohio 
river to ascertain the position, numbers and 
purposes, so far as possible, of rebel forces 
in the vicinity. Guards were posted at 
various approaches to the city, and the com- 
mand was held in readiness to repel an 
attack at any moment. The disastrous ter- 
mination of McClellan's and Pope's Vir- 
ginia campaigns encouraged the rebels to 
renew their operations in Kentucky, and 
guerillas again made their appearance on 
the border. Henderson was threatened, and 
in several cases details were sent from Col. 
HoUingsworth's command to support a small 
force of Union troops stationed there. Adam 



Johnson's raid on Newburgh, in July 1862, 
was the occasion for fresh alarm. During 
the day of the raid a courier arrived at 
Evansville with intelligence that the New- 
burgh hospital was being sacked by a large 
band of Kentucky guerillas. The' signal of 
danger was given, and in less than an hour 
1,000 men were under arms. Two steam- 
ers, the " Eugene " and " Courier " were 
fired up and, with infantry and artillery on 
board, proceeded up the river. Col. Hol- 
lingsworth, with a small force of mounted 
men, also proceeded by land to the scene of 
disturbance, but neither the water or 
land expedition effected an3thing beyond 
the destruction by the former of the boat in 
which the rebels had crossed and re-crossed 
the river. 

September 21, 1S62, Col. Hollingsworth, 
with five companies, proceeded to Owens- 
boro, Ky., to aid in repelling an attack, but 
returned without having an opportunity to 
meet the enemy. On the return trip a 
sergeant of Company A accidentally shot 
himself through the head, producing instant 
death. The Morgan raid, in July, 1S63, 
created intense excitement in Vanderburgh 
county. Every company in the county ral- 
lied, with full ranks, and going into camp, 
awaited orders until it became evident that 
the first brigade could not be used against 
the enemy. During the early part of 1864, 
the duties of the regiment were exxeedingly 
onerous, because of frequent and heavy de- 
tails for guard dut}- in protecting the border 
from invasion. In May one conipanv and 
parts of several others volunteered for the 
one hundred davs" service. Col. Hollintrs- 
worth occupied a captaincy in the United 
States service, leaving Lieut. Col. Victor 
Bisch — subsequently appointed colonel — 
in command. The most important feature 
of its service subsequent to this time was its 
participating in the expedition into Ken- 



552. 



MI LIT A R Y HIS TOE Y. 



tuck}- under Gen. Alvin P. Hovey and 
James Hughes, to rout Johnson and Seipert. 
These rebels had planned an invasion of 
southern Indiana, but by the prompt and 
brave conduct of the men who marched 
against them, were put to flight near Mor- 
gansfield, Kj'., with a loss of three officers 
and thirty men captured. 

T/ie Caftiire of John Morgan. — The 
famous invasion of Indiana in 1S63, by 
Gen. John Morgan, the famous rebel ranger, 
was intended to break railroad communi- 
cation, attract much of the military attention 
to himself, and prepare for the capture of 
Louisville and Cincinnati b}- Gen. Buckner. 
He succeeded in doing an immense amount 
of damage, in levying large sums of 
money, and most of all, creating wonderfully 
wide-spread alarm throughout southern In- 
diana, nearly every town of which feared 
attack. During the fall and winter of 1862, 
the cavalry command of Col. J. M. Shackel- 
ford, stationed in Kentucky, was frequently 
engaged with the guerillas. Some time 
thereafter William Davenport, of Hopkins- 
ville, Ky., an old friend of President Lincoln, 
went to Washington, and in conversation 
with the president concerning the depreda- 
tions of John Morgan, said that if Col. 
Shackelford were made a brigadier general 
he would guarantee the great guerilla's cap- 
ture. Col. Shackelford was then nominated 
as a brigadier general by the president, and 
unanimously confirmed by the senate. He 
was placed in command of the First Brigade, 
Second Division, Twenty-third Army Corps, 
and commanded the chase after Morgan, on 
the 27th day of June, 1863. From Russell- 
ville, Ky., he moved to Glasgow, thence to 
Marrowbone. From thence he pressed 
on to Lebanon, at which place Gen. 
Hobson turned his brigade over to Gen. 
Shackelford and assumed command of all 
the forces. A rapid advance was made 



from Lebanon to Springfield; thence to 
Bardstown and Brandensburg. When 
within two miles of Brandensburg, the pur- 
suing forces discovered the smoke arising 
from the burning transports that had set the 
enemy across the river, and heard his shouts 
of triumph. Twenty-four hours were lost 
in obtaining transports and crossing the 
river. But when once across the river, the 
pursuit was eagerly resumed. Swift march 
was made through Indiana to Harrison, 
Ohio. The pnrsuit was continued day and 
night. At length, on Jul}' 19, near Buffing- 
ton's Island, the report of artillery was 
heard. Officers and men, notwithstanding 
the immense fatigue they had undergone, 
seemed to be inspired with new li^e and 
energ}-, and there was a general rush for- 
ward. The enemy was soon found 
in force. Lines were immediatel}'^ 
formed, and a battle was commenced. 
After fighting about an hour the cavalry 
charged and drove the enemy in confusion. 
Immediately a flag of truce came from Col. 
Dick Morgan. No terms but an immedi- 
ate and unconditional surrender would be 
considered, and with their commands. Cols. 
Morgan, Ward and Smith marched within 
the Union lines. The commana was moved 
up the river about fifteen miles, where Gen. 
John Morgan, with his forces, was found in 
a deep ravine. An attack was not made 
that da}', and during the night the enemy 
slipped out by a path, and by daylight was 
four miles in advance of Gen. Shackelford. 
The general at once gave chase, and ran 
Morgan fifty-seven miles. Several skirm- 
ishes took place, and the enemy was brought 
to a stand on the 20th at Keizer's creek. A 
fight ensued, which lasted one hour. By a 
flank movement, accomplished with great 
rapidity and effectiveness, the only road on 
which Morgan could retreat was taken pos- 
session of. Finding the way of retreat cut 



THE MORGAN BAID. 



553 



off, and being hotly pressed from the front, 
he retired to an immense bluff for refuge. 
A flag was sent up demanding an uncondi- 
tional surrender of Morgan and his command. 
The flag was met by rebel officers, with 
a request for a personal interview with Gen. 
Shackelford, and one hour for consultation 
among their officers. Forty minutes were 
granted, and within that time the whole 
command, excepting Gen. Morgan, with a 
detachment of about 600 officers and men 
who deserted the command, surrendered. 
It was the general understanding that 
Morgan himself had surrendered, but he 
escaped and fled before his pursuer. On 
that day there were captured between 1,200 
and 1,300 men, with their horses, arms, etc. 
On the morning of the 21st, Gen. 
Shackelford called for 1,000 volunteers who 
would stay in their saddles as long as neces- 
sary without eating or sleeping until Morgan 
was captured. The entire command would 
have volunteered bnt for the want of horses. 
With 500 men the chase was resumed. 
Traveling day and night the enemy was 
overtaken on Friday morning the 24th, at 
Washington. The rebel pickets were driven 
in and the entire force driven out of the 
town. One mile east of Washington the 
enemy made a stand in a dense wood. Gen. 
Shackelford's command formed a line of 
battle and soon drove him from his position. 
He fell back two miles, tore up a bridge 
over a rugged stream and took position in 
the woods on a high hill, just beyond the 
stream. Gen. Shackelford's advance moved 
upon his left flank, while a portion of his 
forces crossed the stream above the site of 
the bridge and moved up the hill in face of 
a heavy tire. Steadily they advanced and 
drove the enemy before them. He crossed 
another stream, burned two bridges, and 
caused much delay, but his relentless pur- 
suers succeeded in crossing, and pressed on 



all night. At daylight on the 25th they 
came up with him one mile from Athens. 
They pressed forward and shelled him for 
thirty minutes. He fled to the woods for 
shelter. Maj. Gen. Burnside had sent for- 
ward fresh troops, and issued an order 
placing Gen. Shackelford in command of 
all the forces in pursuit of Morgan. A hot 
pursuit with heavy skirmishing followed. 
The enemy was chased to Richmond, thence 
to Springfield, and on to Hanimondsville. 
Hammondsville was reached at daylight on 
Sabbath morning, the 26th. Learning the 
whereabouts of Morgan, Gen. Shackelford 
placed his forces on the New Lisbon road, 
and continued the pursuit. When he had 
gone about seven miles, he was informed 
by Maj. Rue, then in charge of the advance, 
that he had come up with the enemv. The 
whole column was thrown forward at the 
the utmost speed of the horses. Being 
overtaken, the enemy started to run, and 
was fired upon vigorously. A flag of truce 
was shown, the firing ceased, and Morgan 
asked a personal interview with his captor. 
He claimed to have surrendered to a militia 
captain, who had agreed to parole him, his 
officers and men, and thus tried to avoid his 
inevitable fate. Gen. Shackelford told his 
prisoner that he had followed him thirty 
days and nights; had met and defeated him 
a number of times; had captured nearly all 
his command; that Morgan had acknowl- 
edged that the militia captain was no im- 
pediment to him, but that he knew his 
escape from Shackelford was impossible; 
that on the field with his right and left 
covered and his rear sorely pressed he had 
yielded; and that under these circumstances 
his pretended surrender to a militia captain 
was not only absurd and ridiculous but unfair 
and illecal and would not be recognized. 
Morgan then demanded to be placed back 
upon the field, but the demand was not 



554 



MILITAE Y HISTOE F. 



considered, and with his officers and men he 
was dismounted and disarmed. He was de- 
hvered to Maj. Gen. Burnside at Cincinnati, 
Ohio. The number of prisoners captured 
with Morgan was about 350. 

The Drafts. — Notwithstanding the prompt 
and hberal responses made by the people to 
the nation's call for aid, it became neces- 
sary to resort to the drafts in supplying 
Indiana's quota under the president's third 
call for troops, issued August 4, 1S62, and 
asking for 300,000 men. The deficiency 
due from the state was very small, and it 
soon afterward became known that the state 
had in fact furnished more than her quota ; 
but the account of troops furnished had 
been made up inaccurately and showed many 
townships in arrears on their quotas. The 
governor and leading citizens in all parts of 
the state deplored the necessity of the draft, 
because it was then looked upon as a dis- 
graceful thing, but it was resorted to as the 
only means of equalizing the burdens of 
furnishing the troops. The first draft 
occurred October 6, 1862, the enrollment 
for which was made September 19, at which 
time Vanderburgh county was charged with 
a total militia force of 3,536. To be de- 
ducted from this were 401 exempts, leaving 
3,135 subject to draft. The county was 
credited with 1,550 men then in the service, 
and a total volunteer list of 1,641, the diff- 
erence representing men whose terms had 
expired. When the draft was ordered the 
county was deficient on its quota eighty-one 
men, distributed as follows: Armstrong 
township, nineteen ; Scott township, nineteen ; 
German township, forty-three. 

Under the call of October 17, 1863, for 
300,000 troops, the quota for Vanderburgh 
county was 255, which number was raised 
without draft. Up to July 18, 1864, when 
the call for 500,000 men was made, the 
county was required to furnish 1,353 '" ad- 



dition to those heretofore stated. To offset 
this, there were credits of 1,206 new volun- 
teer recruits, sixty-three veteran re-enlist- 
ments and ninety-seven drafted men, a total 
of 1,366, thus making a surplus of thirteen. 
The president's last call for troops was for 
300,000 men, issued December 19, 1864. 
On the 14th of April, 1865, all efforts to 
raise troops were abandoned. At that date 
the county was charged, on the call last 
mentioned, with a quota of 318 men, and 
was credited with 311 new volunteer re- 
cruits, eight veteran re-enlistments and two 
drafted, thus showing a surplus of three. 
The grand total of men with which Vander- 
burgh county was credited as furnishing for 
the war was 3,664; in this number, however, 
each term of service forms a unit, without 
regard to the fact that two, and sometimes 
three, enlistments were made by the same 
individual at different periods. The draft 
officers in Vanderburgh county in 1862 
were: William E. French, draft commis- 
sioner; Philip C. Decker, marshal; T. C. 
Gale, surgeon. The officers in the provost 
marshal's department for the first con- 
gressional district, appointed under the act 
of congress approved March 3, 1863, vvere 
as follows : Provost marshals — Blythe 
Hynes, appointed May i, 1863, resigned 
May 19, 1864; Cyrus K. Drew, appointed 
May 25, 1864, resigned August i, 1864; 
James W. Wartmann, appointed August 8, 
1864, 'resigned September 5, 1864 5 Alvah 
Johnson, appointed November 22, 1864, 
honorably discharged October 31, 1S65. 
Commissioners — Nathaniel Usher, ap- 
pointed May I, 1863, resigned August 29, 
1864, and James W. Wartmann, appointed 
September 13, 1S64, honorably discharged 
May 8, 1865. Surgeon — William G. Ral- 
ston, appointed May i, 1863, honorably dis- 
charged May 30, 1865. Owing to the 
evident fairness with which the drafts were 



BOUNTY AND RELIEF. 



555 



conducted at Evansville, no resistance 
was offered to prevent their progress. Some 
individual efforts were made to escape tiieir 
consequences; a few, being drafted, success- 
fully evaded the deputy marshals and fled 
from the state; others resorted to strategy, 
with ill success in most cases, to deceive the 
officers; but there was never a riot nor an 
organized effort at opposition to this never 
popular necessity of war. 

Bounty and Relief. — The bounties paid by 
the United States ranged from $iooto $400, 
increasing as the war advanced. Local 
bounties were not necessary at first to stim- 
ulate enlistments. Quotas were filled with- 
out difficulty. Small bounties were paid, 
however, the main purpose being to benefit 
the families of volunteers. Later, when the 
fear of the draft prevailed, enormous local 
bounties were offered bv the county and 
by the townships to induce volunteering. 
The total amount thus expended is shown 
in a table appended below. As soon as the 
first troops had gone to the front means of 
affording substantial relief to their families 
were devised. In this work the county, 
through its board of commissioners, and the 
city, through its council, took an active part. 
But the most efficient sources of relief were 
the people in their individual capacities. 
Special efforts were made to collect all sorts 
of useful articles to be distributed amonc 
the needy. In response to a call made 
through the press, a large number of people 
assembled in Mozart hall on the evening of 
the 2 2d of August, 1861, to adopt a system 
of extending needed aid for as long a period 
as the continuation of the war might deprive 
families of their supporting members. Such 
representative citizens as John S. Hopkins, 
W. T. Page, R. Kehr, William Heilman, 
Anthony Reis, C. Babcock, Philip Horn- 
brook, Dr. Ilallock, and many others, took 
an active part in the proceedings of the 



evening. With few words committees were 
appointed who went to work immediately 
and vigorously in this work of loyalty and 
love. At this time there was no idea of the 
extent to which their strength would be 
tasked, — no idea that the war was to be pro- 
longed through years of suffering to fami- 
Hes left without the acti\e brain and strong 
arms that had been wont to devise means for 
and achieve their dail}^ subsistence. Neverthe- 
less there was no haltinjj. All throusih those 
years the loyal people of Vanderburgh 
county were not for a day unmindful of the 
soldier's family. Perhaps the most notable 
occasion growing out of this work, usually 
done in quiet and without display, was the 
great demonstration of November 14, 1863. 
At this time the farmers of the county were 
thoroughly aroused. They came into the 
city and made a gala daj'. They formed an 
immense procession, with bands of music 
and " jolt-wagons," loaded with wood and 
products of the farm, and went through the 
streets creating genuine patriotic joy in the 
hearts of the throngs that along the line of 
their march came to greet them and bless 
them for their great kindness. Patriotic 
music filled the air; banners and the beloved 
stars and stripes were everywhere to be seen; 
speeches were made by Judge William F. 
Parrett, and Capt. William Reavis, and 
last though not least, a sumptuous repast 
was served to the farmers by Mrs. Dr. 
Walker, Mrs. Mayor Baker, Mrs. Robert 
Early, Miss Victoria Cody and others, who, 
like these were ever ready to aid and encour- 
atre others to aid in the relief work. On 
this occasion 130 wagon loads of wood and 
vast quantities of farm produce of all 
sorts, were delivered to the committee 
for distribution to soldiers' families during 
the cold winter that followed. All who en- 
gaged in this work proved their patriotism 
and earned the continued gratitude, not only 



556 



MILITARY HISTOE Y. 



of the direct beneficiaries of their acts, but 
also of every loyal person. After the war 
closed, the county continued to spend vast 
sums of money to properly care for disabled 
soldiers and for soldiers' widows and or- 
phans whose circumstances would otherwise 
have driven them to the shelterinjr roof of 
the poor-house. The vast sum given by 
individuals during and after the war period, 
of which no account was kept, can never be 
estimated in dollars and cents. In addition 
to the intrinsic value of these gifts the good 
they did in encouraging the despondent and 
filling sad hearls with the bright sunshine of 
happiness can not be reckoned by any sys- 
tem of mathe"i:itics yet discovered by human 
reason. The following statement shows the 
amounts of bounties and relief afforded by 
the county and townships in their official 
capacities : 



Vanderburgh county. 

Pigeon township. 

Knight " 

Scott " 

Armstrong ** . ,. . 

Perry " . 

Union •' 

Center " . .. . 

German " 

All the townships . . . 



Total 

Grand total. 



Bounty. 



$60,000 00 
70,000 00 
5,300 00 
7, 140 00 
5,490 00 
5,800 00 
4,550 00 
5,410 00 
7>475 00 



$171,165 00 



Relief. 



$38,600 00 



50,000 00 



$88, 600 00 
!f 259. 765 00 



Militia Companies. — The earl}' militia 
and the Indiana Legion have been noticed 
elsewhere. The citizens of Evansville have 
never been unmindful of that wise injunction, 
" In time of peace prepare for war. "' With 
the close of the civil war and the return to 
their homes and their peaceful pursuits, on 
the farm, and in tlie shop, the victorious 
soldiers in that great struggle laid aside the 
feelings which had animated them on the 
march and in the battle, but the martial 



spirit was not allowed to die. As a result 
of it several independent military organiza- 
tions were formed. The spirit was fostered 
and has grown strong in the younger gen- 
erations, even to those whose memories do 
not reach back to the war period. One of 
the last of these independent companies 
formed after the civil war closed, and per- 
haps the best remembered, was the Evans- 
ville Lio-ht Guards, organized June, 1876, 
with those veterans, Capt. Charles Myer- 
hoff, Lieut. August Leich, and Lieut. Will 
Warren, as its officers. Subsequently A. J. 
McCutchan became captain, and Phil C. 
Helder second lieutenant of the company. 
The organization was abandoned about 1883. 
The first Evansville company to form a part 
of the state militia was the Evansville 
Rifes, organized in October, 1S77, with 
Capt. William M. Blakey, First Lieut. Jacob 
Messick and Second Lieut. Henry Hammer- 
sley as its officers. These gentlemen were 
succeeded by Jacob Messick, captain; R. L. 
Dawes, first lieutenant, and Walter S. 
Viele, second lieutenant; these by George. 
A.Cunningham, captain; Edgar Garvin, first 
lieutenant, and Harry Stinson, second lieu- 
tenant; and, in turn, these by J. W. Messick, 
captain ; Harry Stinson, first lieutenant, and 
Walter S. Viele, second lieutenant. The 
organization was abandoned in 1883, after 
taking various prizes at competitive drills, 
in which some of the best-drilled companies 
of the country participated. The Bennett 
Rifles (^colored) forming Company M, First 
regiment Indiana Legion, organized in Sep- 
tember, 1885, is the oldest compan}- now in 
Evansville. Capt. W. Allen Street and 
First Lieut. James Bennett are its officers. 
The -Evansville Light Infantry, Company 
G, First regiment Indiana Legion, was in- 
corporated October 10, 1887, and mustered 
into the state service by Maj. W. D.Ewing, 
November 7, 1887. Its officers are: W. D. 



GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC. 



557 



Ewing, president; W. 11. Caldwell, vice- 
president; I. II. Odell, vice-presi- 
dent; S. P. Gillett, treasurer; F. M. 
Gilbert, secretary; T. J. Groves, manager; 
C. H. McCarer, captain; Marry Stinson, 
first lieutenant; Ilenr}' Lubberman, second 
litiutenant, and B. R. Beecher, third lieuten- 
ant. The Evaiisvi/lc Hifics, Company F, 
First regiment Indiana Legion, organized 
October 24, 1887, is commanded by Capt. 
Henry Horster, First Lieut. Harry P. Cor- 
nicle, and Second Lieut. Julius Blum. 

Grand Army of the Rcfublic. — The ob- 
jects and aims of this organization, insti- 
tuted in times of peace, yet composed 
exclusively of survivors of the war, are 
benevolent and fraternal. Farragut Post, 
No. 27, Department of Indiana, was organ- 
ized June 24, 1881, with forty-two charter 
members. To the present time 443 have 
been admitted to memberships; sixteen have 
been lost b}' death, and enough by removals 
from this locality and other causes, to reduce 
the membership to 342. Among its mem- 
bership are those who served in all 
branches of the army, and many from all 
parts of the country, many of whom were 
officers high in command and statesmen of 
national repute. The post commanders in 
the order of their succession have been: 
W. H. Keller, (three terms), C. H. Myer- 
hoff, A. C. Rosencranz, Jacob W. Messick, 
A. J. McCutchan and Christopher J. Mur- 
phy, now commanding. From the organi- 
zation to the present, Capt. August Leich 
has been adjutant; Dr. J. W. Compton, 
surgeon, and Conrad Reichert, sergeant 
major. The other officers at the date of 
organization were: Charles H. Myerhoff, 
S. V. C; George II. Neekamp, J."v. C; 
Michael Gorman, Qrm.; H. A. Mattison, 
chaplain; J. \V. Messick, O. of I).: W. A. 
Shuder, O. of G., and J. H. Holtman, Qrm. 
Sergt. The other present officers are : Ed- 



ward Grill, S. V. C; H. P. Hopkins, J. V. C; 
August Schmitt, Qrm.; S. B. Sansom, chap- 
lain; C. H. Myerhoff, O. of D.; R. M. 
Nickels, O. of G., and Joseph E. Schu, Qrm. 
Sergt. The post was incorporated under 
state law in 1885; the present trustees are: 
A. C. Rosencranz, S. R. Hornbrook and 
C. H. Buttertield. 

Under the auspices of the post Memorial 
day exercises are annually conducted, 
when that tender tribute of loving 
praise due the heroic dead of the 
nation's armies is paid with appropri- 
ate ceremonies. While ever thoughtful of 
those who have pitched their tents in the 
silent encampment on the other side of that 
deep river which flows between this life and 
the vast beyond, the post has not been un- 
mindful of the living in its works of charity, 
and its efforts of love to bring back that har- 
monious feeling between the two sections of 
the country lately at war, which ought to 
exist for the good of the present and the 
greatness of the future. The reunion of the 
Blue and the Grey under its auspices, held at 
Evansville, in 1887, was a great event in 
the history of the cit}' and of the country, 
being the most successful practical effort of 
its kind known to the people of the nation. 
The post induced by invitation a discus- 
sion of the Shiloh fight between Gen. James 
C. Veatch and Gen. Alvin P. Hovey, 
which created intense interest among ex- 
soldiers in all parts of the country; and 
through its members, has given to the litera- 
ture of the war period many valuable pa- 
pers. Its armory in the Masonic block is 
one of the finest in the state, and is hand- 
somely furnished with every convenience 
for the comfort and entertainment of its 
members. The auxiliary branches, the 
Wo»M/i's Relief Corps, and Sons of 
Veterans, are in a flourishing condition. 
The former was instituted in 1885. 



CHAPTER XV. 

The Newspapers of Evansville — The Gazette — The Journal — The Courier 
— The Public — The Democrat — The Tribune — Other Evening Papers — 
The Bulletin — The Post — The Call — The Advance — Other Papers. 



tHE newspaper, that agent in the dif- 
fusion of knowledge and the de- 
velopment of material wealth whose 
power is universally recognized, earl\' made 
its appearance in the town of Evansville. 
In 182 1, the Evansville Gazette was estab- 
lished, its proprietors being Gen. Elisha 
Harrison and William Monroe. Gen. Har- 
rison was self-taught, honorable, and of 
great ability and energy. He occupied 
many important places of trust, and was 
highly esteemed for his excellent and manly 
qualities. During his day his individuality 
was stamped upon nearly every branch of 
his country's history. Mr. Monroe was a 
practical printer, and attained no especial 
distinction. Because of the hard times, 
affecting everj^ interest about 1824, the 
Gazette suspended publication. 

Ten years passed, during which no paper 
was published nearer than Vincennes. At 
the end of this time William Town, who 
came from the east, settled in Evansville 
and announced his intention of starting a 
newspaper. This announcement was grati- 
fying to all classes of citizens, and much en- 
couragement was extended. Mr. Town 
combined teaching with journalism, and 
taught a grammar school in the Presbyte- 
rian church, of evenings, while preparing 
his printing office in the old Mansel house, 
on Main street. About the middle of March, 
1834, he sent out his first issue. The lead- 
ing item was an account of the Buck Horn 
tavern, so called from the sign, a pair of 



buck-horns hung on a post in front of the 
cabin. He called his paper the Evansville 
yoiirnal, under which name it has been 
published continuously to the present time. 
The yoiinial at the outset advocated whig 
principles, and was a very influential organ. 
It chiefly displayed its zeal and industry, 
however, in encouraging the development 
of the country. Its progressive spirit led it 
to favor every enterprise whose ultimate 
object was the advancement of the public 
welfare. Mr. Town's death occurred within 
a few years after his arrival here, and in the 
spring of 1839 ^^^ paper passed into the 
possession of W. H. and J. J. Chandler, 
both men of large attainments and influence. 
The paper on going into their hands was 
known as the Evansville yoiirnal and Van- 
derburgh Advertiser, but the latter part of 
the name was soon dropped. Under the 
efficient management of its new editors and 
proprietors a decided improvement was 
made in the mechanical execution of the 
paper, as well as in the character of the 
matter that tilled its columns. After sev- 
enteen months, John J. Chandler, on account 
of the pressure of his legal business, retired 
from the firm, leaving William H. Chandler 
sole proprietor. In 1846 the latter started 
the Tri-iceekly yotiriial, and two years 
later, the daily. Capt. Chandler, in the 
publication of this pioneer daily, did the duty 
of the entire editorial and news department, 
and in addition, took upon himself not a little 
of the mechanical work, with his office hours 

{558) 



EVANSVILLE PRESS. 



559 



from 4 o'clock in the morning till midnight. 
He was a man of heroic mold, and had led 
an eventful life. He was born in New York 
cit}', March 26, 1814, son of a Vermonter, 
who had commanded a ship in the ocean 
trafTic, and later was a merchant in the city. 
In 1S18 they came west and settled at 
Evansville, where the father died from the 
" milk sickness " in the following autumn. 
In 1822, his mother married Maj. James 
Cutler, and the family moved to New 
Orleans by flat boat, going from there, in 
1823, to New York, where William had the 
advantage of the first free school of the cit}'. 
In 1824 they again came west to Nashville, 
Tenn., where William introduced himself 
to the printing business by entering 
the office of the Nashville Republican as an 
apprentice, where he remained five years, 
becoming foreman of the book department 
and saving $2,000. At twenty years of age 
he joined the militia and became a captain 
soon afterward. In 1836, news came that 
Santa Anna was marching into Texas, and 
$2,000 being tendered for the expenses of 
the company if they would join the Texas 
forces, Mr. Chandler also offered $2,000, 
and he soon was on his way with a command 
of fifty-four men. They endeavored to join 
Gen. Houston, but although accomplishing 
a wonderful amount of marching they were 
unable to do this until after the close 
of hostilities. Eeturning home, Capt. Chan- 
dler established a whig paper at Lexington, 
Ky., the Gazette, which did not survive the 
state campaign. His next venture was at 
Evansville, where he became a permanent 
resident. In 1847 he married Miss Rebecca 
Hugg. In 1848 he was appointed post- 
master by President Taylor, and sold the 
younialio Gen. Add H. Sanders. His ten- 
ure of the postoffice ended with the admin- 
istration of President Pierce, and for four 
years afterward he was disabled b}- rheum- 



atism. After that he started a book and 
job office, and published the first city direc- 
tory. He retired from active life in 1862. 

Gen. Add. H. Sanders retained possession 
of the yoiinia! for six years. He was an 
accomplished journalist, and made the paper 
very popular. His editorials were clean- 
cut and incisive. Naturally witty and 
abounding in humor, he gave to his local 
paragraphs a flavor which made them gen- 
erally attractive. Seeing the importance of 
a well-edited city department in a daily 
paper, he gave much of his personal atten- 
tion to that portion of his journal. His gen- 
eral activit}' and \igor of thought imbued 
the paper with a spirit which caused its cir- 
culation to extend throughout the whole of 
southwestern Indiana. Gen. Sanders was 
an influential and consistent advocate of 
whig principles, until the disastrous cam- 
paign of 1 85 2. Afterward he continued to 
oppose vigorously the democratic organiza- 
tion, and, in 1854, went with the know-noth- 
ing party. Two years later he supported 
Millard Fillmore for president, as the repre- 
sentative of the American part}-. In Sep- 
tember of that year, while the political con- 
test was at its height, the journal 
passed into the hands of F. Y. Carlile, a 
profound thinker and scholar of large liter- 
ary and scientific attainments. His pen was 
ready, graceful and sarcastic, and the paper 
in certain departments was much improved 
by its work. In the dis^-ussion of scientific, 
financial and economic questions, he ex- 
hibited rare ability and sound judgment, but 
his political editorials were not worthy of 
high commendation. Mr. Carlile found the 
management of the oHice irksome, and de- 
siring to be associated with practical printers, 
admitted F. M. Thayer and John H. 
McNeely to a partnership. The new 
partners, in April, 1858, assumed control of 
its financial and mechanical departments 



560 



EVANSVILLE PBESS. 



At that lime the yoitrvaJ office was lo- 
cated in the second and third stories of the 
old Lewis building, at the corner of Main 
and Water streets. The paper and all the 
job work was printed on two hand presses. 
The assortment of tjpe was what could be 
called fair for a country office. The weekly 
bills for labor, including compositors, press- 
men and foreman, amounted to about $60. 
The new proprietors at once went to work 
to put the office in accord with the progres- 
sive spirit of the time and the growing im- 
portance of the city. A steam engine, power 
press, job press and a good assortment of 
job type were added to the outfit. Other 
improvements were in contemplation, but 
before being made, the office was de- 
stroyed by fire. Immediately steps to re- 
pair the loss were taken, and publication 
was suspended for one day. In a short time 
the paper appeared in an entirel3'new dress, 
and was pronounced by competent critics to 
be one of the handsomest in the state. In 
the fall of 1858, the proprietors purchased 
the lot on which the Journal building at 
present stands. It was at that time occu- 
pied by a two-story frame building, fifty feet 
deep, with a basement which was fitted out 
for a press room. This building was re- 
garded at the time as ample for manj' years 
to come. In the spring of 1865, one section 
of the present commodious building was 
elected. It was a three-story brick, fift}- 
feet deep. In November, 1867, the build- 
ing now in use was completed and ready for 
occupancy. The establishment, at the 
present time, is one of the largest and best 
arranged offices in this part of the state, 
comprising all the departments of news- 
paper work, of job and book printing and 
binding, each complete in itself. In addition 
to his duties as business manager, Mr. 
Thayer generally assumed much of the 
labor of the editorial department. In the 



fall of 1859, ^^''- Carlile sold his interests 
to James H. McNeely, who became asso- 
ciated with Mr. Thayer in the editorial work. 
Mr. Carlile had supported the candi- 
dates of the American party through 
1856, and in 1858, had advocated the 
election of Gen. Hovey on the anti-Ne- 
braska issue. He had given the republican 
party no aid or encouragement, preferring, 
as he said, as the least of two evils, the demo- 
cratic party. With the retirement of Mr. 
Carlile, the new proprietors, who were, in- 
dividually, republicans, in 1856, determined 
upon joining the fortunes of their paper 
with the new political organization. When 
Abraham Lincoln was nominated at Chicago, 
the yuitnial advocated his election. 
Throughout the memorable campaign of 
i860, it boldly, with great zeal, courage and 
ability, championed the cause of the republi- 
can candidate. It was the chief instrument 
in securing a signal triumph, for the vote of 
Vanderburgh county was given to the party 
whose principles it had been advocating. 
Shortly after Mr. Lincoln's inauguration, 
James H. McNeely was appointed post- 
master, and thenceforth devoted all his atten- 
tion to that office, leaving the editorial 
management of the y^///-;/.?/ in the hands of 
Mr. Tha3'er, where it mainly rested for more 
than twenty years. During the civil war 
period the 'Journal was unflagging in its 
loyalty to the Union. Despite threatened 
destruction and efforts to intimidate its pro- 
prietors it was true to the nation, and re- 
ceived the .hearty endorsement of the 
people among whom it circulated. In 1864 
it supported Mr. Lincoln for re-election, and 
was one of the first papers in the country to 
suggest the name of Andrew Johnson for 
vice-president. Yet, when the latter aban- 
doned his party, the Journal was among 
the first to denounce him. In July, 1866, 
Col. John W. Foster bought the 



EVANSVILLE PRESS. 



561 



interest of James H. McNeely, and became 
connected with the paper as one of its edi- 
tors and proprietors. In January, 1867, 
Edward Tabor, who had for some time been 
connected with the office as book-keeper, 
was admitted as a partner and took the 
position of business manager. In 1868 Col. 
Foster was appointed postmaster by Gen. 
Grant, and in November, 1872, disposed of 
his interest in the office to Claude G. 
DeBruler, an enterprising and able editor, 
who for many years was associated with 
Mr. Thayer in the editorial control. Later, 
Mr. Thayer's connection with the paper 
was terminated; he removed to the west, 
and but a short time since died. Subsequent 
to the departure of Mr. Thayer, the death 
of Mr. Tabor occurred, and the paper 
was thus left in the possession of John H. 
McNeely and Claude G. DeBruler. The 
interest of the latter was purchased b}- James 
H. McNeely, who again assumed control of 
the editorial rooms. Since passing into the 
possession of the McNeely brothers the 
partnership has been converted into a stock 
company, a controlling interest in the shares 
of which is owned by the Messrs. McNeely. 
The staff of the "Journal is now as follows: 
James H. McNeely, editor in chief; John H. 
McNeely, river editor; Netter Worthington, 
city editor; W. W. Ross, foreman of the 
news room, and Edward McNeely, business 
manager. 

This pioneer paper has maintained a high 
standing among the respectable journals of 
the state, and b}- contempories throughout 
this part of Indiana is quoted as authority 
on all political questions. Its loyalty to the 
republican party is unquestioned, and its 
clear, forcible and candid discussion of pub- 
lic ([uestions has contributed largel}' to 
republican successes throughout the district 
and the state. At the same time it is not 
unmindful of local interests and champions 



every proper effort to build up Evans- 
ville, endeavoring to gam for it the recogni- 
tion which its importance as a city deserves. 
James Henderson McNeely, whose 
life has been so intimately connected with 
that of the yotirmil, to which his talents and 
energ}'- have been so zealously devoted, is a 
native of this state, born at Lawrenceburgh, 
July 2, 1828. His father and mother, 
Elisha and Catherine D. McNeelv, re- 
moved from western Pennsylvania in the 
early period of the settlement of Indiana. 
Their immediate ancestors bore an active 
part in the Indian troubles of their time. 
Two of the family names, Hamilton and 
Laughery, were famous in the earl}- history 
of Penns^'lvania and the west. Laughery 
creek, in southeastern Indiana, was named 
in honor of Col. Archibald Laughery, who, 
with a detachment of troops, was massacred 
by the Indians, near that stream, while on 
his way to reinforce Gen. George Rogers 
Clarke, in the year 1781. The primary 
education of Mr. McNeel}' was in the 
common schools, his college training in the 
university of the printing office. In 1846 
he began to learn the typographical art in 
the office of the Jres/cni Republican at 
Lawrenceburgh, and next year went to 
Cincinnati, where he found employment in 
the ofHces of the Gazette, Commercial and 
other papers, until i849,_ when, on account 
of the prevalence of cholera, he returned to 
his native town. During the summer and 
fall of tliat year, he, with two other printers, 
published the Journal, the first daily in 
that place. He then went to Indianapolis, 
and spent a year in telegraphing, being en- 
gaged in the O'Reilly office, a pioneer es- 
tablishment, and other pursuits, after which 
he entered the office of the Indi.tnafolis 
Journal, where he acted as local editor, 
proof-reader and "general utility man," until 
1854. During his last year in that office he 



562 



EVANSVILLE PRESS. 



was one of five interested with the pro- 
prietor, John D. Defrees, in the profits of 
the estabhshment. In April of the year 
named, he and William S. Cameron started 
the Capital Book and Job printing office, 
the first of the kind in that city, a business 
which occupied him for five years, during 
which period he was also one of the pub- 
lishers and editors of the Indiana Republican, 
daily and weekly, and principal editor of the 
C7//>f«, an evening daily. In November, 1859, 
he came to Evansville, of which he has now 
been a valued citizen for nearly thirty j-ears. 
After becoming an owner of the journal, 
he was appointed postmaster in May, 1861, 
was reappointed in 1865, and held the office 
until Mav, 1867. After selling his interest in 
the yoiirnal to Col. Foster, he was occupied 
as a real estate agent, was assignee in a 
number of bankruptcy cases, and in INIay, 
1869, was appointed assessor of internal 
revenue for the First Indiana district, which 
office he held from the following Jul}' until 
May, 1873, when the office ceased by act of 
congress, serving the government and the 
public efficiently and honestly. Subse- 
quently he was appointed and acted as su- 
perintendent of construction of the United 
States building at Evansville. He was mar- 
ried on Christmas eve, 1853, to Miss Mar- 
garet Park, of Avon, Lorain county, Ohio, 
and they have had four children. The onl\' 
son died in 1856, and one of the daughters 
was lost in the year following. He is a vet- 
eran Odd Fellow, having been a member 
since January, 185 1, and having passed all 
the chairs in the lodge and encampment, and 
served in the grand bodies of both. 

The Evansville Com-ier. — The Courier, 
after encountering many vicissitudes in its 
early career, long since obtained an endur- 
ing support, and is now upon a secure basis. 
Before attempting to record the facts which 
make up its history, some mention of previ- 



ous but unsuccessful efforts to maintain a 
democratic newspaper in Evansville may be 
properl}' made in this connection. 

The South- Western Sentinel, edited and 
published by Jacob Page Chapman, was the 
first democratic newspaper in this city. 
Started in 1839, ^'•^^ publication was contin- 
ued through the campaign of 1840, and 
went out of existence with the defeat of 
Martin Van Buren. Mr. Chapman, a man 
of ability, was afterward one of the pro- 
prietors, and for many years managing 
editor of the Indianapolis Sentinel. In the 
winter of 1847-8, H. C. Huntington began 
the publication of the ]'ainlerburgh Demo- 
erat. Being vigorous and influential, it ob- 
tained a widespread weekl}- circulation, but 
in 1S50, because of divisions between local 
political leaders, it lost its prestige, and in 
the next year ceased to exist. Before 
its publication stopped, Ben Stinson, Esq., 
established the Evansville Advertiser, the first 
democratic daily in the city, with Col. C. 
W. Hutchen, a vigorous political writer, as 
editor. The paper was soon sold to Col. 
C. K. Drew and Calvin Frary, who changed 
its name to the Republican, and later trans- 
ferred it to Messrs Clark & McDonald, who 
continued the publication about one year. 
They disposed of their interests to William 
B. Baker, under whose auspices the paper 
died in 1S51, again leaving the democracy of 
Evansville without a local organ. In the 
presidential campaign of the next 3ear 
Charles P. Baymiller and J. W. Brewer 
commenced the publication of a tri-weekly 
sheet called the Times, which was managed 
with some spirit until the election was over, 
when it ceased publication for want of sup- 
port. 

In 1S53 Capt. John B. Hall purchased the 
office of the Independent Pocket, a neutral 
paper, and began the publication of the 
Evansville Daily Enquirer. Col. Charles 



EVANSVILLE PRESS. 



56.5 



Denby was the first political editor of the 
paper, and conducted it during the stormy 
times of Knownothingism. Under his man- 
agement the fame of the paper was widely 
extended. As a writer, Col. Denby was 
forcible and scholarly, and his productions 
commanded the respect of his most violent 
political adversaries. After six years Col. 
A. T. Whittlesey purchased the Enquirer., 
conducted it about one year, and then sold it 
to Capt. Nathan Willard and S. S. White- 
head. When, at the commencement of the 
war of the rebellion, in 1861, Capt Willard 
joined the federal arm}', the newspaper sus- 
pended publication, and was never revived. 
During the summer of 1862, John H. Scott 
published a small weekl}' paper called the 
Gazette, but it soon abandoned the poHtical 
field, and, for a time, was conducted as an 
independent newspaper, and afterward as an 
advertising sheet. 

The political campaign of 1862 resulted 
in complete success for Vanderburgh county 
democracy, and before another general elec- 
tion came on, the leaders of the party were 
encouraged to begin the publication of a 
daily paper devoted to the principles upon 
which the recent victory had been obtained. 
To this end a subscription of about $4,000 
was raised; the office of the Vollsblati, a 
German republican paper, was purchased, 
and Robert S. Sproule was engaged as 
editor. The paper was called the EvansvtUe 
Times, and began its existence under 
favorable auspices. Mr. Sproule pos- 
sessed an extensive acquaintance with the 
leading men of Indiana, a perfect knowl- 
edge of the political history of the state, 
and a thorough conversance with the feel- 
ings of the democracy throughout the Union. 
He was assisted by Ben Stinson, an ex- 
perienced and excellent business manager, 
and J. B. Maynard, an erudite and finished 
newspaper contributor, but their united 
33 



efforts could not make the new venture a 
success. Its demise occurred soon after the 
election of 1864, leaving the democracv 
with a printing office but no newspaper. In 
the following winter George W. Shanklin 
took hold of the office, and for a few weeks 
conducted a sprightly little sheet called the 
Evansville Dispatch, which was not a suc- 
cess financially. It made its last appearance 
dressed in mourning for the martyred Lin- 
coln. 

The Evansville Daily and Weekly Courier 
came into, existence January 7, 1865. The 
printing office was held by five trustees for 
the benefit of the subscribers to the fund 
with which it was originally purchased. The 
trustees were Hon. John A. Reitz, Judge 
William F. Parrett, Hon. Thomas E. Gar- 
vin, Hon. Charles Denby and Richard 
Raleigh, Esq. They were empowered to 
make any disposition of the presses and 
material that would secure the establish- 
ment of a democratic newspaper in Evans- 
ville. Alfred S. Kierolf, William M. 
Holeman, J. B. Cavins and H. H. Homes, 
four practical printers, were permitted to 
begin the publication of a newspaper, and 
so faithfully did they prosecute the enter- 
prise that in a short time they became the 
owners of the old Times establishment. 
Mr. Homes retired from the Courier very 
early in its career, and Mr. Cavins soon 
transferred his interest to S. R. Matthews, 
who continued but a little time as a partner. 
Messrs. Kierolf and Holeman formed a 
partnership with Albert C. Isaacs, who also 
soon withdrew, being speedily followed by 
Mr. Kierolf, who up to this time had acted 
as editor, leaving Mr. Holeman sole 
proprietor. Robert S. Sproule was then 
engaged to manage the editorial department. 
With characteristic zeal and brilliancy he 
entered upon the discharge of his duties, 
and it marked improvement was the imme- 



566 



EVANSVILLE PRESS. 



diate result. Bright expectations were 
indulged in, but the establishment had 
contracted pecuniary obligations which pre- 
vented its further publication without an- 
other change, and a sale of the concern was 
made to George W. Shanklin. A strong 
effort was made to induce the retention of 
Mr. Sproule as political editor, but the new 
proprietor had already made arrangements 
with W. T. Pickett, of Maysville, Ky., to 
do the editorial work. Mr. Pickett was not 
an unworthy successor to his talented pre- 
decessor. He was a fluent writer, and pos- 
sessed a vast fund of information, upon 
which he drew with ease and skill. During 
his control, Mr. John Gilbert Shanklin re- 
turned from Europe, where he had spent 
three 3'ears as a student, and became con- 
nected with the management of the paper. 
In March, 1869, C. & F. Lauenstein, 
owners of the Evniisville Dcniokraf, pur- 
chased the Courier, and under their man- 
agement it rapidh^ became valuable property. 
Thev bought the paper for $6,000, and 
after an ownership of less than five years 
sold it for $ 1 8, 000. When they took pos- 
session Col. A. T. Whittlesey was engaged 
as editor and continued in charge until late 
in 1872. His editorials evidenced ability, 
good judgment, and the positive character 
of his mind, and were extensiveh^ quoted. 
A disagreement with the proprietors on a 
question of policy severed his connection 
with the paper. In 1873 the Courier was 
sold to S. D. Terry & Co., who, in March, 
1874, transferred it to Messrs. J. G. «& G. W. 
Shanklin. In December, 1876, the property 
passed into the possession of its present 
owner, Mr. J. S. Reilly, an experienced 
and able business manager, and has since 
been published under the name of the 
Courier company. The Messrs. Shanklin 
have remained in chargre of the editorial 
department since 1874. 



Hon. J. G. Shanklin was elected in 1878 
as secretary of state, receiving the largest 
majority ever given up to that time to any 
candidate for that important office, and dur- 
ing the two years of his official life resided 
at the state capital. A few years later Mr. 
G. W. Shanklin resided in the east for one 
year, being the Washington correspondent 
of the Cincinnati JVezvs, and managing 
editor of that paper during one of the Ohio 
state campaigns. Notwithstanding these 
temporary absences the editorial columns of 
the Courier have remained under their 
supervision during the past fourteen years. 
Their able, dignified, and forcible treatment 
of all political questions, has made the 
Courier one of the leading democratic 
papers in the west. Being a sound expon- 
ent and true champion of democratic prin- 
ciples, it is extensively quoted as authority 
by contemporary journals. Its influence is 
deservedly great, ever}' department being 
conducted with candor, dignified manliness, 
and good judgment. For the past six years 
the paper has been widely noted' as a 
steadfast adherent to President Cleve- 
land. On the morning following his election 
as governor of New York it named him 
as its choice for the democratic presidential 
nomination of 1884. After his inauguration 
as president, it was the first paper of note 
to endorse his administration; and even while 
such papers as the Indianapolis Sentinel and 
others of equal prominence were opposing 
his policy, it ably defended and supported 
him. It was the first of the leading papers 
of the country to name him for a second 
term, and throughout the campaign of 1888 
gave him a most cordial support, its editors 
discussing with great ability and clearness 
the abstruse questions of the times. The 
paper is earnestly devoted to the interests 
of Evansville, and while it fearlessly wages 
war upon every scheme to unjusth' enrich 



EVANSVILLE PRESS. 



567 



the few at the cost of the many, its friendly 
aid is extended to eveiy effort designed to 
advance the pubHc good. Progressive, and 
always advocating improvement, it has been 
for some time a most influential instrument 
in building up the city. 

The Public, an afternoon daily, was es- 
tablished March i8, 1885. It is owned and 
published b_v the Courier company, and is 
marked by the enterprising spirit which 
characterizes the Courier. 

The Evansville Detnokrat. — The leading 
German democratic paper in the lower Ohio 
valley, and the onl\- German democratic daily 
paper in the state of Indiana, is the Evansz'ille 
Demokrat. It was established in 1864, by 
Peter Maier, Esq., now a prominent and 
well-known attorney at law, who conducted 
it successfull}' until 1866, when he sold out 
to Peter Gfroerer. In March, 1867, Messrs. 
C. & F. Lauenstein purchased the Demo- 
krat, and for six years conducted it with 
spirit and ability, placing it on a firm and 
paying basis, and commanding a broad 
influence with the large German population 
of this section, numbering many of its most 
intelligent citizens among their firm and un- 
flinching adherents. In October, 1873, Dr. 
Charles Lauenstein disposed of his interest 
to his brother, Mr. Frederick Lauenstein, 
and left the city of Evansville for a three 
years' sojourn in Germany, the land of his 
birth. Mr. F. Lauenstein, by strict energy 
and an eye to business, determined to en- 
large and improve his journal; and having 
secured neat and convenient quarters at No. 
306 Upper Second street, increased his 
facilities and re-entered the lists for popular 
favor. In the month of October, 1876, Dr. 
Charles Lauenstein returned from Europe, 
and re-entered into co-partnership with his 
brother, taking charge of the editorial col- 
umns, and both continuing the publication 
of the Demokrat until the demise of Dr. 



Charles Lauenstein, which occurred on the 
i6th day of July, 1879, at the age of forty- 
two years. Mr. Fred Lauenstein then 
resumed the publication of the Demokrat 
alone, having bought out the interest of his 
late brother. From January, 18S3, to July, 
1884, Herman Determan and Hans Scheller 
possessed interests in the paper, which were 
disposed of to Mr. F. Lauenstein, who has 
since conducted the paper under the firm 
name of F. Lauenstein & Co. The Demo- 
krat is published daily and weekl}-. The 
weekly, containing fifty-six columns, claims 
to be one of the best German family news- 
papers printed in the west. Mr. Lorenz 
Rohr, an editor of acknowledged ability and 
sagacity, is now the chief editor of the 
Demokrat. The staff is further composed 
of the following able gentlemen: Mr. Hans 
Scheller, assistant editor; Mr. Gustav 
Schauer, city editor; Mr. Wilhelm Keilman, 
telegraphic editor, and Mr. F. A. Grunder, 
solicitor and traveling agent. Mr. Lauen- 
stein, the proprietor, came from Hanover, 
German}-, his native place, in 1866, and for 
a time traveled in the interests of the Dem- 
okrat. His first newspaper connection was 
with this paper. His abilities have been 
proved by the wonderful success, which, 
under his management, the paper has 
achieved. 

The Evening Tribune. — On the nth day 
of October, 1873, W. T. King established 
the Evening Herald, the first afternoon daily 
newspaper published in Evansville. Its 
publication was commenced at a most in- 
auspicious time, and its existence was of 
short duration. Its successor as a vender 
of afternoon news was the Tribune, estab- 
lished October 15, 1877, by Frank J. Ryan 
and Jacob Covert. By wise management 
this new venture soon won its way into 
popular favor and obtained a good circula- 
tion. Reverses, however, came and for a 



568 



EVANSVILLE PRESS. 



time it appeared that the paper would be 
unable to survive disaster. In October, 
1 88 1, its financial condition was somewhat 
strengthened by the accession to the part- 
nership of Percy P. Jones. Pleasant rela- 
tions between the members of the new firm 
were not long preserved. Messrs. Ryan 
and Covert soon withdrew and began in 
April, 18S3, the publication of a paper 
which they called T/ic A'^ezvs. The rivalry 
between these two evening papers was 
spirited, and for a time the j"\>:f'5 threatened 
the existence of the Tribune. This state of 
affairs persuaded Mr. Jones to purchase the 
News, which he did, merging the two papers 
and continuing the publication of the 
Tribune. 

March 5, 1886, the Tribune passed into 
the hands of its present owner and manag- 
ing editor, Mr. Frank M. Gilbert, who 
about the same time discontinued the publi- 
cation of the Saturday Evening Argus, a 
weekly paper, which had rapidly worked its 
way into popular favor. The Argus was 
started by Thomas Collins, of Mt. Vernon, 
Ind., in November, 1879, '^"'^ early in the 
next )-ear was purchased by Mr. Gilbert 
and Hon. J. J. Kleiner. Mr. Gilbert was 
then a newspaper man of long experience, 
and had gained a wide-spread reputation as 
a humorous writer. The paper was con- 
ducted as a society journal, independent in 
all things, strikingh" original and full of 
bright and interesting matter. Unfor- 
tunately Mr. Gilbert was stricken down 
with pneumonia on the very day he took 
charge of the Tribune, and for ten weeks 
was unable to give it any personal attention. 
During his convalescence he was absent on 
a trip of recreation, which extended through 
the summer. Mr. A. J. Miller had been 
chosen as chief editor of the paper. The 
selection proved to be a good one. He pos- 
sessed no experience in journalism, but his 



efforts gave to the paper a phenomena 
growth, by which, in a short time, it reached 
a standard of subscription which closely ap- 
proached that of the present time. His 
racy pen attracted much attention to its col- 
umns and it soon wielded an enviable influ- 
ence. The efficient management and able 
work of the proprietor, the chief editor and 
their assistants, have continued the growth of 
the paper in public favor, until now its cir- 
culation is exceeded b\' that of no paper in 
the city. It has been ably edited in all its 
departments, and has deserved the high 
degree of success attained. It is a progres- 
sive, wide awake journal, and keeps its 
readers well informed on all topics of gen- 
eral and local news. It deals boldly and 
fearlessly with all public measures, and 
allows itself to be influenced by no unworthy 
motives. In religion and politics it has gen- 
erally stood on neutral ground, but through- 
out the campaign of 1888 it worked with 
great ability for the re-election of President 
Cleveland. It now occupies commodious 
quarters on First street, above Main. Its 
present staff is composed of the following 
gentlemen: F. M. Gilbert, proprietor and 
manager; A. J. Miller, editor; Charles G. 
Covert, city editor, and G. W. Dannettell, 
river editor and solicitor. 

Frank M. Gilbert was born at Mobile, 
Ala., July I, 1846. With his parents, 
Samuel E. and Cordeha (Manson) Gilbert, he 
came to Evansville in 1852. He has resided 
in this city most of the time since that date, 
and consequently enjoys an extensive ac- 
quaintance. His education was obtained in 
the public schools, where he was graduated 
when sixteen years of age. He then be- 
came a traveling salesman and gave nine 
years of his life to that vocation. While "on 
the road " the natural vein of humor with 
which he was endowed was a constant 
source of entertainment to his friends and 



EVANSriLLE PRESS. 



569 



associates. Its development, no doubt, was 
largely due to his associations, for the 
" drummer," the world over, is recognized 
as the personification of wit. He began 
writing humor for the Saturday Herald, 
of this cit}', in 1874, and three years later 
was employed as river editor on the Courier. 
Following the advice of Greel}', he went 
west in 1877, during the excitement attend- 
ing the rich mineral discoveries in Colorado, 
and did city work on the Leadville Chron- 
icle, Denver Tribune and Rocky Mountain 
News. Returning to tlie east in the next 
year, he established the Evansville Argus, 
and soon had his paper in high repute. His 
varied accomplishments gave it a wide cir- 
culation, but it was chiefly as a humorist 
that his work was admired and appreciated. 
He had entered a new field in this part 
of the state, and occupied it well. 
Everywhere the bright paragraphs in 
his paper were quoted and commented 
upon until _ his reputation was widely 
extended. His genius was acknowledged 
bv the famous humorists of the countr}'. 
Thev recognized him as belonging to their 
species of the genus homo. They wel- 
comed him among them, and he became one 
of the "club of 13", with Bill Nye, George 
Peck, Bob Burdette, George Salisbury and 
others. Besides his work on the Argus, he 
wrote a humorous book and composed many 
poems, which exhibited the brillianc)' of his 
intellect and the richness of his wit. March 
3, 1885, he purchased the ^zr«/;/o- Tribune, 
and since that time has been its proprietor and 
managing editor, and displa\'ed unusual abil- 
ity as a business manager. The social qual- 
ities of Mr. Gilbert have been sucli as might 
be expected in one who has gained so envi- 
able a position as a literary worker. lie has 
been a delightful companion aUvavs, inter- 
esting in conversation, quick in thought, 
droll in expression, generous-hearted and 



sympathetic. Fond of his gun and his 
dogs, he has spent much time in the 
woods and on the prairies, and is a 
recognized leader in all manly sports and 
exercises. Scarcely an organization for the 
advancement of social, dramatic, ath- 
letic or humane interests, has been formed 
without seeking his aid, and finding in him 
a cheerful and ever-ready assistant. He is 
a member of Ben Hur lodge, and a major in 
the uniform rank, K. of P. He is past 
master of the A. O. U. W., and a Knight of 
Honor. Pie is now game warden First 
district of Indiana; was the first president of 
the Southern Indiana Poultr}' association; 
first president of the Evansville gun club, 
and first president of the humane society, 
and has had numberless connections with 
social, operatic, base-ball and other organ- 
izations. In October, 1880, he was married 
to Miss Annie Hudspeth, an accomplished 
and estimable lady, daughter of J. M. Hud- 
speth, formerly of Boonville, Ind. 

Andrew James Miller was born at La 
Grange, Troup county, Ga., September 4, 
1854, of Scotch-Irish parents, his father 
being one of the "pioneer settlers of his na- 
tive country, and prominently identified with 
its development. He received a common 
school education in his native city, complet- 
ing a collegiate course at the University of 
Georgia, at Athens, in 1874. The follow- 
ing year he was appointed clerk of the court 
of ordinary (probate) of his native county, 
serving in that capacit}' about two years, 
when he was selected by a company of At- 
lanta gentlemen to go upon a mission to 
Central and South America. From Febru- 
ary, 1877, to July, 1878, he was employed 
upon this task, visiting, in the meantime, 
the capitals of the five republics of Central 
America, also Panama, Colombia, Equador, 
Peru and Chili. The result of his observa- 
tions in these equatorial countries was sub- 



5t0 



EVANSriLLE PBESS. 



sequently published in a pamphlet entitled 
" Life in the Tropics," and again revised 
and published, in serial form, in the United 
States Magazine. Mr. Miller reiurned to 
the states and entered the employ of the 
mercantile agency of R. G. Dun Sn 
Co., at Atlanta, and in May, 1880, 
was appointed to the management of 
the branch of that company in Evansville. 
He resigned this post in 1882, to go into 
the manufacturing business, but the follow- 
ing year was induced to accept again the 
management of one of Dun & Co.'s branches 
at Minneapolis, Minn. In March, 1886, 
when the Evening Tribune passed into the 
hands of its present management, he was 
tendered and accepted the editorship, which 
position he has since occupied. Mr. Miller's 
parents were Thomas C. and Elizabeth B. 
(Ashford) Miller, natives of Belfast, Ireland, 
and Ayr, Scotland, respectively, the father 
born in 1814 and the mother in 1828. Both 
died at La Grange, Ga., the former when 
si.xty-two years of age, the latter at the age 
of fift3--seven j^ears. October 5, 1881, Mr. 
Miller was united in marriage to Miss Ella 
Stephens, a native of Evansville, born 
June 27, i860, and daughter of Robert E. 
and Mary (Trible) Stephens. Her grand- 
father was Judge Silas Stephens, and her 
great grandfather. Gen. Robert M. Evans, 
both historical characters in southwestern 
Indiana. 

The Evansville Bulletin was established 
as a weeklj' newspaper in 1S80, by Charles 
F. Gould, who, in its management, has shown 
himself an energetic and accomplished 
journalist. In 1S84 it began to be issued 
daily, and has since maintained a creditable 
position among the afternoon dailies of the 
city. In the political campaign of the latter 
year, the Bulletin gave a cordial support to 
Blaine and Logan, and has since been a valu- 
able exponent of republican principles. Its 



circulation is particularly large among the 
working people, of whose interests it is a 
sturdy and notable champion. It is a ready 
and influential defender of the working 
classes against the oppressions of monopo- 
lies, trusts, and all wrongful combinations. 
On the liquor question it has always taken 
liberal grounds and has opposed unreason- 
able measures. Charles F. Gould, editor and 
publisher of the Bulletin, was born in the city 
of London, in 1847, and came to Evansville 
from his native country in 1871. He fitted 
himself for the practice of the law, and a few 
vears later was admitted to the bar. Durinrr 
his residence here he has been occupied 
both as a lawyer and as an editor. 

The Indiana Post, a German weekly in- 
dependent republican newspaper, was estab- 
lished April 27, 1879, by Ernst Wilkom, its 
present editor and proprietor. The paper 
is the official organ of the Saengerbund glee 
clubs of the state of Indiana. Its circulation 
verified is 1,600. It goes to the homes 
and business houses of all classes of citizens, 
being in political, scientific, social and re- 
ligious matters, liberal and progressive, 
clinging blindly to no party, school or sect. 
During its existence five papers have been 
started in opposition to this journal, but one 
by one they have gone down. Mr. Wilkom, 
the sole proprietor and editor, was born at 
Prague, Bohemia, in 1832, and came to 
America when twenty jears old. Stopping 
for a time in New York, he at length re- 
moved to St. Louis, where he acted as editor 
of the Westlichc Post a.nd l^olksblatt oiihaX 
cit}'. Coming to Evansville he did editorial 
work on the Union until his own paper was 
established. In politics he has always been 
a republican, and as an editor and orator has 
rendered that party efficient aid. 

The Saturday Call was established March 
17, 1888, by Isaac Herr, editor, and was first 
published at the printing house of Keller & 



EVANSVILLE PRESS. 



571 



Paine. The paper was designed to satisfy 
the demand for a local and society journal, 
devoting especial attention to matters of in- 
terest to the members of secret orders. Its 
literary contributions have been of a high 
order, the best writers in the city (partic- 
ularly among the ladies) furnishing material 
■ for its columns. Its circulation grew rapidly 
from the outset and is now (juite extensive. 
The venture was shown to be profitable 
even sooner than was anticipated by its pro- 
jectors, clearing expenses and pa3'ing a profit 
in the third week of its existence. It has 
taken a high rank among papers of its kind 
and receives a cordial support from the public. 
Mr. Herr was formerly known to citizens 
of this city through his connection with 
the Daily yournal. After an absence of 
twelve or fifteen j-ears in Chicago, 111., 
where he was connected with the editorial 
department of the yournal of that city, he 
returned to this place for the purpose of 
establishingf the Call. Because of ill health, 
he was forced to dispose of his interests and 
return to the north. The paper is now the 
property of W. C. Paine and C. V. Worth- 
ington, and is published weekly at the estab- 
lishment of the Keller Printing company, 
mcorporated. Messrs. Paine & Worthing- 
ton are progressive, able and enterprising 
newspaper men. Of the Keller Printing Co., 
Capt. W. H. Keller, who came to this city 
from Wayne county about fifteen years 
ago, is the president, and Capt. C. H. 
McCarer, one of the most prominent and 
best known )-oung men in the cit}', is secre- 
tary and treasurer. 

The Advance, published by the Y. M. C. A. 
for the promotion of the association interests, 
has a circulation of i,ooo copies, and is now 
in the third volume of its publication. It is 
ably edited, and does valuable work. 



Indiana A. O. U. W'^. /P^cor^CT', published 
monthly by George E. Clarke, editor and 
publisher, for the diffusion of the principles 
of the A. O. U. W., and the extension of 
the order, has a large circulation in fraternal 
circles. It was established in May, 18S3, 
and has proved a successful venture. The 
Labor Advocate is also published by Mr. 
Clarke, and has a fair circulation. 

The Pilot, a democratic journal, devoted 
to the interests of the colored people, was 
estabHshed October 11, 1888, by John H. 
Carter. 

In the past many papers have come into 
existence to serve various purposes, and 
after a time have ceased pubhcation. Most 
of these hav^ been mentioned in connection 
with the papers still existing, while others of 
less importance are passed without a partic- 
ular notice. The population of Evansville is 
made up of such widely differing classes 
that a newspaper cannot have the extensive 
support which might be obtained under 
more favorable circumstances. The ex- 
penditures of a newspaper conducted on 
business principles must be governed by the 
amount of its patronage. For these reasons 
the triumphs achieved in journalism by the 
metropolitan dailies elsewhere can hardly be 
expected here. Therefore, while it is not 
intended to accord to any paper or enter- 
prise a higher standing than it has actually 
attained, nevertheless justice demands the 
statement that the newspapers of this city 
equal, in their enterprising spirit and skill of 
management, those of any other place of 
equal size and with Hke conditions. On the 
whole, the news offices are ably and intelli- 
gently conducted, and those connected with 
this class of work are among the most affa- 
ble and courteous gentlemen to be found in 
the cit}-. 



CHAPTER XVI. 



Early Settlement — Character of the Pioneers — Hardships of the New- 
Country — Public Lands — First Election — Wild Animals — Hunting — 
Pioneer Dress — Amusements — Scott Township — Center Township — Knight 
Township — Union Township — Perry Township — German Township — Arm- 
strong Township. 




.f^HE sturdy character of the pioneer 
attracts a peculiar interest; and a 
fascinating charm gathers about the 
manners and customs of his time. The sub- 
duers of a new and wild country have ever 
been accorded heroic rank. Such were the 
pioneers of the American west. They 
braved the terrors, suffered the privations 
and dangers of life in the woods on the out- 
skirts of civilization, with determined wills 
and brawny arms to clear and plant for them- 
selves and their children homes in the un- 
broken wilderness. They shrank not from 
hunger, exposure, disease, or broken at- 
tachments of old homes and ties of 
kindred, but with an unfaltering determin- 
ation launched forth to meet their 
destiny. It is difficult for one whose 
memory bears no trace of early days to rea- 
lize the severity of the hardships and trials 
endured by the pioneer, and to appreciate 
and measure the delights that came into his 
life from the modest triumph which his envir- 
onments permitted him to achieve. 

It was not until 1804 that a treaty was 
made with the Indians b}^ which the lands 
within the borders of what is now Vander- 
burgh county were made accessible to the 
white settler. Individual pioneers gradu- 
ally possessed the lands, and individual effort 
developed the country. No colonies were 
led here by peculiar religious, political or 
economic ideas, for a field of experiment; 



nor did the wealthy seek large grants of 
land to be improved as great estates, and 
peopled by a class willing to surrender a 
portion of their independence and manhood. 
Many settlers were driven back from the 
land of their choice by the unfriendliness of 
the Indians, but with undaunted zeal and 
characteristic courage, they returned repeat- 
edly until they were allowed to remain in 
peace. 

The first concern of the pioneer, after 
finding a spot that pleased his fancy, and 
which he thought to be a good place for the 
establishment of his home, was the erection 
of a cabin. This was simple enough, for in 
its construction he used no tool save his ax, 
and no material save the rough timber fur- 
nished by the forests. Trees of a proper 
size were felled, notched at the ends and so 
laid, one upon the other, as to make a sub- 
stantial inclosure. The spaces between 
these logs were chinked with smaller sticks 
and chips and daubed with clay. A roof of 
boards held to their places by poles laid 
upon them as weights, was provided, a door 
was cut at one side, and a huge fire-place 
at one end, over which was raised, on the 
same principle that governed the building of 
the house, a stick chimney, and then, with 
its dirt floor, the cabin was ready for occu- 
pancy. The size and appearance of some 
of these early homes maj' be imagined when 
it is known that often the}' were raised by 

(572) 



PUBLIC LANDS. 



the unaided hands of the hardy pioneer and 
his faithful wife. As settlers became nu- 
merous there were friendly hands to assist 
in erectinj'' more substantial and commodi- 
ous cabins, but the style of architecture was 
not changed until the double cabin with its 
two large rooms separated by a wide, open 
space or hall, extending through the centre, 
was brought into use by the more prosperous. 

The earliest pioneers had great difficulty 
in securing those commodities which were 
essential to the satisfaction of their daily 
wants. But the rich soil needed but 
little cultivation, when once the timber was 
removed, to produce a bountiful harvest. 
As soon as a small clearing was made in the 
woods and a few domestic animals were 
possessed, it was an easy task to supplj- the 
demands of his own famil}'. As the number 
of acres increased the surplus for disposal 
grew in like proportion, and the settler 
started out on the broad highway of pros- 
perity. 

The Public Lands. — The lands in the 
state originally belonged to various Indian 
tribes from whom the title was procured by 
treaty with the general government. The 
treaty extinquishing the title of the abor- 
igines to lands in Vanderburgh and adjoin- 
ing counties was made at Vincennes, Au- 
gust iS and 27, 1S04. From the general 
government the title passed to individuals 
b}' purchase To this rule there were but two 
exceptions in the state. The French grants 
near Vincennes were confirmed to the des- 
cendents of the early settlers there, and the 
grants near the falls of the Ohio river 
made by the state of Virginia to the regi- 
ment of Gen. George Rogers Clarke, for 
their valiant services in Indian campaigns 
during the revolutionary war. In all parts 
of the country, lands owned bj^ the general 
government were, surveyed and sold under 
one general system. In the surveys, nic- 



ridian lines were first established, running 
due nort'i from arbitrarily fixed but un- 
changing points. Base lines intersecting these 
were made to run due east and west. The first 
principal meridian runs due north from the 
mouth of the Miami river and is, in fact, 
the east line of the state. The second 
meridian line, the one from which surveys 
were made in Vanderburgh county, is 
eighty-nine miles west of the first, and 
runs due north from Little Blue river. The 
onl}- base line running through the state 
crosses it from east to west in latitude 
38' and 30', leaving the Ohio river twenty- 
five miles above Louisville and striking the 
Wabash four miles above the mouth of 
White river. Congressional townships are 
six miles square, and are divided into thirty- 
six sections of 640 acres each. They are 
numbered north and south from the 
base line; and east and west from the 
meridian lines, in ranges. In V^anderburgh 
county, therefore, all congressional town- 
ships are south and all ranges are west. 
Fractional sections are those intersected by 
streams, or confirmed grants. A section 
' sometimes contains more or less than the 
established number of acres — 640. In 
every land district there was a land 
office, where all the public lands were sold. 
A register and receiver, appointed by 
the president, and confirmed by the senate, 
were the officers in charge. For the 
lands in this part of the state the office 
was at Vincennes. From 1816 to 1819 the 
price of land was $2.00 per acre, of which 
one-fourth was required to be paid in hand 
and the balance in three e(jual annual pay- 
ments, a year of grace after the last install- 
ment became due being allowed before a 
forfeiture was exacted. If paid at the end 
of four 3-ears, interest was required. About 
this time, owing to the increase of immigra- 
tion followinof the state's admission to the 



574 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 



union, lands rose rapidly in price so that 
vast quantities were purchased of the gov- 
ernment by pa3-ing only the entrance money, 
or fifty cents per acre. The scarcity of 
money and the wildness of the county ren- 
dered it impossible for bu}-ers to meet their 
obligations. About i8iS congress com- 
menced passing laws to relieve against for- 
feitures by extending the time of payment, [ 
requiring interest, however, for the delay. 
Similar laws were enacted in 1S19 and 1S20. 1 
By the next year, 1S21, the debt to the 
United States for public lands was altogether 
beyond the control of legislation, because 
of its large amount, the numbers from 
whom it was due, and the impossibility 
of paying it. Congress then released all 
interest (then about one-third of the whole 
debt), allowed lands entered to be rehn- 
quished and part payments thereon to be 
applied to pa}- in full for other lands, re(|uired 
all lands thereafter to be sold for cash in 
hand and fixed the price at $1.25 per acre. 
The immediate effect of this legislation was 
to reduce the value of lands already pur- 
chased and paid for in about the same pro- 
portion. The large amount of lands thrown 
into market by the government would have 
done this alone without a reduction of price, 
but the results to land owners was still more 
disastrous when only three-fifths of former 
prices were demanded. 

On May 19, 1807, Gen. W. Johnston en- 
tered all of fractional section 25, township 6 
south, range 1 1 west, being that part of 
the present city of Evansville which lies ' 
about and below the mouth of Pigeon creek, j 
On the same day William Anthony entered I 
fractional sections i and 12, township 8 
south, range 11 west, in the township of! 
Union opposite to the city of Henderson. 
These were the first entries made within 
the present limits of the county of Vander- 
burgh. Gen. Johnston, a native of Virginia, 



located in Vincennes in the year 1793, and 
remained there continuously in the active 
practice of the law until his death, which 
occurred October 26, 1833. He was one of 
the most prominent members of the bar 
during his da}', was called h\ his fellow cit- 
izens to fill many offices of trust and profit 
under the territorial government, was presi- 
dent judge of the circuit court, was fre- 
quently a member of the legislature from 
his county, and made the first compilation of 
the laws of the territory. He never became 
a resident of Vanderburgh count}-. William 
Anthony was a sturdy pioneer of the 
rougher sort known in the early days of the 
new west, yet with those pure ringing qual- 
ties of genuine manhood which made his 
influence felt in molding the events of his 
day. He was the progenitor of the well- 
known Anthony family in Union township, 
and for many years lived on the land en- 
tered in 1807, farming and operating the 
widely-known Anthony ferry. 

T/ie First Election. — As soon as the new 
countv of Vanderburgh had been established 
by the legislature, an election for the purpose 
of choosing county officers was held on 
Monday, February 16, 1818. After the 
lapse of seventy years the original tally 
sheets and poll books of that election, though 
yellow with age, are well preserved. There 
were three polling places in the county, one 
at the house of Hugh McGary, in Evans- 
ville, another at " the forks of Big creek," 
at the house of Zadoc McNew, in what is 
now Armstrong township, and the third at 
the house of James Johnson, in " Wagnon 
township," in the southwestern part of the 
county. At this election Hugh McGary 
was the only candidate for clerk and re- 
corder, John McCrary, William Wagnon, 
and Elisha Harrison were candidates for 
associate judge, and George Sirkle, J. An- 
thony, David Brumfield, James Johnson, 



FIRST ELECTION. 



575 



J. Robertson, and II. Bugg, were candidates 
for county commissioner. Messrs McGary, 
McCrar}-, Wagnon, Sirkle, Anthony, and 
Brumtield were elected. 

Those whose ballots were taken at the polls 
in Evansville were: Benjamin Grindel, 
George Edmore, J. Anthony, Edward Hill, 
Alexander Warren, Evans Vaughn, Isaac 
Allen, George Linxweiler, jr., Berry An- 
thony, John Johnson, John Harrison, Bayless 
Harrison, John ]5urket, Peter Linxweiler, 
Henry Bugg, George Linxweiler, James 
Asa, William Blevans, sr., James Russell, 
Parker Aydelott, Matthias Whetstone, 
David Whetstone, Nathan Young, Henry 
Whetstone, John Withrow, James Robinson, 
Jonathan Robinson, Samuel Scott, John 
McCann, Richard Carlisle, Matthew War- 
ren, David Henson, Hugh McGary, Isaac 
Knight, Joseph Robinson, Jesse HoUoway, 
Lewis Jackett, James Slover, Jesse Henson, 
Jesse McCaUister, William Fitzgerald, Ar- 
chibald McCallister, Clark McCallister, 
Joseph McCallister, William Wagnon, 
Edward Allen, Green B. Smith, Laban Hol- 
loway, John Stoner, John Neil, William 
Johnson, Julius Gibson, William Blevans 
and Zephaniah Harrison. The voters 
at James Johnson's were: Randolph 
Rogers, John Melton, George Sirkle, 
Benjamin Davis, Henry Mills, James J. 
Saunders, William Carson, Lewis Sirkle, 
Andrew Sirkle, Isaac Farmer, Lewis F. 
Ragar, Reuben Long, John Swango, John 
Patterson, Nicholas Long, William Great- 
house, John Marrs, James Johnson, Thomas 
Hooker, Robert Gibbs, Jonathan Jones, 
Daniel Miller, Thomas Litton, Ezekiel 
Saunders and Jeffrey Saunders. The voters 
at the forks of Big creek were: William 
Houchens, James Martin, David Brumfield, 
James Patten, Thomas Martin, Charles 
Martin, Elisha Harrison, Major Selser, Ben- 
jamin McNevv, John McCrary, Moses Pru- 



itt, Joseph Cater, William Briant, David 
Rhoads, John Bowling, Thomas Saulsbur\', 
John Armstrong, sr., John Livingston, 
John Kitchens, John Boyer, Zadok McNew, 
Patrick Calvert and John Armstrong, jr. 
The three last named in each of the forego- 
ing lists were the officers of the election'. 

Amative Animals and Their Hunters. — 
Among the wild animals found in the 
count}' by the early settlers were the deer, 
wolf, bear, panther, wild-cat, fox, otter, rac- 
coon, ground-hog, skunk, mink, weasel, 
muskrat, opossum, rabbit, squirrel and per- 
haps others. Many of these animals, some 
because of their fierce natures, and some 
because of their destructive foraging upon 
growing crops, were a source of great an- 
noyance to the pioneers. Others of them 
supplied meat for his family, the deer being 
used most abundantl}". Wild turkeys were 
as plentiful as the deer, and the two were 
the game mostU' sought after by the 
hunter. All of the settlers had guns as a 
necessary part of their equipment for the life 
which their circumstances forced them to 
lead, and most of the old settlers were good 
hunters. Their guns were generall}'^ home 
made, every village having its gunsmith. 
The implements were made to suit the par- 
ticular wishes of each patron — to run so 
many bullets to the pound of lead, that is 
to say, of a certain calibre; some were 
especially adapted for the hunting of 
S(^uirrel, others for deer, turkeys, shoot- 
ing matches, etc. Shot-guns were con- 
sidered an abomination, and derisively 
called " scatter guns," fit onl\- for the 
amusement of small boys and old do- 
tards whose defective vision prevented 
them from taking aim through the "sights" 
of a rifle. Flint locks prevailed until the 
introduction of percussion caps, and 
many a deer was allowed to escape 
and roam the woods because of a 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 



" flash in the pan," and while the hunter 
was " picking his flint " before trying it 
again. The breech of the old fashioned 
rifle contained a small cavity closed with a 
brass or iron lid on a hinge, for a bit of tal- 
low — to grease the "patching," which was 
a thin piece of cloth about three-fourths of 
an inch in diameter, usually for convenience 
in carrying strung in quantities on a string 
and attached to the shot-pouch strap. The 
powder, guaged in a primer or buck-horn 
charger holding the proper quantity, was 
emptied into the barrel of the gun, then the 
greased piece of patching was placed over 
the bore, the bullet laid thereon and 
rammed home, the greased cloth pre- 
venting the ball from sticking on the 
way or fouling in the rifle groove. 
A shot-pouch made of dressed buck-skin, 
with the hair on, contained bullets, 
flints, wipers, etc., which, with powder- 
horn, completed the outfit. A man usually 
knew just about what he could do with his 
gun, and if the implement was reliable and 
accurate, it was petted as affectionately as a 
favorite child, and often given a pet name. 
Off-hand aim was the general rule; to shoot 
with a rest was boyish, and beneath the dig- 
nity of a hunter. 

Wolves were at first probably the most 
troublesome brutes, making frequent attacks 
upon the settler's domestic animals, and, 
with most incessant and terrifying howls, 
rendering the nights hideous. The woods 
seemed to be full of them. Bears and pan- 
thers were not numerous, but were occa- 
sionall}' encountered b}- the earl}' pioneers. 
Later, squirrels became most destructive 
pests, and their .slaughter became a matter 
of business. 

Later, at times, the country swarmed 
with pigeons. Great numbers of them were 
killed by hunters, and " pigeon pie " became 
a very common dish. In some places the 



farmers turned out and waged a war of 
destruction against them, for the reason 
that they consumed great quantities of the 
mast they were counting on as food fortheir 
hogs. The wild bees that swarmed in the 
woods gave to the early settlers a rich sup- 
ply of honey. Andrew Sirkle was one of 
the most famous bee-hunters. It is said 
that he found as many as sixty or eighty 
trees in a single season. 

Pioneer Dress. — Any information as to 
the dress of a people throws light upon their 
conditions and limitations. The head dress 
of the pioneer for the male sex was either a 
coonskin cap or a home-made wool hat. 
The feet were covered with moccasins made 
of deer skins and shoe packs of tanned 
leather, but shoes were worn by most of the 
pioneers of this county, except in summer, 
when old and young, male and female, went 
barefooted. The blue linsey hunting shirt 
was almost universalh' worn by men and 
boys. Pantaloons were made at a very 
early day of deer skin and linsey, but to the 
settlers of this county cotton and jeans early 
became most common. Women's dresses 
were simple, substantial and well-made. As 
a rule settlers raised their own flax, cotton 
and wool, and made their own garments. 
Good weavers were then the accomplished 
young ladies, and the spinning-wheel filled 
the little cabin with sweet music as it sang 
its song of thrift and industry. They raised 
their cotton, picked it, carded it, wove it, 
and then wore it. At the proper season the 
flax brake was brought into use, and 
the product was "hackled" and spun 
into skein; the wool card was then pre- 
pared for the filling; and with different 
kinds of bark various colors were given to 
the raw material, and made it ready for the 
loom, which, with its shuttle flying noisily 
back and forth soon brought out its yards 
of linsey striped and beautiful. 



AMUSEMENTS. 



577 



The head dress of the women was a sim- 
ple cotton handkerchief or sun bonnet; and 
they were not ashamed to walk a mile or 
two to church on Sunday, carrying their 
shoes and stockings in their hands until 
with'n a few yards of the place of worship, 
when they would put them on their feet. 
Indeed, at early meetings, it was quite com- 
mon for nine-tenths of the people, male and 
female, to be barefooted. These modes of 
dress long prevailed in the country settle- 
ments, varied, of course, and improved by 
those who came from beyond the seas, but 
in the town of Evansville the merchants who 
carried rather large and complete stocks of 
goods, encouraged the cultivation of what 
they considered higher tastes in the matter 
of dress. 

Amusements. — Pioneer social gatherings 
usually had in view two objects — work and 
sport. The log rollings, house and barn 
raisings, wood choppings, corn huskings, 
bean pickings, wool pickings, quiltings, 
and apple parings, while attended with 
much labor were replete with enjoyment. 
During the early settlement of this 
county occasions of amusement were 
preceded b}' work — every good time was 
earned. No man undertook alone to roll 
his logs; all joined together and went from 
place to place, rolling. All houses were 
raised by neighborly hands. When the 
crops were gathered the corn was put in a 
long pile and neighbors were invited in to 
husk it, usually after night. Log rollings 
and huskings were followed by a dance, 
from which the young folks got their great- 
est enjoyment. In the huskings both sexes 
took part, the workers being divided into 
two parties, each with a leader. The lucky 
tinder of a red ear reaped a rich harvest of 
kisses from those of the other sex, the rules 
governing the quantity of such rewards 
varying in different sections. 



Besides the more violent sports in which 
the men sought diversion, it might be inter- 
esting and instructive to mention others of a 
different character among them, the quilting 
party where the good women of the neigh- 
borhood came together with kind hearts and 
willing hands to enjoy some hours of work 
and conversation, and departing leave per- 
manent and valuable results of their toil. 
There were few distinctions of birth or 
wealth or circumstance. All alike were 
simple in their dress and habits, and no ex- 
acting demands were made by social forms. 
At the quilting nimble fingers plied indus- 
triously until the work was done, when 
songs were sung, games played and dancing 
indulged in; indeed, the merriment was co- 
extensive with the jovial natures of the 
young folks assembled. Spelling matches 
and debating societies furnished amusement 
which some considered of a higher sort. 
Here the training of the intellect was the 
paramount ostensible object, but boys and 
girls not belonging to the same familj- often 
came riding one horse. The young folks 
were generally paired, and to bring about 
this natural sclcrtioii was perhaps as worthy 
an object as these intellectual entertainments 
could have had. 

In the main early days in Vanderburgh 
county were not unlike those about which 
the pens of Eggleston and Rile}', with felic- 
ity and beauty, have told the world. A few 
have lived to note the principal changes and 
improvements made since the early settlers, 
men of iron hearts and iron nerves, pitched 
their tents on these fertile lands now over 
eighty years ago. More in detail the set- 
tlement of the various townships is referred 
to in subsequent chapters. The limits of 
Pigeon township as originally laid out have 
been much contracted. In its southern part 
a village was early located and commenced 
a career, elsewhere described in the history 



578 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 



of the city of Evansville. Able and courage- 
ous'men who were instrumental in developing 
the country's interests are named as fully as 
possible in other connections. 

Scott Toil' II ship was organized August 
13, 1821, comprising its present territory 
and three tiers of sections off the north side 
of Center. Previously it had formed a part 
of Armstrong township. It was reduced 
to its present size by the organization of 
Center township, September 6, 1S43. Ly- 
ing in the northeast corner of the county, 
it is bounded on the north by Gibson count}', 
on the east b}- Warrick county, on the south 
by Center township, and on the west by 
German and Armstrong townships. Its sur- 
face is generally hill}', and while the soil 
does not equal in richness that found in other 
parts of the county, yet by proper care and 
cultivation abundant harvests are secured. 
Originally the township was densely tim- 
bered. The memory of the oldest inhabit- 
ant does not go back to that time when 
there were no cabins of the white man in 
the forests of Scott township. Long before 
Indiana assumed the dignity of statehood, 
pioneers had pushed their way into the vast 
wilderness, and had planted here the seeds 
of civilization. 

Well known in later vears as being 
among the first of these in Scott township 
were Jesse McGary and John Withrow. 
Their cabins were in the northwest part of 
the township, near the Gibson county line. 
Jesse McGary was a brother of Hugh 
McGary, whose name is closely woven into 
the early history of Evansville. He was a 
fair representative of the rough, uncouth, 
drinking, rowdying set, and yet withal pos- 
sessing some traits of character worthy of 
admiration. He was the author of one of 
the earliest tragedies in the annals of the 
county. Domestic trouble of some sort had 
invaded his cabin, and one day as his wife 



came into the door, he sent a ball from his 
rifle through her heart. His trial engaged 
public attention for some time, but he was 
finally acquitted, on the ground that the 
death was the result of an accident, it being 
claimed that he shot at a dog, not knowing 
that the woman was about to enter the door. 
John Withrow represented a different sort 
of roughness. In his dress, his speech and 
his manners, he was always a genuine back- 
woodsman, but his heart was certainly in 
the right place. Always honorable, he 
dealt fairly with his fellow-men, and when 
his life was drawing to its close, he had the 
delightful consciousness that all who knew 
him gave him their respect. Another rough 
but industrious pioneer in this same neigh- 
borhood was Kenneth Compton. He raised 
a family that did him honor. 

The township was named in honor of a 
hardy pioneer who settled and lived for some 
time about one mile south of the site of 
Inglefield, Samuel Scott. All of the early 
settlers, those who came prior to 1S18, 
were, so far as known, emigrants from Ken- 
tucky, who had previously drifted into that 
state from Virginia, the Carolinas, and Ten- 
nessee. The names of some of them are 
forever lost. Throughout the entire eastern 
part of the township there was " not a stick 
amiss" as late as 1811, and along the 
Princeton road there were but four cabins 
between the Ohio river and the present site 
of Princeton, in Gibson county. Nor was 
there any considerable increase in immigra- 
tion for several years after this time. 

About the time the new county of Van- 
derburgh was organized, Scott township 
began to attract a class of immigrants differ- 
ing essentially from any who had previously 
located within its borders. The sturdy in- 
dependence and industry which led the 
English farmers to leave their homes across 
the sea, to undertake a long and trying 



SCOTT TOWNSHIP. 



579 



journey to the interior of the American con- 
tinent, and then to cast their lots in life in 
the wildernesses of Indiana, were the quali- 
ties which animated these people. In the 
summer of iSi8, one of the earliest of this 
class, John Ingle, a native of Huntingdon- 
shire, England, then thirty years of age, 
came to Evansville, and very soon thereafter 
settled permanently in Scott township, near 
the present Inglefield. He was a farmer of 
sterling character, quiet habits and winning 
ways. His popularity was such that it may 
be said that he was without an enemy. 

Mr. Ingle was soon followed by his 
countrymen, Edward and Spencer Maidlow, 
who settled in the same neighborhood. 
These were intelligent men, who wielded an 
influence for good in shaping the events of 
their day. They were model farmers, neat 
and thrifty, and in ever}' respect good citi- 
zens. Edward Maidlow attained local 
prominence as a man of affairs and was 
called by his fellow citizens to serve them in 
places of trust and profit. The Maidlows 
became freeholders soon after their arrival, 
and passed their holdings to their descend- 
ants, who, as honorable people and valuable 
citizens, hold a high place in popular 
esteem. 

About the same time came Saunders 
Hornbrook, much like the Maidlows in 
character and worth, and a valuable acqui- 
sition to the little settlement in the woods. 
He had been a woolen manufacturer in 
Devonshire, England, was an educated gen- 
tleman, and did much to advance the develop- 
ment of the new country. His wife was a 
lady of character and superior mental attain- 
ments, and thus well equipped to bring 
about a betterment in the social condi- 
tions of the eariier and rougher pio- 
neers. Their sons, Saunders, John, 
Thomas and William, each achieved 
for himself an honorable place in the com- 



munity, one rising to the bench, and all be- 
ing prominent citizens. The daughters of 
the household contracted fortunate mar- 
riages with gentlemen of their own station. 
The famil}' was enterprising and pro- 
gressive, and from the first was well known. 
Mr. Hcirnbrook built the first cotton gin in 
this part of the country, and had in satisfactory 
operation a carding machine. In a very 
short time this industrious farmer and me- 
chanic had enough buildings erected in the 
yard about the gin-house to give it the ap- 
pearance of a Httle village. Here settlers 
came with their cotton from all directions 
within a radius of ten or fifteen miles. He 
established a countrj' store, to supply the 
wants of the people, and accumulated much 
property, at one time owning over two thou- 
sand acres of land in Scott township. Soon 
after his death, in 1839, these early enter- 
prises were abandoned by his sons, who saw 
and acted on the greater opportunities of- 
fered in the neighboring city. 

About a mile north of Inglefield on the 
Princeton road, was the clearing of James 
Cawson, now the Ritchey homestead. This 
Princeton road was a public highway estab- 
lished by authority of the state, but at the 
time these settlers came in it winded its way 
about through the forest and had only the 
smaller trees and underbrush cut out. Huge 
forest trees stood in its centre alon<r its en- 
tire course. Ingle's was said to be the first 
place on the road where a traveler could get 
a breakfast or a dinner; Cawson 's was the 
next, and then there was none till Gibson 
county was reached. Cawson was a man of 
some means and always of good repute. 
On his place was the Lockyear blacksmith 
shop, a few years later, which was about 
the earliest smithy in the township. 

In those days when every man extended 
a helping hand to a brother in every time of 
need, people were neighbors though they 



580 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 



lived widel}' apart. In the same neighbor- 
hood, giving the word its rich, broad 
meaning, lived Jerry Wyatt, a grand old 
man, very illiterate, but with sterling 
qualities of heart that endeared him to 
all. IVIuch of his life was spent here and he 
was permitted to fill out four score years 
and ten before death took him away. There, 
too, lived Daniel Stinchfield, a good man, 
honest. God-fearing, and ready in every con- 
versation with apt words from Holy Writ; 
and William Peck — " Old Father Peck," 
as he was called — a sturdy character, up- 
right, honorable and much beloved, spend- 
ing a useful life, and rearing an honorable 
family, whose descendants are yet in the 
township, occupying a high position in the 
esteem of the community, and preserving in 
honor the ancestral name. A young man, 
for many years a farm laborer in this settle- 
ment, and always a welcome guest at every 
house, was William Warren, who afterward 
moved to Evansville and for years served 
as assessor of Pigeon township. He is 
remembered b}- a younger generation as a 
fine old man, with a gruff manner, but of 
good heart and generous impulses. His 
descendants have acted a conspicuous part 
in the later development of the county. 

One of the earliest Germans in Scott 
township was Frederick Staser, who, upon 
reaching the county, worked among the 
Sirkles in Union township, in 1819, and 
soon thereafter moved to what afterward 
became the well-known Staser homestead. 
He was an interesting talker, could tell a 
story well, and soon became popular with 
the pioneers. Coming here early, he 
acquainted himself with the congress lands 
and the English tongue. When the great 
influx of Germans occurred in later years he 
was thrifty and sagacious enough to mold 
their settlement with great pecuniary benefit 
to himself. His sons, John C. and Conrad, 



were ver\f hospitable, and were men of 
more than ordinary business ability. Both 
grew to be wealthy, the estate of John C. 
being worth at least $150,000. Each gen- 
eration of the Staser family has been promi- 
nent in its da}'. 

Probably the earliest settlement east of 
the Princeton road was that made by the 
Wheelers, Mark, Joseph and Richard, 
which was about two miles northeast of 
Inglefield. These were English people who 
became widely known as a worth}', respect- 
able familv. Mark was a prosperous farmer, 
and his two brothers were best known by 
their devoted labors in spreading the gospel 
among tlie pioneers. They labored zeal- 
ously, accomplished much good, and forever 
fixed their names in the grateful remem- 
brance of the people. Their descendants 
have been eminently respectable always; 
as citizens there are none better. 
Among the industries engaged in by the 
farmers of early days with good profit was 
hog-raising. A well-known and successful 
farmer who grew wealthy chieflv through 
ihis means was David Powell. He com- 
menced with little capital, and bv industry, 
economy and wise management, accumulated 
a valuable property. He had quite a large 
family, all of whom were good citizens, but 
attained no particular prominence. In very 
early days, probably about 1820, Hiram 
Nelson settled near the present site of Darm- 
stadt. He was a farmer, and later opened 
a small store. Afterward he moved to 
Evansville, and was engaged as an auction- 
eer. He died in Evansville, leaving a widow, 
who still survives. 

The Hilliards came from Ireland in 1S19, 
and about two years later formed a settle- 
ment in Scott township, which to the present 
time is known as the Hilliard neighborhood. 
Afterward the Hornbys, a prominent fam- 
ily, became a part of this neighborhood. 



SCOTT TOWNSHIP. 



581 



For about twenty years there were no other 
settlements in the eastern part of the town- 
ship, and but few additions in numbers 
were made to those already established. In 
1822 Samuel Miller came and stayed but one 
year. He was chief among the deer hun- 
ters; tall, lithe and as active as the animal he 
pursued. Arnold Henning was known 
among the pioneers as "a handy man to 
make a cradle or an ax-handle;" although 
his trade was that of a shoemaker, he was 
too fond of drink to accomplish much, and is 
remembered by the present generation as a 
good and honest, but unfortunate man. 

Emery Cook lived and died near Ingle- 
field. He was a good hunter, but an un- 
skillful farmer. He won the long-continued 
gratitude of the pioneers for killing a par- 
ticularly troublesome wolf, that was known 
to have done great damage to the stock. 

Another interesting character of early 
days was John McCann, who, with his fid- 
dle, traversed the entire country, attending 
all the old-time frolics, the huskings, the 
barn-raisings, thfe quilting bees, and every 
gathering that was likely to end in a dance. 
He did much to ameliorate the hardships of 
pioneer life by breaking its monotony, and 
bv encouratrinfif those indulgences which 
rest the mind and recuperate the body. 
McCann was a valuable worker in the still- 
houses, and often made whiskey for Samuel 
Scott and Richard Carlisle. 

With the hard times that commenced soon 
after 1820, immigration was practically sus- 
pended. But from the older states and 
from across the sea occasional acquisitions 
were made to the settlements here. As 
"birds of a feather flock together," it was 
fortunate for Scott township that in her 
borders there was so early established an 
intelligent nucleus about which clustered a 
very desirable class of immigrants. When 
the state of Indiana brought herself into 
U 



prominence by the inauguration of the great 
internal improvement system of 1835, im- 
migrants over-ran every township in the 
county, looking for lands and homes. Scott 
township, to some extent, shared the fate of 
other townships, and before 1840, the lands 
were nearly all taken, and the settlement of 
the township was practically completed. 

Prominent among those who came in 
later, though in the pioneer era, and who 
became closely identified with the township 
history were: Richard Browning, John 
Sansom, George and Alexander McCutchan, 
Thomas Bower, the Rockett family, the 
Rustons and many other industrious, honor- 
able and worthy people. The Germans, 
who came in afterward were, as a class, 
good citizens, industrious, frugal and im- 
proved the country very much. 

An O/ti M/7/.— The first mill in the town- 
ship was erected, by Richard Browning, 
about 1S32. Prior to this settlers patronized 
the Anthony or Negley mill on Pigeon creek, 
erected in 18 14. Mr. John Sansom thus 
tells of the first work of this mill: "I 
assisted in getting out the timbers for 
Browning's mill — a tread-mill at first. I 
remember very well the day we first at- 
tempted to run that mill. All things being 
ready we thought we would grind our 
grist. The grain was put in the hopper, 
the team started, the mill went round, but 
not the smallest particle of meal made its 
appearance. We were puzzled. x\fter 
trying in vain to discover the reason why, 
we acknowledged ourselves beat, and Mr. 
Browning concluded to send for George 
Linxweiler, who was then, or had been, in 
charge of Negley's water mill, and let him, 
if possible, unravel the mystery. In a few 
hours Linxweiler put in an appearance. 
Imagine our amazement when he looked at 
the arrangement and quietly informed us, in 
his German idiom, that we had been trying 



582 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 



to grind flour by running the mill backward! 
A more foolish, stupid-looking lot of lads 
probably never existed than that set of mill 
hands for a little while, when convinced of 
our mistake." 

Towns. — On April 26, 1819, John Ingle 
laid out Sandersville. The plat covered 160 
acres of land: and a public square 266 feet 
each way, was provided. An effort was 
made to build a town, but the project did 
not succeed. A number of small houses 
were put up, a store, a blacksmith shop, and 
such other conveniences as a farming com- 
munity might demand were located there, 
and a postoffice was established. In a few 
years its projectors abandoned their hopes, 
and their supporters went to more promis- 
ing localities. By 1830 the houses had all 
fallen into decay except the postoffice, 
which remained as a monument of departed 
glory. Inglefield, a station on the E. & T. 
H. R. R., is on the site of the ancient Sand- 
ersville. Darmstadt., a small place in the 
southwest corner of the township, has not 
been platted or incorporated, though for 
thirty years it has been in existence. It has 
a few country stores, a doctor, is the head- 
quarters of the German churches in the 
neighborhood, and enjoys considerable busi- 
ness as a trading point. EarJe., on the Pe- 
tersburg road, near the southern township 
line, is without importance except as a sup- 
ply depot for a limited agricultural district. 
Christ Stock is the onty merchant. A small 
store was established here by John Grant, 
as early as 1850, which he subsequently sold 
to John Earle (an English settler who came 
about 182S), for whom the town was named. 
Chttrchcs. — The pioneer preachers early 
pushed their way into the new west and, re- 
gardless of all hardships and difficulties, 
with untiring zeal and devotion, worked in 
the Master's cause. Often on foot, clad in 
the plain garments of the huntsman, with 



rifle or gun on his shoulder, the preacher 
sought the hospitable roof of some lowly 
cabin and there with a thrilling description 
of the ineffable joys that awaited the saved, 
or a vivid picture of the never-ending tor- 
ments of a literal hell, which would be the 
sure portion of the damned, sought to per- 
suade or frighten his few hearers to flee 
from the wrath to come. All denomina- 
tions sought for supremacy, and in 
many cases the war waged between the 
advocates of different Christian sects 
over theological dogmas and doctrines, 
was fiercer and far more bitter than that 
waged against the common enemy. The 
Baptists, Presbyterians and Methodists all 
struggled for a foothold. The house of John 
Ingle was an early preaching place for all 
denominations. The doctrines of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal church were more generally 
accepted and became more firmly rooted in 
the minds of the people of this township 
than those of any other sect. The eloquent 
John Schraeder was the first to lift up his 
voice in behalf of Methodism. The first or- 
ganized class of Methodists in this township 
was probably that made in the Milliard 
neighborhood, under the leadership of John 
and William Hilliard, and those beloved men, 
Joseph and Mark Wheeler, in 1824, which 
flourishes to this day, having now about sixty 
members. At first the little confrre<ration 
assembled for the purpose of worship at the 
humble houses of its members, and at length 
raising a log cabin, set it apart and conse- 
crated it as a house of God. About fifty 
years ago this little structure gave wa}' to 
a commodious frame building, more suitable 
to the demands of the growing congrega- 
tion, which remains in use. In early times 
among the preachers here, were: Revs. 
Joseph Wheeler, Mark Wheeler, Robert 
Parrett, Enoch G. Ward, Ravenscroff, 
Hensler, and Tower. The church is on the 



SCOTT TOWNSHIP. 



583 



Blue Grass circuit, now in charge of Rev. 
Samuel McNaughten. The Sunday school, 
superintended by Mr. Arad McCutchan, is 
one of the best in the district. 

Centenary Methodist Episcopal church, 
located near Inglefield, was bulk in 1867 at 
a cost of about $1,800.00, chiefly through 
the instrumentality of John Ingle, WiUiam 
Ingle, Joseph Shaw, and George Browning. 
This church is also on the Blue Grass cir- 
cuit. The membership is now small, having 
been reduced by deaths and removals from 
the neighborhood, but regular services are 
held. 

Noble's chapel, on the Petersburgh road, 
near the township border, though in Gibson 
county, which is attended by man}' of the 
citizens of this township, was built in i860, 
at a probable cost of $r,ooo, chiefly through 
the instrumentality of Thomas McCutchan, 
Thomas Smith and Isaac Murphy. The so- 
ciety was formerU' in a more prosperous 
condition than at present. It is in the Blue 
Grass circuit. 

In the north part of the township an Epis- 
copal mission was once formed b}' some of 
the best citizens, which, after flourishing for 
a period, was abandoned. 

German Lutheran. — The followers of 
Martin Luther organized a church, more 
than a <|uarter of a century ago, at the vil- 
lage of Darmstadt, and erected a frame 
house of worship. It was chiefly through 
the zealous work of Rev. Wile, who served 
the congregation as pastor for many years, 
that this church was founded and built up. 
The church now has regular preaching and 
a good membership. In late years when 
the congregation had become too large for 
the old church, a new edifice, handsome 
and commodious, was erected. 

German Bvan<re/ica/. — On the old Horn- 
brook farm stands a good sized, neat, frame 
church built by this denomination, about 



forty years ago. The church has pros- 
pered, now has a large membership, and is 
doing good work in the Master's cause. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

George C. Beierlein, a native of Bava • 
ria, was born July 15, 1813. He em- 
igrated to America in 1846, and in the 
same year came to Vanderburgh county, 
where he afterward resided during life. He 
was a farmer by occupation. In July, 1856, 
he was united in marriage with Elizabeth 
Klousemeier, nee Elizabeth Weihe. She 
was born in Germany, April 24, 1822, 
and is the daughter of Herman and Fred- 
ericka Weihe. She came to America in 
1854, with her first husband, Charles 
Klousemeier, a native of Germany, who 
wedded her in that country in 1847. He 
was born in 1823, and died in 1855, in 
Newburgh, Ind., where he settled on com- 
ing to America. By the first mar- 
riage she had the following children: 
Louisa, born March 6, 1849; Frederick, 
November 27, 1S50; Caroline, December 
12, 1852, and Henry, November 26, 1854. 
The marriage of George C. Beierlein and 
Elizabeth Klousemeier resulted in the birth 
of five children: Anna K., born September 
12, 1857 (deceased); Herman, born Janu- 
ary 27, 1858; John, born January 2, 1861; 
Mar}^ born November 21, 1862, and Philli- 
pine, born December 13, 1S64. The fathei 
of these children died June 7, 1882. The 
mother survives and is now beyond sixty-si.x 
years of age. Her home is Scott town- 
ship, this count}-, where she and 
her children own a farm of sixty acres. 
Herm.vn Beierlein, the second of these 
children, was born and grew to manhood in 
the county, and is now one of the prosperous 
farmers of Scott township, residing on sec- 
tion 18. He is an influential member of the 
German Lutheran church, and politically 



58i 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 



ranks himself with the republican party. He 
is one of the highly respected people of the 
township. 

William S. Boha^non was born in Vir- 
ginia, January 21, 1828, and is the son of 
Booten and Nancy (Claten) Bohannon. 
Both parents were natives of the Old Do- 
minion, where they were married. This 
union resulted in the birth of the following 
children: Martha Jane (deceased), Sarah, 
Eliza (deceased), Nanc}', William S., 
Henry, Susan, James (deceased), George 
W. and Daniel. The first five were born in 
Virginia, and the last five in Kentucky, to 
which state the parents emigrated in the fall 
of 1828, settling in Cumberland county. 
There they lived for a great many years, 
later moving to Illinois, and still later going 
back to Caldwell county, Ky., where the fa- 
ther's death occurred. Still later the wid- 
owed mother returned to Cumberland 
county, and subsequently came to Warrick 
county, this state, where her death oc- 
curred. WiUiam S. Bohannon was about 
ten months old when his parents settled in 
Cumberland county. In 1851 he was united 
in marriage with Mary Ann Cooksey, 
daughter of Samuel and Nancy Cook- 
sey, both natives of Virginia, and in an 
early day removed to Kentucky ; later they 
came to Warrick county, this state, and 
here their deaths occurred. Mrs. Bohannon 
was born in Cumberland count}-, Ky., No- 
vember 18, 1834. The following children 
have been born unto their marriage : Laura 
J., Agnes, John H., James L. and five others 
that are deceased, of whom three died in 
infancy and two — Susan and Nancy — 
reached womanhood. Mr. Bohannon and 
wife settled in Warrick county, in 1852, and 
lived in that county for a period of thirteen 
years. In March, 1S65, they came to this 
county, and have since resided in Scott 
township. They belong to the Methodist 



Episcopal church, and enjoy the esteem of 
their neighbors. In politics Mr. Bohannon 
is a republican. During the civil war he 
served as one of the active home guards, 
of southern Indiana. He started out in life 
a poor man and has become prosperous, 
owning 265 acres of well-improved land. 

William Bower, ex-president of the 
board of count)' commissioners of Vander- 
burgh county, is a prominent farmer of Scott 
township. He was born near where he now 
resides, Februar^^ 5, 1836, the son of 
Thomas and Lucinda (Lee) Bower. The 
parents were born respectively in England 
and Ireland, the father June 15, 1811, and 
the mother June 27, 180S. Emigrating to 
America when quite young, the parents 
were married in New York state, and at an 
early date in the history of Indiana came 
west, and located in what is now Scott town- 
ship, Vanderburgh county, where the father 
followed farming. He was quite prominent 
and served as county commissioner for two 
terms, and during the late rebellion per- 
formed enrolling and enlisting service for the 
government. His death occurred October 
5, 1877, 'incl that of his wife September 23, 
1873. To these parents four children were 
born, three of whom survive. William 
Bower was reared on the farm, and through- 
out his manhood has been engaged in agri- 
cultural pursuits. He owns a fine farm of 
250 acres, twelve miles north of Evansville, 
within one mile of the E. & T. H. railroad, 
on which he raises stock principally. Mr. 
Bower entered public life about 1868, when 
he was elected township assessor, and served 
in that capacity for a period of six years. 
In 1884 he was elected as a democrat to the 
office of commissioner of Vanderburgh 
county, assuming the duties of the office in 
the following year, and in December, 
18S7, was chosen president of the board. 
Fidelity to trust and an undeviating rectitude 



SCOTT TOWNSHIP. 



585 



characterized his official career. During his 
term of office much important public work 
was done. The foundations of the new 
court-house were laid when he was a com- 
missioner. His good judgment and sagacity 
as a man of affairs made his conduct in this 
matter a valuable contribution to the public, 
and an hoiiorable page in his own record. 
In the construction of bridges, the improve- 
ment of the public roads throughout the 
county, and the dispatch of general business, 
Mr. Bower always acted wisely and with a 
broad, liberal spirit, such as the wealth and 
condition of the count}' justified. Mr. Bower 
has been thrice married. His first wife was 
Martha J. Staser, who was born July ii, 
1838, and died May 20, 1865. The issue of 
this marriage was three children, as follows : 
Maggie L., born February 13, 1861, and 
now Mrs. Charles W. Vogel: Clara B., born 
November 8, 1862, now Mrs. E. D. Mc- 
Avoy, and Frederick J., born November 
27, 1864, and died May 3, 1866. His sec- 
ond wife was Charlena Morrison, who was 
born April 14, 1S39, and died April 7, 1871. 
The issue of this union was Annie J., born 
September 12, 1867, now Mrs. William 
Blankenship, and Thomas S., born Decem- 
ber 21, 1S68, and died June 26, 1888. His 
third wife, to whom he was married Novem- 
ber 8, 1871, is Annie Dennison, who was 
born June 5, 1844', and to this union the 
following children have been born: D. W., 
born December 17, 1874; Martha E., born 
September 11, 1877; Kate M., born May 7, 
1880; John H., born March 5, 18S2, and 
James C, born August 17, 1885. 

Richard Bkowning was a native of Lon- 
don, England, born February 8, 1791. He 
was reared in the city and learned the opti- 
cian's trade, which he followed till he emi- 
grated to America. He came to America 
soon after 1820, and after residing in Massa- 
chusetts and New York for a short time, he 



came to Indiana and located in Scott town- 
ship about 1827. The lands he purchased 
of the government, and the deed to one tract 
has the signature of Pres. Jackson, in 1831, 
and another the signature of Martin Van 
Buren. He married in' his native country, 
December 30, 1817, wedding Lucy Wiles, 
a native of Bedford county, England, born 
October 2, 1797. To them, in England, 
wore born Richard S., January 22, 1819, 
and Lucy C, May 16, 182 1, and in America, 
were born Mary, February 10, 1824; Will- 
iam J., June II, 1826; Anthony S., March 
25, 1829; Thomas Wiles, Jul}- 3, 1831; 
George B., July 7, 1833; Annie E., Febru- 
ary 5, 1835; Ebenezer E., August 9, 1836. 
Of these, Richard, Mary, Annie and Eben- 
ezer are deceased. Richard died in Califor- 
nia, Mary and Annie in this country, and 
Ebenezer at Nashville, Tenn., while in the 
federal service during the rebellion. 
Soon after coming to this country Rich- 
ard Browning erected the first grist- 
mill in Scott township. This was a tread- mill, 
and with some changes has been in operation 
up to date. It is now the oldest mill in the 
county, and has been run by steam since 
about 1833. It is now owned and controlled 
by Geo. B. Browning, the son of the founder. 
Richard Browning continued in the county 
till his death, dying on the same tract of 
land he settled upon June 26, 1874; ^^^ ^'\i^ 
died in this county, August 26, 1872. 
George B. Browning was born and reared 
in this country, and has followed farming 
and milling for his occupation, his vocation 
being milling. He has made his home in 
the county during life, excepting a period 
of short duration spent in California. On 
October 2, 1856, he married Margaret, the 
daughter of George and Ellen Trimble. 
She was born in County Longford, Ireland, 
January 19, 1839. The following are their 
children: Mary E., William A., John T., 



5S6 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 



Morris G., Joseph E., and Lucy de- 
ceased. Mr. Browning and wife are mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal church. 
In politics he is a democrat. 

Henry Burggrabe was born in the 
kingdom of Prussia, German}-, Novem- 
ber 30, 1829, and is the son of Henry and 
Charlotte (Kramer) Burggrabe, both na- 
tives of Germany. They reared five child- 
ren, of whom Henry is the second. He 
was reared in Germany, and received a 
tliorough German education. • On reaching 
his majority he determined to emigrate to 
America, and in 1850, he came to this 
county and located June 27, at Evansville, 
where he. continued to live for about thirt}- 
years. He came to the city when it was 
but a small place, and the thirty years of 
his life which are identified with the growth 
of the city entitles him to more than a pass- 
ing mention in the history of the county. 
He came here a poor man, and on fixing 
the place as his future home, he set to work 
as a laborer, and by honest industry in the 
various occupations he has followed, as 
gardening, lumbering and railroading, he 
has become a prosperous and well respected 
citizen. In 1880 he removed from the city, 
and located on a farm near Inglefield, and 
for the last eight years he has been engaged 
in agriculture. He owns and cultivates a 
farm of 120 acres which he has all paid for 
and well improved, with good buildings, 
fences, fruit trees, etc. July 13, 1854, he was 
united in marriage with Mary Sagar, born 
in the kingdom of Hanover, Germany, De- 
cember 24, 1833. They have had eleven 
children, of whom ten are living: Henry, 
Ferdinand, William, John, Charles, Mollie, 
Fred, Christian, Augusta and George. Mr. 
and Mrs. Burggrabe and children belong to 
the Lutheran church, and have a wide circle 
of friends. During the rebellion Mr. Burg- 
grabe did service as a home guard. 



William Crisp was a native of England 
born October 12, 181 2. He died in Van- 
derburgh county, April 20, 187S. He was 
the son of James and Sarah (Cranfield) 
Crisp. Both parents were natives of Eng- 
land, and to them were born the following 
children : William, Elizabeth, Mary Ann and 
Sarah. In 1S33, James and Sarah Crisp 
and family emigrated to America, and in the 
same 3-ear settled in Vanderburgh county, 
on section 10 of Scott township, where 
the father and mother both lived until 
their deaths. The father died December 9, 
1863, aged seventy-six. The mother died 
April 27, 1.863, aged seventy-two. William 
Crisp was twenty-one years old when his 
parents came to America, and up to that 
time his work was that of a shepherd's son. 
His life in this county was devoted to the 
cultivation of a nursery. On September 14, 
1837, he was united in marriage with Avis 
Earl, daughter of John and Mar\' (Cran- 
field) Earl, both natives of England, who 
emigrated to America in 1820, and in 1822, 
came to the city of Evansville, and in 1828, 
settled in Scott township. Earl was named in 
honor of John Earl. He was an early set- 
tler of the township, and was identified with 
the history of the county for a number of 
years. Avis (Earl) Crisp was born in En- 
gland, January 8, 1S19, and died in this 
county, April 2, 1886- There were born to 
William and Avis Crisp, the following chil- 
dren: John (deceased), James B. (deceased), 
Mary Ellen (deceased), R. Fletcher, E. 
Wesley, Daniel N., Sarah E. and Mary A. 
(deceased). The surviving sons are farm- 
ers by occupation, and reside in Scott town- 
ship. The surviving daughter is the wife of 
Isaac Wood, of Evansville. R. F. Crisp, 
the eldest surviving son, was born in Scott 
township, August 6, 1845. February 27, 
1878, he was married to Margaret Henr}^, 
daughter of Robert and Mary (Laheed) 



SCOTT TOWNSHIP. 



587 



Henry. She was born in this county, 
Jul}' 19, 1850. The children born to 
this marriage are: Mary Avis and 
Edith. Mrs. Crisp's iirst husband was 
Robert Stinson, by whom she became the 
mother of one child, Annie Leona, by name. 
Daniel N. Crisp, the youngest son of Will- 
iam, was born in Scott township, March 15, 
1850, and was reared on the farm, and com- 
pleted his education at the Asbury Uni- 
versity. He was married March 24, 1880, 
to Sarah Ruston, daugliter of Richard and 
Jane (Law) Ruston, born January 29, 1855. 
Two children, John Wesley and Ada Belle, 
have been born of their marriage. 

Thomas Elliott was born in County 
Longford, Ireland, in the j'ear 1809, and 
was the son of Edward Elliott, of Irish 
lineage. Thomas was reared on the farm, 
and throughout his life made farming his 
occupation. He was united in marriage in 
the year 1837, with Jane Foster, daughter 
of John Foster, of Irish descent. Jane was 
born in County Cavin, Ireland., in 1820. 
Unto the marriage two sons were born in 
Ireland, William and John. In 1842 
Thomas and Jane Elliott and their son Will- 
iam emigrated to America, and in the same 
year settled in Scott township, Vanderburgh 
count}'. Here the father purchased a tract 
of 120 acres of land and began to till the 
soil in America. He was a practical and 
successful farmer, and though he never as- 
pired to public life or took to politics except 
as a faithful adherent of the republican 
party, he was a man well known. He was 
faithful as a friend, kind as a father, 
and progressive as a citizen. Dur- 
ing the time of his residence in this 
county, he was engaged in auctioneering a 
great deal in this and Warrick counties, and 
thus formed a wide acquaintance, by which 
he was highl}' respected. His death oc- 
curred in Vanderburgh county in 1876. 



His wife survives and resides with a son in 
Scott township. After coming to this 
country the following children were born to 
them: Edward, Margaret, James, Mary 
(deceased), Sarah, Jane and Thomas. It 
has been noted that two sons, William and 
John, were born in Ireland. John was left 
with an uncle in Ireland, by whom he was 
made a foster-son, and now he is a citizen of 
Wales. The various homes of all the other 
children, now living, are in Vanderburgh 
count}'. William Elliott was born in County 
Longford, Ireland, February 2, 1838, and was 
four years old when he came with his par- 
ents to America. His youth was spent on a 
farm, and he gained a common school edu- 
cation in the country schools of Vanderburgh 
county, where his home has continuously 
been. He followed farming in this country 
up to the outbreak of the civil war, and then 
enlisted October 8, 1861, in Company A, 
Forty-second Indiana Volunteer infantry as 
a private, with William Atchison as captain. 
The first regular engagement in which he 
took part, was at Perryville, Ky., where 
with others of his company he was taken 
prisoner by the enemy, and later was ex- 
changed. Among some of the important 
engagements in which Mr. Elliott took part 
were: Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, 
and the battles of the campaign to Atlanta. 
About this time the three years' term of 
service for which Mr. Elliott enlisted, ex- 
pired, and at Rome, Ga., he was, October 8, 
1864, discharged by reason of the expiration 
of term of service. He returned to his home 
in Vanderburgh county, and has since lived 
in the county. He purchased from his father 
the farm he now owns, and subsequently 
leased it for three years, during which 
time he went to Evansville and followed 
the carpenter trade. May 10, 1868, he was 
united in marriage with Annie M. McCut- 
chan, daughter of Thomas and Sarah Mc- 



588 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 



Cutchan, old settlers of the county. Mrs. 
Elliott was born in Scott township, this 
county, March 25, 1838. By their marriage 
have been born: Morris Leslie, deceased, 
Minnie B. and James E. In 1869 Mr. El- 
liott removed to the above mentioned farm, 
and has since been doing well at farming. 
Since the construction of the Straight Line 
railway, he has been ticket and freight agent 
at Elliott station. In politics he is a repub- 
lican. He is not a member of any church, 
but has given his aid to churches, especially 
to the Methodist. 

Robert Gray is a native of England, 
born in Cambridgeshire, November 24, 
1822, the son of Owen and Elizabeth 
(Beard) Gray. Both of the parents were 
natives of England; the father was born in 
Cambridgeshire, and the mother in Hunt- 
ingdonshire, and both died in their native 
country. Their mairiagc resulted in the 
birth of the following children : Mary Ann, 
Betsy, Robert, Jane, William. Of these 
children Betsy, Robert, and William emi- 
grated to America. In 1838 Betsy and 
Robert set sail for this country, and in Jan- 
uary of the following year landed and settled 
in Vanderburgh count}-, where they have 
since continued to make their homes. In 
1844 Robert returned to his native country, 
but remained there only a few months. 
Subsequently his brother William came out 
to this country, and is now a citizen of this 
count}-. At the time Robert made his visit 
to his native country, he was united in mar- 
riage, in 1844, with Lydia Low, a native of 
Cambridgeshire, England, born in 1823. 
Her death occurred in this country in the 
fall of 1886. This marriage has been 
favored with the birth of the following 
children: Owen, George, Sarah Jane, 
Joseph, Mattie, and Lewis. In the 
same year that Robert Gray came to 
Vanderburgh county, he settled on section 



10, Scott township, and since his marriage in 
England, and his return to America, he has 
continued to Hve there, excepting a period 
of five months spent in a second visit to 
England, in 1868. He has followed agri- 
culture for an occupation, and having been 
practical, has been successful. In politics 
he is decidedly a republican. He is a friend 
to schools, churches and public improve- 
ment, and is a progressive and much re- 
spected citizen. 

James G. Grimwood was born in Cam- 
bridgeshire, England, February 29, 1812, 
the son of Thomas Grimwood. He was 
reared in England, where he learned the 
blacksmith's trade. On reaching his major- 
ity he came to America, landing in 1833, 
and repaired to Columbus, Ohio. Here he 
followed his trade for four years, and in 
1837 came to this county and settled in sec- 
tion 3, Scott township, where he purchased 
land of the government. The year 1837 
was an early, though not the earliest year in 
the settlement of Scott township, and as 
James G. Grimwood, after his settlement, 
continued in the township till his death, 
which occurred April 23, 1882, he was iden- 
tified with the history of the county for over 
forty-five years. He was a farmer all his 
days, and was successful in the calling. 
Though beginning without capital he be- 
came one of the most extensive land-holders 
of the county, and at one time owned over 
500 acres of land lying in this and Warrick 
counties, a portion of which he sold before 
his death. He also owned valuable real 
estate in the city of Evansville. He 
was reserved in nature, faithful as a 
neighbor, kind as a father and husband, and 
enterprising as a citizen. In 1838 he was 
united in marriage with Hannah Grant, born 
in Cambridgeshire, England, 1814. She died 
in this county in 1865. She gave birth to the 
following children, who survive her: Har- 



SCOTT TOWNSHIP. 



589 



i-iet, Samuel N., Joseph, John F. and James 
G., and four that died in early life. 

Samuel N. Grimwood was born June 
15, 1846, in this county, and remained un- 
der the parental roof until he reached the 
age of twenty, and then set out for himself. 
Fourteen years of his life were spent in 
Evansxilie, where he was engaged in dray- 
ing. Since then he has been farming. In 
1S67 he married Hattie Clark, who was 
born in England, August 20, 1843. They 
have had the following children : Adrian E., 
William Henry and Carl Mark. 

John F. Grimwood was born in this 
county February 3, 1852; was reared on a 
farm, and has devoted his life to agriculture. 
In 1872 he married Laura J. Bohannon, born 
in Warrick count}-, June 15, 1854, and they 
have had these children: William, James, 
Hattie, Mary and Herbert F. 

Henry H. Hooker, M. D., was born in 
Center township, Vanderburgh county, Ind., 
in the year 1836. He is the son of 
Thomas Hooker, jr., a native of Tennessee, 
he the son of Thomas Hooker, sr., a native 
of Virginia. He was a son of William 
Hooker, a native of England. William 
Hooker was a son of an earh- immigrant to 
America, who came over some time prior 
to the French and Indian wars, in which he 
was a soldier. William Hooker was a rev- 
olutionary soldier, and his son, Thomas 
Hooker, sr., was a soldier of the war of 
181 2. Thomas Hooker, sr., was an early 
settler of middle Tennessee, and there 
reared most of his children, of whom there 
were seven. He and famil}' came to Indiana 
in 18 1 5, and settled in what is now Center 
township. Thomas Hooker, jr., was but a 
small bov when this settlement was made. 
He was raised to farming as an occupation. 
He was married in this county to Miss 
Mariette Eaton, and five children were born 
to them, one of whom died in infancy, and 



four still live, by names: Ophelia, Henry H.' 
Madison and Monroe. Henry H. Hooker 
was but a small boy when his parents were 
called away in death, and since early life he 
has been left to fight his own battle. He 
was homeless and drifted from place to 
place, working at whatever farm work he 
could secure. Meanwhile he attended the 
country schools, supporting himself with 
the earnintrs srained in the summer seasons. 
By close application to his studies, he gained 
a fair common school education, and at the 
age of nineteen years began the profession 
of school teaching, and for six years contin- 
ued to teach in the schools of Vanderburgh 
and Warrick counties. Subsequently he 
took up the study of medicine, reading 
with Thomas Runcie, M. D., once a promi- 
nent physician of Vanderburgh county. 
Later he entered the Rush Medical College 
at Chicago, and attended two full courses. 
In 1864 he located at Pleasantville, Ind., 
and began the practice of the profession. 
Here he continued to practice for about 
three years, and then removed to Elberfield, 
Ind., and had there an active practice for 
a period of about sixteen years, afterward 
locating where he now resides, in Scott 
township. He has throughout life had a 
large practice and has been remarkably 
successful. In 1864 he was united in 
marriage with Miss Mary H. Headen, born 
in Ireland in 1843. The marriage occurred 
in Vanderburgh county whither Mrs. Hooker 
and parents came in 1846. Their children 
are : Brainard, Sherry, Maggie, Mabel, Kit- 
tie, DeKress, Ross and Annie. Mr. Hooker 
is in the best sense self-made, and is re- 
garded as a representative citizen. He is a 
master Mason of Evansville lodge, Xo. 64. 
In politics he is a republican. 

J. W. Know'les was born in Scott town- 
ship, Vanderburgh county, Ind., December 
26, 1832, the son of Charles and Mary Ann 



590 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 



Knowles. The father was born in Kent 
county, Encrland, December 14, 1802, and 
died in Vanderburgh county, Januar}' 27, 
1873. The mother was born in Hampshire, 
England, on November 16, 1794, and died 
in Vanderburgh county, October 6, 1868. 
Her marriage with Charles Knowles oc- 
curred about 1825. She was at the time 
the widow of George Potts, with whom she 
had been united in marriage some six years 
previous, and whose death occurred in 1824. 
The father of our subject came to Vander- 
burgh county, in 1822, and thereafter con- 
tinued in the county, residing in Scott town- 
ship, following farming for an occupation. 
His marriage resulted in the birth of Charles, 
Eliza, Jame; Edward, Joseph W., Ellen J. 
and Edmond M. All are living except the 
youngest, who lost his life in the late rebel- 
lion, in which he was serving as a captain in 
the Union army. The subject of this sketch 
was reared on a farm, and educated in the 
country schools. He has devoted his life to 
agricultural pursuits, in which he has been 
successful. January r, 1857, he wedded : 
Mary Ann Peck, daughter of John and Es- 
ther Peck. Mrs. Knowles was born in 
Scott township, July 31, 1835. This mar- 
riage has been blessed by five children, of 
whom four are living: Clara, born Novem- 
ber 18, 1857: Charles A., born August 18, 
1859; John R., August 12, 1861; Ger- 
trude, October 20, 1863. Mr. Knowles is 
in politics a warm republican. During the 
civil war he served as a home guard. 

James and Mary (Lockyear) Maid- 
low were both natives of England, and 
came to America and located in Scott town- 
ship in 181S. Unto their marriage were 
born the following offspring: James, Henry, 
George, Mar}' Ann, William, Salina, Ed- 
mond, John Spencer and Emma. The fa- 
ther was called away in 1S51, aged eighty- 
seven 3'ears, and the mother died in 1822, 



aged sixty-two years. John Spencer Maid- 
low was born in Hampshire, England, April 
7, 1803, and died in this count}' April 7, 
1852. He came with his parents to this 
county in 1818, and in 1824 was united in 
marriage with Barbara Hornbrook, born in 
Devonshire, England, June 6, 1803, and 
died in this county August 26, 1865. Their 
marriage gave to them the foUowmg chil- 
dren: Mary, Henry, Sarah Ann, Phillip, 
Edward, Elizabeth, James, Emma Salina, 
Anne, Alice, Edmond, Alfred Spencer and 
Charles W. Henry Maidlow was born in 
Scott township, January 28, 1827, and is the 
oldest son among the above named chil- 
dren. He was reared on a farm, and re- 
ceived a fair education for his day. His 
life has been devoted to farming, 
in which he has achieved success.' 
January 11, 1849, '^'^ wedded Elizabeth 
Earl, daughter of John and Mary (Cran- 
fiekl) Earl, born in this county Septem- 
ber 10, 1830. They have had the following 
children: John Earl (deceased); Leslie 
James, born January 15, 1852; Eliza Alice, 
born December 9, 1853; William Earl, 
born December 16, 1855; Sarah Mariah, 
born January 31, 1858; Emma Salina, 
born March 16, i860; Mary Ann, born 
April 24, 1863; Kate Ellen, born June 8, 
1866; Fannie Avis, born April 6, 1869; 
Richard Henry, born October 26, 1872, 
and Elizabeth Susan, born January 18, 1S75; 
Edward Maidlow, the third son of John 
Spencer and Barbara Maidlow, was born in 
Scott township, November 12, 1S31, and 
was reared and educated on the farm, and 
his entire life has been devoted to agriculture. 
In 1870, June 12, he was united in marriage 
with Matilda Jane Ruston, daughter of Ed- 
win Ruston, a native of England. She was 
born in this count\-, January 21, 1851. The 
fruit of their marriage has been the follow- 
ing: Sarah Ellen, born May 14, 1871; 



SCOTT TOWNSHIP. 



S91 



Thomas Edward, born January 22, 1875; 
Florence, born March 27, 1877, and Irene 
Bertha, born December 23, 1879. 
Charles W. Maidlow, the ^-oungest son 
of John Spencer Maidlow, was born 
in this county November 10, 1851, and 
was also reared on the farm. His early 
schooling was received in the country 
schools, and at Racine College, Wiscon- 
sin, he completed a practical education. 
Farming has been his chosen occupation. 
November 25, 1873, he wedded Eugenia 
Jarred, born in this county, July 7) 1853. 
B}^ her he had two children: Charles E., 
born October 31, 1S74, and Dora E., born 
October 13, 1876. Their mother died Maj- 
6, 1879, and on November 21, 1880, their 
father married Martha E. Short, daughter 
of Lewis W. and Lucinda (Kirkpatrick) 
Short. Martha E. was born in Illinois, Feb- 
ruary 27, 1859. This second marriage has 
resulted in the birth of three children; Wil- 
bern, born September 6, 1881; Clarence, 
born March 23, 1884, and Lucinda, born 
October 6, 1885. 

William D. Miller was born in Gibson 
county, Ind., May 5, i860, the son of Jacob 
and Margaret (Winkleman) Miller. The 
parents were born in Germany, the father in 
1813 and the mother in 1826; both died in 
Gibson county, Ind., he in 1867, she in 1873. 
The father came to America about 1830, 
the mother in 1847. Shorth- after their 
coming to America, they settled in Vander- 
burgh count}-, where their marriage took 
place. This was blessed by the birth of the 
following children: Mar}-, Carrie (deceased), 
Annie, Lizzie and William D. (twins). The 
subject of this sketch is the youngest of 
these children, and when he was but seven 
years old his father was called away in 
death. His father was a tailor by trade, and 
up to one yciw prior to his death lived in 
town; thus the childhood of William was 



spent in town. When his father left town 
he removed to a farm in Gibson county, 
and thereafter his home was on a farm up 
to the age of twenty years. He received a 
common school education in the country 
schools. When he was thirteen years old 
his mother died and he was left to the mer- 
cies of the world; his home was here and 
there, and up to the age of twenty years he 
worked by the day at farm work. On 
reaching the above age, he obtained em- 
plo3ment in the railroad office at Patoka, 
Ind.; and here he assisted eighteen 
months, becoming actjuainted with the office 
work, and learning telegraph}'. In July, 
1882, he was made depot agent and tele- 
graph operator at Inglefield for the E. & T. 
H. R. R. Co., which position he has since 
held. He is also the agent for the Adams 
express company at that point. In 1884 he 
formed a partnership with Joseph Ruston, 
and began merchandising at Inglefield. Sub- 
sequently he purchased Ruston's interest, 
and is now the only merchant at Inglefield. 
He is also engaged in the buying of 
grain. In March, 1884, he was appointed 
postmaster at Inglefield, and holds the posi- 
tion now. He is a practical business man, 
shrewd, energetic and prosperous. In 
October, 1886, he was united in marriage 
with Mattie Rowland, born July 27, 1866, 
daughter of Thomas J. and Laura Rowland. 
Her father was born in Cumberland county, 
Ky., May 4, 1833, the son of Wade and 
Winnie (Murphy) Rowland. Mr. Rowland 
was reared in Kentucky. Soon after reach- 
ing his majority he removed to Warrick 
county, and there married Laura Bush, 
March 12, 1856. She was born in Illinois, 
November 14, 1839, the daughter of Will- 
iam and Sally (Simmerman) Bush. Mr. 
Rowland and wife have had the following 
children: Dora, Wade, William, Grant and 
Mattie. Mr. and Mrs. Rowland came to 



592 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 



this township in 1865, where he has followed 
farming'. 

William Peck was a native of England, 
and emigrated to America in 1820, and 
settled at Evansville. He was the father of 
the following children : Elizabeth, Sarah, 
Martha and John. John Peck was born in 
England in 1800, and died in this county in 
1845. He was a farmer by occupation. In 
1832 he was united in marriage with Esther 
Marshall, and the marriage was blessed by 
the birth of Mary Ann, John W. and 
Nancy C. (deceased). John W. Peck was 
born in this county September 7, 1837. 
He was reared on a farm and educated in 
the district schools. He began farming at an 
early age and devoted his life to the calling, 
excepting a period of three years' service in 
the United States army. In August, 1862, 
he enlisted as a private in Company F, 
Fourth Indiana cavalry, and was mustered 
out of the service in July, 1865. After 
the close of the war he returned to his na- 
tive county, where he has since resided. 
In 1870 he was united in marriage with 
Ann Bower, daughter of Thomas and Lu- 
cinda Bower. Mrs. Peck was born in 
Scott township in 1842. Her marriage has 
been blessed by the birth of the following: 
Thomas William, Gertrude, John F., Rob- 
ert and Albert (deceased). In politics Mr. 
Peck is a decided republican. In the spring 
of 1872 he was elected as trustee of Scott 
township, and afterward served four terms 
of two years each. He is not a member of 
any church, but is of Methodist inclination. 
He is a member of the G. A. R., and is a 
representative citizen. 

John G. Potts, one of the best known 
farmers and citizens of V^anderburgh county, 
was born in Scott township, October 14, 
1824, the son of George and Mary Ann 
(Maidlow) Potts. The father was born in 
Lancashire, England, came to America in 



181 7, and located in this county, purchasing 
the homestead on which the son resides. 
He was married in this county in 1820, to 
Mary Ann Maidlow, born in Hampshire, 
England. She came to this county in 1819. 
She had by this marriage three children; 
Ellen (deceased), Emma (deceased), and 
John G. Mr. Potts was born shortly after 
the death of his father, but the widowed 
mother continued on the old homestead 
where the son was reared. The mother was 
wedded later by Charles Knowles. Subse- 
quently and after John G. had reached his 
majorit}', he took possession of the home- 
stead in the main, and here has since en- 
gaged in farming. In this he has been 
successful, due to his untiring energy and 
perseverance. In the fall of 185 1, he was 
united in marriage with Susan Stephens, 
daughter of Richard and Elizabeth Stephens. 
She was born in Dartmouth, England, 
March 22, 1S22. She and a brother 
emigrated to America in 1849, and 
located in this county, where their uncle and 
aunt, James and Esther (Weeks) Cawson, 
had settled in 1818. The latter emigrated 
to America the year previous, and were de- 
tained in Pennsylvania during the winter of 
1817-18 by being ice-bound. In the spring 
the ice broke up, and an ice gorge destroyed 
their boat, and, in consequence, much of 
their effects were lost. A second boat was 
constructed and then set afloat. In the 
same year they landed at Evansville, and 
made their settlement in Scott township, 
where they continued for a number of years, 
dying in this county- eventually. Yet they 
made several removals, visiting their native 
country (England) in later life. A short 
time after Miss Stephens and her brother 
came to this countr}-, she was married to 
Mr. Potts. To them have been born four 
children: Esther, Edith, John and Cawson. 
Only the first and last are livmg. In politics 



SCOTT TOWNSHIP. 



593 



Mr. Potts is a republican. For twelve 
j-ears he has served as trustee of Scott 
township. 

Simpson Ritchey was born in North 
Carolina, the son of James and Elizabeth 
(Simpson) Ritchey, natives of Ireland, who 
emiiirated to America some time prior to 
the American revolution, in which struggle 
James Ritchey was a soldier from the begin- 
ning to the end. To James and Elizabeth 
Ritchey were born the following: Adam, 
James, Simpson, John, William, and Mary 
and Isabella. On coming to America these 
parents made their first settlement in North 
Carolina, but after peace had been declared, 
the family removed to east Tennessee and 
settled at Knoxville, where they remained a 
short time; later, they went into Kentucky, 
and finally the parents removed to Arkansas, 
where thej' died. The third son, Simpson 
Ritchey, was married in Livingston county, 
Ky., to Mary Bowling, a native of Maryland. 
She was the daughter of Alexander and 
Patsie (Williams) Bowling, he a native of 
Scotland and she of Wales. They emi- 
grated to America a short time pre\'ious to 
the revolution and settled on the frontier of 
Maryland, where their daughter Mary was 
born. Later this family came to Kentuck}-, 
and here Simpson Ritchey and Mary 
were married. This union gave them 
the following children: Simpson, William, 
Wesley, Orilla, Franklin and James, all of 
whom are dead but William. Simpson 
Ritchey and wife, and the first two children, 
removed, from Kentucky to Indiana, Octo- 
ber 14, 1812. The family joined the Mc- 
Callister settlement, above the present site 
of Evansville. Subsequently removals were 
made, and eventually the father and mother 
became citizens of Gibson count}-, where 
their deaths occurred. William Ritchey 
was born in Livingston county, Ky., in 
1810, July 3, and was but a little over two 



3'ears old when his parents brought him to 
this county. April 18, 1840, he was united 
in marriage with Nancy Rodgers, daughter 
of William and Elizabeth (Marquess) Rodg- 
ers; he was of Irish descent and she of 
French. Mrs. Ritchey was born in this 
county March 18, 1820, and died in the 
count}^ March 17, 1SS3. She gave birth to 
the following children: Orilla, James S., 
Elizabeth (deceased), Mary (deceased), 
Newton, Lucian, Matilda, Martha, Nancy, 
Alice, William, Robert, Anne, Thomas, 
Julia Ann (deceased), and two oth- 
ers who died early. William Ritchey 
has followed farming for an occupation, and 
his life has been one of industry and hon- 
esty. He is one of the oldest and best re- 
spected citizens of Vanderburgh county. 
He has always been active in politics, first 
as a whig, then as a republican. Jame.s S. 
Ritchey, a son of William R., was born in 
Armstrong township, April 4, 1841. March 
19, 1863, he was united in marriage with 
Mary Dale}', daughter of Thomas and 
Phoebe Dale}-, both of Kentucky origin. 
Mrs. Ritchey was born in Daviess county, 
Ind., January i, 1844. To tJiem has been 
born one child, Charles Lincoln, born Feb- 
ruary 6, 1864. Soon after his marriage, 
Mr. Ritchey settled on his present home- 
stead, in section 4, of Scott township, and 
here has been a successful farmer. Mr. 
and Mrs. Ritchie are members of the Free 
Methodist church. In politics he is a 
republican. 

Richard Ruston was born in Cam- 
bridgeshire, England, in 1820, where in 1840, 
he wedded Jane Laws, also a native of that 
shire, born in 1820. While they remained 
in England, they had ^w^ children: George, 
Emma, Ann, Jane and Elizabeth. In 1852 
the family emigrated to the United States, 
and on January 7 of the next year landed at 
Evansville. They went into Scott township 



5H 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 



in the same year and made a settlement. 
After remaining one year, they moved to 
Warrick county, where they stayed four 
years, and then returned to Scott township, 
since when the homes of the family have 
been in this county. Five other children 
were born to them in this country: Susan, 
Sarah, Thomas, Joseph (deceased), and 
Hannah. The mother lived to see all her 
children grown, and was laid to rest, her 
death occurring in the fall of 1878. The 
father survives, a respected resident of 
Evansville. His active da3's were spent so 
wisely and prudently, that although unaided 
by anything but his own industrious habits, 
he is able to spend old age in comfort, con- 
gratulating himself on having raised to man- 
hood and womanhood a family worthy of 
and holding the esteem and neighborly affec- 
tion of a wide circle of friends. George 
RusTiN, who was born in Cambridgeshire, 
England, October 17, 1843, was but nine 
years old when his parents set sail for Amer- 
ica. Consequently much of his childhood 
was spent in this state, and much of his edu- 
cation received in our common schools. He 
chose agriculture as his occupation and has 
followed it very successfully. In 1875 he 
was married to Caroline Emma Peck, 
daughter of Richard and Mary Ann Peck, 
born in this count}' February 3, 1847. The}' 
have three children, Percival Edgerton, and 
Albert Leroy and Alfred Lambert, the lat- 
ter twins. 

John Ruston, one of the best-known 
farmers of this township, is a son of John 
Ruston, who was born in Cambridgeshire, 
England, March 5, 1814. The latter. was 
the son of Richard and Mary (Farmer) 
Ruston, who came to this country in 1853, 
and afterward passed their lives in Scott 
township. The husband died April i, 1857, 
and the wife April 21st of the same year, 
and both lie at rest in the Hornby grave- 



yard. Their children's names were Robert, 
John, Elizabeth, Edward, Richard, Daniel, 
Farmer, and Mary C. The senior John 
Ruston was raised on the farm in England 
and followed the occupation to which he was 
bred. In 1838 he was married in England 
to Mary Svvanson, also a native of Cam- 
bridgeshire, born September, 181 4. In 
1840 they emigrated to America with the 
child they then had, Emma, and arrived at 
Evansville January i, 1841. In the same 
year they settled in Scott township. In this 
country the following children were born 
to them: John, Cliarles, Harriet, Ann, and 
James. All the children are deceased but 
John, Emma, and Harriet. The daughters 
live in Kansas. The mother died September 
29, 1877, and the father February 17, 1886, 
and both are buried in Oak cemetery. 
John Ruston, the eldest son, was born July 7, 
1841. He was married January 17, 1866, to 
Ann, daughter of Matthew and Catherine 
Park, born December 10, 1844. They have 
two children, Charles Alfred, born January 
28, 1867, and Maggie, born February 10, 
1869. 

John Sansom was born in Huntingdon- 
shire, England, March 4, i8io, and is the 
son of William and Elinor (Saunders) San- 
som. Mr. Sansom was reared in his native 
country, where he received a limited educa- 
tion by attending night school. At the age 
of twenty years he determined on emigrat- 
ing to America, and accordingly came to 
the United States in the year 1830, locating 
in the same year in Vanderburgh county. 
Subsequently he purchased at different 
times, two tracts of government land which 
he still owns. He has become an extensive 
landholder and is one of the most prosperous 
men of the county. May 4, 1832, he was 
united in marriage with Eliza Elliott, a 
native of England, born in 181 1. This 
marriage resulted in the birth of fourteen 



SCOTT TOWNSHIP. 



595 



children, and the mother was called away 
in death. In 1853 Mr. Sansom paid his na- 
tive land a visit of some si.\ months' dura- 
tion and then returned to this country and 
since has continued on his farm in Scott 
township. In 1874 Mr. Sansom married for 
a second wife Sarah Pickett, a native of Eng- 
land, born in 1821. Mr. Sansom throughout 
life has been a democrat. In the early history 
of Scott township he served as a school 
trustee for several 3'ears. He is not a mem- 
ber of an\- church, yet is of the " Hard- 
Shell" Baptist persuasion. He has ever 
taken a deep interest in the preservation of 
the history of his community, and relates 
some interesting reminiscences. He has a 
bureau made of lumber from walnut trees 
which grew from nuts he planted himself. 
Mr. Sansom is one of the oldest and best 
known citizens of Scott township. 

Samuel Scott was a native of Virginia, 
and was married in that state. In an earh- 
day he came west and settled in Kentucky, 
and as early as 1817, came to Vanderburgh 
county and settled in section 17, of what is 
now called Scott township, which township 
was so named in his honor. He was the 
father of the following children: Mary, 
Eliza, Lizzie, Grandville, Maria, Jane and 
Washington, all of whom are deceased. 
Samuel Scott was the builder of the first 
house in Scott township. He lived to be 
quite aged, and lost his life while making a 
"fiat-boat trip" to New Orleans. Grand- 
\TLLE Scott, the elder of his sons, was 
born in Kentucky, October 20, 1813, and 
was but a boy when his parents came to this 
county. He was reared on a farm and fol- 
lowed farming for an occupation. He was 
united in marriage with Ann Farr, Mav 14, 
1836. She was a native of Pennsjlvania, born 
September 5, 181 4, the daughter of George 
Farr, an early settler of Vanderburgh county. 
Her marriage with Grandville Scott was 



blessed by the birth of the following child- 
ren: Lavina, Lizzie, Edward (deceased), 
Washington (deceased), Samuel (deceased), 
Richard, Winfield, Abbie, Cornelia (de- 
ceased). The only children now living in 
the countv arc Richard and Abbie. Their 
mother was called away in death, Septem- 
ber 3, 1861, and their father July 11, 1867. 
Richard Scott, who occupies, with his 
sister Abbie, the old homestead, is one of 
the representative farmers of the township. 
He was born in the township September 
26, 1848. He owns over 200 acres of 
land, of which about 100 are under culti- 
vation. In politics he is a democrat. 
Washington Jackson Scott was born in 
this county, February 12, 1820, the younger 
of the sons of Samuel Scott. He died May 
19, 1886, in Scott township, his birth place. 
He was raised on a farm, and that was his 
vocation during life. He was married 
February 15, 1848, to Delia Ann Jarred, 
born August 21, 1829, died November 21, 
1854, daughter of Samuel Jarred, an early 
settler of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Scott 
had the following children: James Wash- 
ington (died), Mary Ann, Eliza Jane, Delia 
Ann, and Sarah Elizabeth. 

John C. Staser, at one time one of the 
most prominent farmers in Vanderburgh 
county, was born in Baden, German}', No- 
vember 6, i8i2. His father, John Fred- 
erick Staser, was a farmer, and in the year 
181 7, with his wife and two sons, Conrad 
and John C, came to Indiana. They were 
Germans, and could not understand the 
Englisii tongue. In Evansville, then a very 
small village, they found but one person who 
could talk in their native language. They 
remained but a short time in Vanderburjih 
county, and decided to move to Harmony, 
in Posey county, there to join the German 
socialists. This action was necessitated 
by the fact that they found themselves 



506 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 



nearly destitute of means and out of employ- 
ment. In 1818 the family returned to this 
count}^ and after a residence of nine years 
in Union township, the elder Staser settled 
upon a tract of land he had entered in Scott 
township, about nine miles north of E%-ans- 
ville, where he remained until about 1850. 
He was a successful pioneer farmer and a 
fine t^vpe of the German citizen of that day, 
industrious, thrifty, cordial and hospitable. 
His death occurred in 1863. Conrad Staser 
was a prominent man, well known through- 
out the county, and for a time occupied the 
office of county judge. John C. Staser, 
the younger of the two brothers, grew to 
manhood amid the stern hardships of life in 
the woods in pioneer days. He was with- 
out the simplest educational advantages, his 
entire youth being spent in the various forms 
of hard labor incident to clearin<r and 
cultivating the fields. In 1837, he mar- 
ried Miss Margaret Clinton, daughter 
of Jonathan Clinton, of Warrick county, and 
after his marriage his wife taught him to 
read. He possessed considerable natural 
ability, a retentive memory, and quick per- 
ceptions. By dint of his own persistent 
efforts he became well informed. He had 
a special fondness for legal learning, and 
unaided became sufficiently versed in law to 
try cases in the county and justice's courts. 
As a farmer he was thrifty and successful. 
At one time he owned about 1,500 
acres of land. He was always ener- 
getic, watchful and shrewd. He was tli5r- 
oughly familiar with the lands in Scott and 
adjoining townships, and when the great 
influx of German immigrants occurred in 
the latter part of the thirties, he did much to 
mold their settlement. Many sought his 
advice and assistance, on account of which 
he became an acknowledged leader among 
the German population of that section of 
the county. His life was comparatively un- 



eventful, his energies being devoted to the 
development of his estate, which at his 
death amounted to at least $150,000. Mr. 
and Mrs. Staser had ten children — four 
boys and six girls. The sons are all living; 
three of the daughters are deceased. His 
death occurred March 10, 1886; that of his 
wife nearly twent}- years earlier, April, 1866. 
John C. Staser, a prominent j'oung 
farmer of Scott township, was born in Van- 
derburgh county, November 8, 1857, and is 
the son of John and Margaret Staser, above 
mentioned. He was reared on a farm and 
educated in the country schools. He chose 
agriculture as his vocation, and remained 
with his father until the latter was called 
away by death, and then he received posses- 
sion of the homestead. October 19, 1885, 
he was united in marriage with Margaret 
Major, who was born in this county, June i, 
i867- ^^- Staser is an enterprising and 
progressive young man, and much respected. 
In politics he is an ardent democrat. 

William Schomburg, the present trustee 
of Scott township, was born in that town- 
ship October 18, 1858, the son of Christian 
and Charlotte (Lipking) Schomburg. The 
father was born in Germany in 1824, and 
died in Vanderburgh county in 1882, com- 
ing to this county about 1850. He was a 
farmer by occupation. In this countv he 
was united in marriage with Charlotte Lip- 
king, also a native of Germany, born in 
1826, and yet living. They were the par- 
ents of six children, of whom four are living : 
Henry, Christian, William and Ferdinand. 
The mother, when wedded by Christian 
Schomburg, was the widow of Florence 
Buchenfield, who was also a native of Ger- 
many, and who, by his marriage with the 
mother of our subject, became the father of 
two children: Frederick and Lewis. Will- 
iam Schomburg was reared on a farm, 
where he worked as a youth, and where the 




''^^-''^-^^-*-«--2-'-''J^ cC_-e_^_^ <i.^--?^ 



CENTER TOWNSHIP. 



599 



honest and industrious efforts of his man- 
hood have been successful in gaining him a 
support in life, and established for himself a 
good name and character. He was married 
November 2, 1882, wedding Louisa Froli- 
bieter, daughter of John H. and Ingel 
Frohbieter, both natives of German^'. 
She was born in Scott township, August 16, 
1859. To this marriage have been born 
two children, John, born September 20, 
1883, and Ola, born September 13, 1885. 
At the time of his marriage Mr. Schomburg 
settled down where he now lives and began 
farming for a life occupation. He began 
life with a limited capital, and now owns 
eighty-one acres of good land. In the 
summer of 1887, by accident he lost his 
right arm, and was thus disqualified for 
farm labor. In the spring election of 1888, 
his fellow-citizens called upon him to till the 
important position of township trustee, and 
to this position he was elected in April of 
the same year. He is a man of clear judg- 
ment, and is able to fill the office with credit. 
He has a fair German education, and 
although he attended the English schools 
but little, he reads and writes the English 
language, and is generally well informed. 
He is a warm friend to education 
and educational interests, as all in- 
telligent citizens should be. In politics 
he is a democrat. He and his wife are 
members of the German Lutheran church. 
Center Township was organized Septem- 
ber 6, 1843. Originall}' its territory was 
divided between the ancient townships of 
Pigeon and Armstrong, and later its north- 
ern part belonged to Scott township, and for 
three years its southern part to Knight 
township, as at first constructed. It is now 
bounded on the north by Scott township, on 
the east by Warrick county, on the south 
by Knight and Pigeon townships, and on the 
west by Perry and German townships. Its 
35 



surface is hilly and the soil thin, though, by 
proper cultivation, productive. The south- 
ern border is swept by Pigeon creek, the 
largest stream traversing the interior of the 
count}' of Vanderburgh. Other smaller 
streams are found among its hills, chief of 
them being Blue Grass creek, so named by 
the earliest settlers, who found blue grass 
growing about its vicinity. To this da}' a 
considerable part of the township is called 
"blue grass country." Originally the entire 
township was heavily timbered. 

Early Settlers. — In the spring of 1808, 
the progressive pioneer, James Anthony, 
while exploring Pigeon creek, discovered 
what he considered a good mill-seat, and 
believing in the early and rapid settlement 
of the country, proceeded to Vincennes, 
where, on July 28, he made the first entry 
of land in the township. His mill was not 
built until 1814, and whether or not he took 
up his residence here at an earlier date can 
not be determined. It was not until iSio or 
181 1, that settlers came in with the intention 
of making this new country their homes or 
becoming freeholders, and of establishing a 
civilized community in forests where still 
lingered the smoke from the savage's wig- 
wam, and the constant howl of the wolf. 

Among the first, came John Sharer, 
Matthias Whetstone, George Linxweiler, 
Absalom Vann and Nathan Young. John 
Sharer, with rare good luck, discovered 
what was later known as the Ingle spring, 
and near there raised his rude cabin. He 
at once cleared a garden spot and cornfield, 
and planted a peach orchard, which in a few 
years bore e.xcellent fruit. He was a "good 
citizen, for some time a magistrate, and in the 
later years of his life a part owner 
of the Negley grist-mill. The Matthias 
Whetstone farm on the old Princeton road 
a short distance north of Mechanicsville, in 
section 32, wa§ a w'ell known locality in 



600 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 



early times. For many years the residence 
there was kept as a public-house or tavern- 
stand and became justly celebrated. There 
were three brothers of the elder Whet- 
stones, David, Matthias and Henr^^ The 
Vanns and Youngs formed a part of the 
Whetstone settlement. They were all Ken- 
tuckians, and valuable pioneer citizens. 
Peter, a son of David Whetstone, fell into 
disgrace. He stole a horse, was appre- 
hended, examined and held to bail, his father 
becoming his suret}^. When court met Peter 
did not appear, and the bond was forfeited. 
The payment of the forfeiture completely 
ruined David Whetstone. 

George Linxweiler, the progenitor of the 
large and well-known family of that name, 
and one of the first Germans to migrate to 
this part of the great west, who landed in 
Indiana territory opposite the mouth of Green 
river, in March, 1806, and for a time lived 
on the widely known J. B. Stinson farm in 
Perr}- township, came to the Whetstone 
settlement in iSii and there founded his 
home. Industrious, economical, and honor- 
able, he at once gained the respect of the 
settlers and through a long life of useful- 
ness maintained a high position in popular 
esteem. His sons, William, Christ, and 
Isaac, and their descendants, have been con- 
spicuous in developing the township and 
county. 

To the south of this settlement, on the 
high hills near Pigeon creek, a few years 
later, Thomas Skelhorn settled; and soon 
afterward came Jonathan Goss. This place 
was long known as the Skelhorn hill. Be- 
tween Skelhorn's and Whetstone's, Ashley 
Stanfield entered land and built his humble 
home. For some time his cabin stood soli- 
tary and alone in all that section. Then 
George France pushed his way into the 
wilderness and became Stanfield's neighbor. 
A dozen years or more passed, however, 



before this locality struck the fancy of any 
other settlers. 

From the oldest states, and from across 
the sea, came enterprising and intelli- 
gent men and women. Among the first 
of these were D. F. Goldsmith and 
Everton Kennerly, both useful and 
prominent men in their da}'^, each serv- 
ing as county commissioner at different 
times, and being closely connected with the 
public affairs of the county. The former 
built the first court-house in Evansville, and 
the latter was well known as a faithful 
guardian of the public interests. In 1S18, 
Judge William Olmstead emigrated from 
New York, and David Negley from Penn- 
sylvania. These men were intelligent 
citizens, and did nmch to give tone and senti- 
ment to society. Judge Olmstead was early 
called to the bench as an associate justice, 
served acceptably as county commissioner, 
and by his pure and wise private and public 
life rose to a lofty place in the esteem of 
his countrymen. Deacon Negley, as he was 
called, soon became the proprietor of the 
well-known mill site on Pi<reon creek. 
Here with apparent fitness, a few words of 
description maj- be devoted to this useful in- 
stitution of the olden times. The first mill 
was erected by James Anthony, as early as 
1S14. This was a rude log structure about 
twent\-four feet square, with a clapboard 
roof, the boards being pinned on with wooden 
pegs — not a bit of iron being used in its 
construction. One side of the house rested 
on posts set far out in the stream, and the 
other on the edge of the bank. There was 
one run of buhrs driven by an undershot 
wheel of small dimensions, against which the 

water was turned bv a little los. dam vener- 
es & 

ally in bad repair. The meal produced by 
this mill was of a very inferior quality. 
Deacon Negley paid $5,000 for the mill 
property, the favorable location being the 



CENTER TOWNSHIP. 



601 



onlv valuable part of the purchase. Joel 
Lambert, of Henderson, Ky., a man of 
means, associated himself with Mr. Negley, 
and they soon added improvements which 
became a great help to the surrounding 
countrv. The mill was the centre of attrac- 
tion for all the settlers within a radius of 
forty miles. Previous to its operation, set- 
tlers had their grinding done at Red Banks, 
or resorted to the old-fashioned pestle and 
mortar to pulverize their corn. The Neg- 
ley mill stood for many years, being at length 
destroyed by fire. 

Most of those who came from the shires 
of England passed on to Scott township, but 
the good influence of their integrity and in- 
telligence spread through all the settlements. 
For convenience sake most of the settlers 
occupied lands along the state road, running 
from Evansville to Princeton, then an estab- 
lished highwav, though but partially c\it 
out. The first to push to the eastward and 
open up the forests away from the road was 
Charles Mcjohnston, the elder, a progressive 
Irishman, who, in 1S19, floated his boat up 
Pigeon creek, and landed at the Skelhorn 
hill. There he unloaded his household 
goods and farm implements, among which 
were two wagons, the first brought to this 
part of the countrv. After looking about 
for a desirable location he settled in 
the northern part of the township, 
and very soon thereafter became a free- 
holder. He acted an honorable part in the 
early history of the county, and his children 
and his children's children have preserved in 
honor the ancestral name. Charles Mc- 
johnston, who as a boy, nine years of age, 
came with his father, still lives on the lands 
which in those early days, with many a 
sturdy blow, he helped to rescue from their 
wild state. Near Mcjohnston's, to the south- 
ward, was the honie of William Erskine, 
who reached the countv about Christmas, 



1819, with his three sons, John, Andrew 
and William, and one daughter. 

About this time came Joshua Stephens, 
a tanner by trade, who afterward be- 
came well known in all parts of the 
county. In about two years thereafter a 
brother of this man, Silas Stephens, a sad- 
dler who had learned his trade as an appren- 
ticed lad, also came into the neighborhood, 
and afterward the two were joined by their 
father, David. These were as honorable 
and clever men as could be found. They 
were men of principle, of integrity, and of 
considerable natural ability, but without the 
adornments of polite education. By indus- 
try and economy they rose rapidly; Silas to 
the bench as an associate justice, and Joshua 
to a high place in the affections of the peo- 
ple. At first Joshua conducted a tannery,, 
and Silas a saddlery, both on a small scale; 
they enlarged their business as the country 
grew and became leading citizens and 
wealthy men for their day. While working 
at his bench in a small shop, Silas won the 
affections of JuHa, the daughter of Gen. 
Evans, whom all were wont to praise as a 
sweet character. The marriage was sol- 
emnized in the good old-fashioned way, and 
the "infair" was attended by all the leading 
people of the day. 

The first settlers in Blue Grass were 
Alanson Baldwin, William Patterson, Cyrus 
Paul, Gen. Ramsey, and others who came 
in about 1819. They were all from New 
England, and composed what was known as 
the Yankee settlement. They were intelli- 
gent, industrious people, all of them; knew 
how to make ax-handles, cradles, shingles, 
and all sorts of devices to add to the com- 
fort of frontier life. The backwoodsmen 
had not been used to the many contrivances 
devised by these ingenious Yankees and 
looked with amazement at the results of 
their work. William Blevans, an old-time 



602 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 



shoemaker, Davis Bullock, a grand rail- 
splitter, Julius Gibson, a successful hunter, 
Parker Aydelotte, James Russell, Porter 
Fuller, Sylvester Boardman, W. C. Osborn, 
Benjamin F. Barker, Henry Wagoner, 
Daniel and Zera Fairchild, Thomas Ward, 
James Collins, E. Waters, S. M. Ross, 
Thomas Hooker, and Eli Higens were 
among the pioneers not elsewhere men- 
tioned, who came in prior to 1825. 
What here appears shows that there was 
quite an influx of people, which reached its 
climax about 1819, and then subsided. 
There was a great run after land, and in a 
year or two buyers regretted their pur- 
chases. Hard times followed, and the era 
of cut money came on with that distress 
which forms a part of the general history of 
the county. Settlers poured in rapidly from 
all quarters soon after the general improve- 
ment plans of 1835-6. Land speculators 
bought large bodies of land, chief of these 
being Robert Barnes and Francis Amor}-. 
This inrushing of people was the final act in 
the complete settlement of Center township. 
Among those who came at an earl}- day, 
and yet not among the first, who have 
wielded an influence for good, and have oc- 
cupied an honorable place in the community, 
are the McCutchans, Knowlses, Brodies, 
Mofflts and many others. 

Early Industries, Gciiiics, etc. — Depart- 
ures from primitive methods of husbandry 
were very slowly made during the first 
years of the new west's history. Up to 
1830 the farmers of Center township sent 
to New Harmony to procure plows to break 
their lands. The establishment of Presley 
Pritchett's blacksmith shop in Evansville, 
and of Col. Seth Fairchild's in Mechanics- 
ville, were great improvements in the 
county, but it was some time before all 
wants of this kind were conveniently sup- 
pHed. New Harmony was also the favor- 



ite resort for those who had wool to be 
carded. The German socialists there were 
progressive and ingenious enough to have 
these valuable improvements. There were 
no cotton gins in the country until Nicholas 
Robinson, of Big Creek in Gibson county, 
put up one. That of Saunders Hornbrook, 
in Scott township, w-as the first and perhaps 
the only one in this immediate vicinity. The 
first horse-mill was built by Charles 
Mcjohnston some time prior to 1830. In 
this township in early days there were no 
industries pursued aside from farming ex- 
cept a tannery, the Negley mill already de- 
scribed, and some still houses. The making 
of whiskey became quite an industry. The 
market for corn was limited, and the distil- 
lers offered better prices than the mer- 
chants and traders. Up to 1825 the woods 
of Center township were full of all kinds of 
game. 

Chitrches. — In the early days the settlers 
of Center township attended divine worship in 
the log cabins of pioneers, or at the school- 
houses whenever a minister of the gospel 
pushed his way into the wilderness and 
announced his readiness to expound the' 
word of God. Annually they went to the 
camp-meetings held by the Presbyterians 
and Baptists. In early days the Baptists 
predominated in this locaHty. The Wheelers 
were about the first to preach the doctrines 
of Methodism in the township, though the 
gifted John Schraeder preceded them in the 
county. For a long time the house of John 
Ingle was the regular place for the assem- 
blage of Methodists throughout the sur- 
rounding country. 

Blue Grass Methodist Episcopal Church. 
— In his will, the pioneer, Charles 
Mcjohnston, made a valuable bequest 
" to help to build a house to worship 
God in." Mr. Mcjohnston was a 
Methodist in Ireland; there at his father's 



CENTER TOWNSHIP. 



60S 



house he had seen John Wesley, and had 
heard the great man preach, but by the 
terms of his will this house was to be free 
to all Christian denominations. It has, how- 
ever, been a distinctively Methodist church, 
because the church-going portion of this 
community is so largely of that denomina- 
tion. The church was erected under the 
supervision of Charles Mcjohnston, the now 
aged son of the benefactor, in 1846. It 
was a neat frame structure, and when 
finished was dedicated by that illustrious 
pioneer preacher, Rev. Robert Parrett. The 
first preacher was Rev. Charles C. Danks, 
and the first class was composed of about 
tvvent}^ members. In 1882, on the site of 
the old church, a handsome, commodious 
brick edifice was erected, at a cost of $6,000, 
and was dedicated by that powerful and 
learned man. Rev. Joseph Wood. Charles 
Mcjohnston has ever been a devoted, faith- 
ful member, and much of the church's 
prosperity has been due to his great liberal- 
ity. The church is now exceedingly pros- 
perous, having about eighty active mem- 
bers. It has always been on the Blue 
Grass circuit. Rev. Samuel McNaughton 
is the pastor now in charge. 

Gcnmin Methodist Church. — This de- 
nomination began to hold services about 
1843, first at the houses of members, then at 
the Richter school-house, a rude log build- 
ing, when finally in 1849 ^ church building 
was erected. This stood on the edge of 
German township; was a frame structure, 
all the material, e.xxept the flooring, being 
sawed by hand. In 1859 another building, 
also a frame, was erected near the site of 
the present church, at a cost of $1,000, 
which served the congregation until April 
29, 1 888, when a handsome new brick 
church, costing $3,000, was dedicated to the 
service of God. Among the early ministers 
were Revs. Muth, Smoker and Wittenbach, 



and of later times Revs. Koerniger, Beer, 
Baker, Bruening, Lukenmeir and Speck- 
man, now in charge. The first class was 
composed of but four families, the Gott- 
schalks. Millers, Molls and Karts. The 
membership now numbers about seventy- 
five. Since 1847 Rev. Ulrich Schraeter, a 
local preacher, has been a true and faithful 
friend to the church, and by his many good 
deeds has won the love of all its people. 
The Sunda}^ school is very prosperous, with 
about eighty regular attendants. There is 
another church of the same denomination in 
the township near the Hooker school-house. 
It was built in 18S6, is a comfortable brick 
structure, and cost about $1,700. It has a 
good membership, is prosperous and belongs 
to the same circuit as the church last men- 
tioned. 

German Evangelical Church. — In late 
years this denomination has built a small, 
neat frame church on the Petersburgh road 
near Mechanicsville. The congregation is 
weak in numbers, but composed of highly 
respectable citizens. Among its early lead- 
ing members were Jacob Kunz, Nicholas 
Keil, and Mrs. Rech. 

Kratzville Methodist Episcopal Church. — - 
At least fifty years ago the Methodists had 
a preaching place at Samuel Kirkpatrick's, 
in German township, and frequently used 
for the purpose of divine service the Kirk- 
patrick school-house. When the Germans 
came in and changed the social aspect of that 
neighborhood, the preaching place was 
moved to the Kratzville road, and then, 
j about fifteen years ago, a neat church was 
I built and has been known generally as " the 
Ridge church." A class was organized in 
very earh- times. Among its members were 
Mother Grimes, Mrs. Robert Smith, Mother 
Short, and Henry Morgan. Among the old- 
time preachers were Revs. J. N. Ryan, 
William Ingle, Isaac Owen, and some 



eol^ 



EAELY SETTLEMENT. 



others. Among the earl}' members in the 
neighborhood of the new church were: 
Lewis Short, Webster Goldsmith, Oliver 
Goldsmith and Jackson Reed. The congre- 
gation is prosperous at present, though not 
large. 

nine Grass Catholic Church. — Among 
the Irish settlers in the central part of the 
township were a few faithful followers of the 
Roman Catholic church. Under the leader- 
ship of Richard Raleigh, these people suc- 
ceeded, about 1846, in building a frame 
church of comfortable size and neat appear- 
ance. The membership has always been 
small. Priests from Evansville occasionally 
hold service here. 

Tozvns. — The principal village in the 
township is Mechanicsville, commonly called 
Stringtown, because its houses are strung 
along the road, and known officially as 
Zipp's postoffice. At a very early date, 
the point where the Petersburgh road left 
the State road was selected as a good place 
for a smithy and wagon shop. It was a 
busy place in early times, and when a post- 
office was established, old man Zipp, then a 
resident of the town, was appointed post- 
master, and thus gave the place its present 
official designation. At present there is a 
small general store, several blacksmith, 
wagon and carriage shops, but beyond this 
the place is unimportant. Mr. Ira Fairchild, 
a son of Col. Seth Fairchild, and grandson 
of Jonathan Fairchild, who came with his 
family from New York to Indiana in 1818, 
thus pictures the early days of this village: 
" In 1829 my father removed to Mechanics- 
ville and opened a blacksmith's shop, which 
he carried on two or three years, when he 
purchased the old Hutson distillery, removed 
it to the State road and converted it into a 
smithy, which was a famous institution 
in its day. This house was built of 
heavy hewed logs, 30x40 feet square, 



had five forges and worked a force of seven 
or eight hands. All the livery horses of 
Evansville were brought there to be shod, 
and all sorts of iron work was done. At this 
time Mechanicsville seemed in a fair way to 
outstrip Evansville in the race for position. 
Thomas Smith had built a saw-mill on Pigeon 
creek, and on the hill where he afterward 
kept tavern he carried on a cabinet shop, 
working several hands, and supplied the de- 
mand for furniture for miles around. It was 
in this shop that that the distinguished John 
Ingle, jr., learned his trade, which he plied 
for several 3'ears industriously before he be- 
came an attorney at law. The village also 
boasted of a well-kept hotel, a wagon shop, 
and country store, and was withal a place of 
very considerable local importance." 

JllcCiitchaiivillc, in the northern part of 
the township, was brought into existence 
about 1845 by the establishment of a post- 
office and the appointment of Mr. McCut- 
chan as postmaster. It is without present 
importance. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

John Alleon, of Center township, was 
born in Germany, February' 24, 1826. He 
is the son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Seeman) 
Alleon, who were both natives of Germany. 
They came to America about 1832, and set- 
tled in Marion county, Ohio, where they re- 
mained about nine 3'ears, after which the}' 
removed to Vanderburgh county, Ind., and 
settled on the farm where John Alleon now 
resides. The father died soon after reach- 
ing this county, but his wife survived until 
the fall of 1880. Our subject is the oldest 
son, and when the family came to this coun- 
try was only a little over fifteen years of age. 
He has devoted his entire life to the 
farm and now owns 140 acres of good 
land. He was married to Miss Caro- 
line Becker, who was born about 



CENTER TOWNSHIP. 



605 



1839, in Germany, the daughter of John 
and Emma Becker. She died May 31, 
1S80. Of their three children, two died 
when quite young. The other, John, was 
born February 14, i860, and married Miss 
CaroHne Ahles, daughter of John and The- 
resa Ahles, December 13, 1883. lie and 
wife Hve with his father. The}' have one 
child, Edwin, born October 25, 1SS4. Mr. 
Alleon is a member of the German Metho- 
dist church. In politics he is a republican. 
Gottlieb W. Baumann, a citizen of 
Center township, was born in Switzerland, 
May 18, 1849, the son of Rudolph and 
Susannah Baumann. They emigrated to 
the United States in 1853. They proceeded 
at once to Evansville, Ind., where the 
father became engaged at work as a car- 
penter. He remained but a few years in 
Evansville, and then removed to Posey 
county, Ind., where he continued until his 
death, about 1880, his wife dying about 
1854. Gottlieb was educated in the schools 
of Evansville, both in English and German. 
At nineteen years of age he determined to 
learn a trade, and accordingly began life 
for himself in Posey county. He lirst 
worked on a farm for a time, and then 
learned the blacksmith's trade in St. Philips, 
that county. He worked there nearly three 
years, and then went to Henderson county, 
Ky., where he spent four years. He then 
removed to Evansville, and after ten years' 
work in Blount's plow factory, he came to 
his present home in Center township, where 
he has since been engaged in general black- 
smithing. He was married January i, 1873, ,' 
to Miss Amelia Riechelt, who was born in 
Warrick county, Ind., April 16, 1852, the 
daughter of Gottlieb and Philipina Riechelt. 
Her father is still living in Evansville, and 
her mother died April i, 18S8. They are 
the parents of four children, viz. : William, 
born October 7, 1873; Julia, born October 



27, 1875; Virginia, born July 7, 1880; Allan, 
born December 2, 1882. Mr. Baumann 
and famil}- are members of the German 
Methodist church. 

Frederick; Brandenbergkr, a farmer 
of Center township, was born in Switzer- 
land, October 3, 1846. He is the son of 
Ilenrjr and Magdalena (Schorri) Branden- 
berger. They came to Vanderburgh 
county in October, 1848, remained one year 
in the city of Evansville and then settled on 
a farm in the southwestern part of Center 
township, and remained until 1S65, when 
they removed to another farm, which the 
father occupied until his death, March 22, 
1880. His wife survived him about two 
years, her death occurring November 16, 
1882. Frederick attended the common 
schools and was emploj'ed chiefly in farm 
work until November 27, 1864, when he 
enlisted as a private in Company K, Tsven- 
ty-second Indiana Volunteer infantry, and 
served until August 4, 1865. During his 
term of service the only hard battle in 
which he participated was that of Benton- 
ville, N. C. He wUs mustered out at 
Louisville, and received his discharge at 
Indianapolis. After returning home he went 
into the saw-mill and threshing-machine busi- 
ness, but was engaged in farming at the 
same time. This he followed for about ten 
years, since which time he has devoted his 
entire attention to farming. He was 
married November 7, 1867, to Miss Mary 
Schwartz, who was born in Scott township, 
this county, February 14, 1848, the daughter 
of Henry Schwartz. He owns a farm of 
eighty acres. He and his wife Mary were 
the parents of eight children: Amelia (de- 
ceased), Louisa, Martha, William W., Mary 
E., Bertha, John II. and Minnie M. Mrs. 
Brandenberger died August 14, 1885. He 
was married August 17, 1886, to Miss 
Mary Newmaster, who was bom in Louis- 



606 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 



ville, Ky., in November, 1854, the daughter 
of Charles and Dorothy (Loudonberg) 
Newmaster. Mr. Brandenberger and part of 
of his family are members of the German 
Methodist church. In politics he is a re- 
publican. 

Henry Brandenberger, farmer and 
dairyman in Center township, was born in 
this county December 7, 1848. He is the 
son of Henry and Magdalena Brandenber- 
ger, who are noticed in this volume in 
connection with Frederick Brandenberger. 
When he was about sixteen years of age 
his father removed to the farm, on a part 
of which he now resides. Here he and his 
brother John own 160 acres of good land, 
nearly all of which is in cultivation, and is 
well improved, and supplied with buildings 
for carrying on the dairy business. With 
the exception of a few summers spent in 
threshing wheat, he has given his entire 
attention to the farm and the dairy. He 
and his brother have built up a very exten- 
sive trade in the latter business, and supply 
their customers twice a day with the pro- 
ducts of the dairy. Mr. Brandenberger was 
married October 24, 1875, to Miss Sarah 
Strobel, who was born in Center township, 
June 27, 1S55. She was the daughter of 
Jacob and Catherine Strobel, who were 
both natives of Germany, and are still livmg 
in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Branden- 
berger are the parents of three children: 
William H., George S., and Edward G. 
He and his wife are members of the Ger- 
man Methodist church. In politics Mr. 
Brandenberger is a republican. 

John Brandenberger, a prominent citi- 
zen of Center township, was born in this 
county February 9, 1858. He is the son of 
Henry and Magdelena Brandenberger, else- 
where noticed in this volume. Our subject was 
educated in the common schools of Center 
township, where he obtained a good common 



school education. He has devoted his en- 
tire life to the dairy and farming. He and 
his brother Henry own 160 acres of good 
land, and are well established for carrying 
on the dair}' business on an extensive scale. 
He was married January 4, 1880, to Miss 
Rose Miller, w'ho was born in Switzerland, 
November 5, 1859. She is the daughter of 
John and Elizabeth Miller, who were both 
natives of Switzerland, and are now living 
in this county. They began married life at 
their present abode, the old Brandenberger 
homestead, and their happy home circle now 
includes six little ones, as follows: Charles, 
Rosalie, Frederick, John, Flora and an in- 
fant. Mr. Brandenberger is a member of 
the Methodist church, his wife of the Re- 
formed Protestant church. In politics Mr. 
Brandenberger is a republican. He is a 
young man of energy and enterprise, and 
bids fair to b&come one of Center township's 
most substantial citizens. 

Joseph Bultmann, a worthy and pros- 
perous farmer of this township, was born in 
Prussia, December 15, 1817, the son of 
Adam and Francisca (Kruz) Bultmann. 
He spent his time from six to fourteen years 
of age in school, and after this time he 
learned the shoemaker's trade, at which he 
worked until he was about eighteen years 
of age, when he accompanied his parents 
to this county and settled on the farm where 
he still resides. The father bought eighty 
acres of land and settled down in the 
woods. Soon after settling on the farm 
Joseph went to New Orleans, where he 
spent about ten years in the boot and shoe 
business. At the end of that time he came 
back to this county, and here met Elizabeth 
Osterman, whom he married July 13, 1847. 
His wife was born in Germany, January 24, 
1827, and is the daughter of Adam and 
Elizabeth (Floehr) Osterman. Mr. Bultmann 
owns 250 acres of good land, most of which 



CENTER TOWNSHIP. 



607 



is in cultivation and is well improved. He 
has risen from a small beginning to be one 
of the most prosperous and substantial men 
in this township. He is the father of si.x 
living children: Joseph, John, Elizabeth, 
Henry, Josephine, Frank. Mr. Bultmann 
and family are members of the Catholic 
church. In politics Mr. Bultmann is a liberal 
democrat. 

James F. Crane was born in the state of 
New York, May 6, 1831, the son of Arza 
Lucy (Boynton) Crane, the former of 
whom was born in the state of New York, 
in 1800, and the latter in Vermont, in about 
1803. When three years of age his 
parents removed to the state of Ohio. Here 
he attended school principall}' at Steuben- 
ville, and acquired a good common school 
education. At about twelve years of age he 
began river life as cabin boy, and since that 
time has served as cook, mate, pilot, and 
captain, almost continually to the present 
time. He has navigated the Ohio and Mis- 
sissippi rivers and all their principal tribu- 
taries. He was married October 20, 1856, 
to Miss Urania A. Blake, who was born in 
the state of Ohio, September 17, 1834, the 
daughter of Simon and Hannah (Cun- 
ningham) Blake, both of whom were na- 
tives of Maine. Since 1865 or 1866 they 
have resided in this county, and for nearly 
four years have occupied their present com- 
fortable home in Center township. Mr. 
Crane was steamboating during the war, 
and was in the service of the government 
the greater portion of the time, serving on 
the transports, and was frequently in greater 
danger than if he had been serving on the 
field, it being a frequent occurrence for the 
guerillas to fire upon them while navigat- 
ing the Green and Cumberland rivers. 
Mr. Crane and wife are both members of 
Grace Presbyterian church of Evansville. 
Mr. Crane is a member of Crescent lodge, 



I. O. O. F., at Evansville, and in politics is 
a republican. 

Henry Eissler, a farmer of Center 
township, was born in Evansville, October 
12, 1854, and is the son of Jacob and Anna 
Maria (Steiger) Eissler. His parents were 
born in Germany, and emigrated to the 
United States more than fort}' years ago, 
settling in Evansville. After spending sev- 
eral years in the city, the father began on 
rented land until he was able to buy the 
sixty-six acres where he still lives. He has 
risen to be a prosperous and substantial 
farmer by reason of his energy and enter- 
prise. His wife died January 13, 1888. 
Henry is their oldest living child. He 
secured a good common school education, 
and also received instruction in German 
in the city of Evansville. He has de- 
voted his entire life to farm work, and 
now owns 105 acres of good land, about 
seventy-five acres of which is in cultivation. 
Mr. Eissler has obtained this farm by his 
own industry and economy. He was mar- 
ried May 6, 1879, to Miss Johanna Happel, 
who was born in German township, this 
county, June 8, 1857, the daughter of John 
and Magdalena (Damm) Happel. Mr. and 
Mrs. Eissler have only one child, Harry, 
born March 23, 1888. They are members 
of the St. John's Reformed church in Evans- 
ville. Politically Mr. Eissler is independent, 
voting with whichever party best suits him, 
and taking but little interest in politics. 

Levi Erskine, son of John Erskme, was 
born January 21, 1833, on the farm where 
his father first settled. His life, until he was 
twent}' years of age, was spent on the farm, 
where he worked during the summer, and 
then in the winter attended school. In this 
way he obtained a good knowledge of the 
common branches, and an introduction to 
some of the higher ones. At the ajje of 
twenty he entered college at Greencastle, 



608 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 



Ind., where he remained about two years. 
After leaving college he divided his atten- 
tion between farming and school-teachinnf, 
working the farm in summer and teaching 
school in winter, until he had tauirht six 
terms. In 1868 he busied himself as a rail- 
road contractor and bridge builder, which 
he followed for five years. The latter part 
of 1S72, he became engaged in work for 
the count3% graveling and macadamizing 
the roads, which he followed for two or 
three years, during which time more than 
100 miles of roads were thus improved in 
V^anderburgh county. Since then he has been 
in the employment of George P. Heilman 
as general sliipper and manager of the erec- 
tion of buildings. He was married Febru- 
ary- 22, i860, to Miss Sallie L. Benjamin, 
daughter of Elijah and Sarah (Waters') 
Benjamin, both of whom were natives of 
Connecticut. Mrs. Erskine was born De- 
cember 31, 1838, in the city of Evansville. 
B\' this marriage were born five children : 
Lottie, born December 19, i860, died March 
12, 18S3; Wilbur, born January 8, 1863; 
Erwin F., born October 5, died December 
22, 1872; Annie L., born September 14, 
1874, and Levi, born August 9, 1876. Mr. 
Erskine is a liberal republican, but has never 
sought nor held office, except one or two 
terms as township trustee. Mr. Erskine 
and family are members of the Methodist 
Episcopal church, and are highl}' respected 
citizens of Center township. 

Jacob Euler, jr., was born March 9, 
1845. He is the son of Henry Euler and 
his wife, Mary Ann Stein metz, both natives 
of Germany. They emigrated to the United 
States in 1836, and settled on land in Center 
township. .Henry Euler died in January, 
i860, his wife surviving until December, 
1871. Our subject spent his early life on 
his father's farm, and attended school a few 
months each winter. In August, 1862, he 



enlisted as a private in Companv F, Fourth 
Indiana cavalry, and was mustered out July 
9, 1865. During his term of service he was 
in the battles ot Chickamauga, Fayetteville, 
Mossy Creek, Talbot's, Dandridge, Fair 
Garden, in the Atlanta campaign, and Wil- 
son's campaign in Alabama and Georgia. 
He was married December 22, 1871, to 
Miss Louisa Korb, who was born in this 
county, October 18, 1846, daughter of Adam 
and Catharine (Schmidt) Korb. Her pa- 
rents were natives of Wachenheim-on-the- 
Hardt, Germany. Thev are the parents of 
six living children, viz.: Frank A., Ella N., 
Oscar, Florence, Louisa, and George J. Mr. 
and Mrs. Euler are miembers of St. Peter's 
Presbyterian church. In politics Mr. Euler 
is a republican, and is a member of Farragut 
Post, No. 27, G. A. R. 

Oliver Goldsmith. — The ancestry of 
the subject of this sketch, as far as can be 
determined, is as follows: Zaccheus Gold- 
smith, of Wenham, Mass., was the father of 
Richard Goldsmith, who married Hannah 
Dodge. They were the parents of the fol- 
lowing children, born between the years 
1732 and 1747: Hannah, Abigail, Mary, 
Thomas, Richard, Lucy, Josiah, our sub- 
ject's grandfather, born September 9, 1744, 
and Jeremiah. Josiah Goldsmith married 
Sarah Fox. They were the parents of the 
following children, born between the years 
1768 and 1786: Thomas, Sally, Hannah, 
John, Luc}% Betsy, Daniel F., born May 22, 
1784, and Roxanna. Daniel F. came to 
Vanderburgh county, Ind., locating at 
Evansville about the j'ear 1S18. Here he 
went to work at his trade, that of a mason, 
and was one of the contractors who built the 
first court-house in 1820, and afterward 
erected many other buildings of more or less 
importance. He was married March 27, 
1823, to Miss Melissa Hopkins, of this 
countv, who was born in the state of Ver- 



CENTER TOWNSHIP. 



000 



mont February 3, 1804, the daughter of 
Stephen Hopkins and wife, the former of 
whom was born about 1766 and died in tliis 
county May 17, 1849. After their marriage 
Mr. and Mrs. Goldsmith made their home 
on the farm in Center township, but his en- 
gagements as a contractor claimed the 
greater portion of his attention. They were 
the parents of ten children: Mary Ann, 
Cordelia, Electa, Daniel Webster, Oliver, 
Elmira, Hester, Lucy Roxanna, Chaunce}', 
and John Henry. Mr. Goldsmith died 
December 5, 1855. His wife had preceded 
him a number of years, her death occurring 
April 27, 1844. Oliver Goldsmith was born 
on the old homestead April 8, 1834, and 
with the exception of fifteen months in Cal- 
ifornia, has devoted his entire attention to 
farming. He was married November 18, 
1858, to Miss Mary Smith, who was born in 
this county January 18, 1839, daughter of 
Robert and Mary (Skinner), both of 
whom were natives of England. They 
are the parents of eight children, as follows : 
Moses R., Hester, Katie, Walter C, Jessie 
Elmer, Cora, Bertha, and Oliver, all of 
whom are living except Hester and Oliver. 
Mr. Goldsmith and family are members of 
the Methodist Episcopal church. He is one 
of the most substantial citizens of the town- 
ship, and he and family are highly respected. 
Moses Russell Goldsmith, the oldest 
son of Oliver Goldsmith above mentioned, 
was born on his father's farm in this town- 
ship September 18, 1859. He was edu- 
cated in the district schools. He has 
devoted his entire attention to agriculture, 
and, having been raised to the business, is 
([uitc a successful J'oung farmer. He was 
married, December 18, 1883, to Miss Lena 
Hanning, who w'as born in Spencer county, 
Ind., June 29, 1859. ^^e is the daughter of 
John and Susan Hanning. Mr. and Mrs. 
Goldsmith spent the first few years of their 



married life on the Goldsmith homestead. 
In June, 1886, he bought a farm adjoining 
his father's, on which he erected a comfort- 
able house, and has resided there since. 
Mr. Goldsmith is the father of two children : 
EmmaEstella, born December 20, 1884, and 
Fletcher Webster, March 6, 18S7. Mr. 
Goldsmith is a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal church, and his wife of the Ger- 
man Methodist church. 

Theodore Hanninc;, of Center township, 
was born in Germantown, Ohio, June 22, 
1841. He is the son of John D. and Dora 
Hanning, the former of whom was born 
near Bremen, Germany, on August 26, 
1S06, where he grew to manhood, married, 
and in 1839 came to the United States. He 
removed to Spencer count}- in 1S47, and 
now resides with Theodore, the only child 
living. Our subject has spent the greater 
portion of his life in farming, but in connec- 
tion with this has at times been encTfifed in 
commercial pursuits and milling, and since 
coming to Vanderburgh county has been in 
the dairy business. He was married De- 
cember 24, 1866, to Mrs. Susan Hanning, 
his brother's widow. She is the daughter 
of Jacob and Susan Frj-hofer, both of whom 
were natives of Germany. Mrs. Hanning 
is a native of Jackson county, Ind., where 
she was born March 19, 1838. Mrs. Han- 
ning had two children by her first husband, 
John and Lena. Mr. and Mrs. Hanning are 
the parents of seven children, viz. : Albert, 
May, Dania, Wesley, Addie, Edwin and 
Oscar W., all of whom arc living and un- 
married. Mr. Hanning and family are 
members of the German Methodist church, 
and are as highl}- respected as an}' one in 
the county. 

James Henry, of Center township, was 
born about the year 1S20, in Johnston, 
Scotland. He is the son of Robert and 
Margaret (Fyfe) Henrj-. He spent his 



610 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 



early life in a cotton factory of his native 
country. About the year 1850 Mr. Henry 
came to America and settled in Center 
township. Two years after this he returned 
to Glasgow, and in July, 1854, he was mar- 
ried to Miss Margaret Brodie, daughter of 
David and Janet (Anderson) Brodie. After 
their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Henry re- 
mained five years in Glasgow, and then re- 
turned to America, about 1859, and settled 
on the farm where they now reside. From 
that time until the present he has given his 
entire attention to farming. He owns more 
than eighty acres of good land, nearly all of 
which is in cultivation. Mr. and Mrs. 
Henry are the parents of twelve children. 
They are members of the Methodist Epis- 
copal church. He and his family have a 
large circle of acquaintances, b}' whom they 
are held in high esteem. 

Robert R. Henry, a well-known school 
teacher and farmer of Center township, was 
born in Scotland, October 27, 1855, son 
of James and Margaret Henry, an account 
of whom is given above. Mr. Henry was 
reared on his father's farm in Center town- 
ship, where he worked each summer and in 
the winter attended the schools of this town- 
ship and gained a good education. He 
began teaching about 1876, and has con- 
tinued in the same profession during the 
winter of each 3-ear until the present time, 
and is regarded as one of the most success- 
ful teachers of the count}'. During the sum- 
mer he devotes his attention to farming. 
He was married September 15, 1886, to 
Miss Sarah McCutchan, who was born in 
this county, March 2, 1857. She is the 
daughter of Samuel and Isabella (Brown) 
McCutchan. His wife was also a school 
teacher, she having taught for seven or eight 
years before her marriage. They are the 
parents of one child, Isabella, born August 
4, 1887. Mr. Henry and wife are members 



of the Methodist Episcopal church, and are 
highly respected citizens. 

Peter Heubner, deceased, was born in 
Germany, June 8, 1824, son of John G. and 
Anna Margaret Heubner. At fourteen 
}-ears of age he accompanied his parents to 
America, locating first in Posey county, Ind., 
and after a few years they came to 
Vanderburgh county, settling in Center 
township, on the farm where his widow now 
resides. He was married, June 16, 1847, to 
Miss Harriet H. In wood, who was born in 
this township October 20, 1828, the daugh- 
ter of William and Hannah (Chester) In- 
wood, both of whom were natives of 
England. Mrs. Heubner's parents emi- 
grated to America, arriving at Evansville in 
August, 1819. Here Mrs. Heubner was 
born. They are the parents of ten children, 
whose names are as follows: Hannah M., 
Annie E., George M., Sarah R., William 
W., Edward R., Lawrence, David, John H. 
and James C. Mr. Huebner died July 31, 
1882, and in his death Center township lost 
one of its oldest and most highly respected 
citizens. His widow resides with her young- 
est son at the old homestead. Mrs. Huebner 
is a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
church, of which her husband was also a mem- 
ber, and is loved and honored by all who 
know her. 

William H. Hornby. — The great-grand- 
. father of the subject of this sketch was 
William Hornby, sr., a native of the north 
of England, and by occupation a sea cap- 
tain. His grandfather, William Hornby, jr., 
was a native of Cerne, Dorsetshire, England, 
and married Sarah K. Ridout. Their family 
consisted of three sons: William, Charles, 
and Henry F. The latter, the father of 
William H. was born in Chickerell, near 
Weymouth, Dorchester, England, March 17, 
1811. When he was eight years of age, 
he accompanied his parents to America, 



CENTER TOWNSHIP. 



611 



landing at Philadelphia, in April or Maj-, 
1819. Thence they made their way to 
Pittsburgh, b}' wagon, and from the latter 
place by flat-boat down the Ohio river to 
Evansville, Ind. From Evansville they 
came to what is now Scott township, this 
county, where they settled on a farm and 
where their family grew to manhood. Here 
Henry F. Hornby was married March 10, 
1 83 1, to Miss Caroline Mansell, daughter of 
Samuel Mansell, of Vanderburgh county. 
Her mother, whose maiden name was Sarah 
Bellamy, was born in London, England, 
December 29, 18 13, and came with her 
parents to Evansville, in 1819. Henry F. 
and wife had three sons and three daughters, 
of whom the sons only are living: William 
H., Charles J. and George W. William 
H. is the eldest son and was born April 10, 
1836. His early life was spent on his 
father's farm in Scott township, where he 
worked and attended school, attaining both a 
thorough knowledge of farming and a com- 
mon school education. He was married 
October 29, 1863 to Mary J., daughter of 
James Hayhurst, a pioneer of Vanderburgh 
who has lived in the count}^ since 1820. 
Mr. and Mrs. Hornby have only three 
children living: Oliver W., Cicero G., and 
Herbert F. Mr. Hornby served as justice 
of the peace from 1882 to 1886, giving en- 
tire satisfaction. He and wife are members 
of the Episcopal church. 

Charles Kellaway Hornby was born 
in Dorsetshire, England, March 4, 1829. He 
is the son of WilHam and Mary (Burgh or 
Burch) Hornby, natives of the same county, 
the father born in 1800, and the mother 
about five vears later. At the ajre of nine 
or ten, Charles accompanied his parents to 
America, and came at once to Scott town- 
ship. They settled on the farm where his 
father resided until his death. Here he 
passed his youth on his father's farm assist- 



ing in its culture. The opportunities for 
school being somewhat limited, he only suc- 
ceeded in obtaining such essential instruc- 
tion as was sufficient for transacting his 
own business. He was married February, 
1863, to Miss Martha E. Paul, daughter of 
Cyrus and Ann (Hayhurst) Paul. They 
had four children: Charles E., Margaret, 
Anna E. and Martha E., the first two dying 
when quite 3-oung. When the youngest 
child was only two years of age Mrs. Hornby 
died. August 29, 1881, he was married a sec- 
ond time to Mrs. Harriet (Burtis) Brown, 
who had one daughter, Ada. He has re- 
sided in this township continuously, and 
three or four years on the farm where he 
now lives and owns about 200 acres of good 
land. Mr. Hornby is an Episcopalian in 
belief, and his wife is a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal church. 

Philip Kaiser, ex-soldier and well-known 
citizen of Center township, was born near 
Frankfort, Germany, May 8, 1845, and is 
the son of Frederick and Mary (Binghe- 
mer) Kaiser. He remained in his native 
country- until he was nine years of age, and 
then accompanied his parents to the United 
States. They made their way at once to 
Vanderburgh county, and settled on the farm 
where the son now resides. Here the par- 
ents continued to reside. Mr. Kaiser pro- 
cured the greater portion of his education 
in the schools of Center township. August, 
1862, he enlisted as a private in Company 
H, Thirty-second volunteer infantry, and 
served until Februar}' 14, 1865, when 
he was mustered out as captain at 
Chattanooga, Tenn. While in the ser- 
vice, he was in the following battles: Per- 
ryville. Stone River, Chickamauga, Mission 
Ridge, and in the Athuita campaign, and 
then did guard duty mostly in the vicinity of 
Atlanta and Chattanooga until March 21, 
1873, when he was mustered out of the ser- 



612 



EARLY SETTLE3IENT. 



vice. In the battle of Chickamauga he was 
severely wounded in the leg. Since coming 
home, he has devoted his attention to the 
farm. He was married April 21, 1872, to 
Miss Mary J. Linxwiler, who was born in this 
county, May 25, 1845, the daughter of Will- 
iam and Jane Linxwiler. They are the par- 
ents of six children: William, Elizabeth, 
Letitia J., Erma, Clinton DeWitt, and Katie. 
Mr. and Mrs. Kaiser are members of the 
German Methodist church. 

William H. Kirkpatrick is a native of 
Center township, born January 21, 184S. 
He is the son of Alfred and Hannah (Smith) 
Kirkpatrick. His mother's pareits were 
natives of England, coming to the United 
States and settling at Evansville in 1832. 
Our subject was raised in this county, and 
obtained his education in the public schools. 
He enlisted as a private in Companv F, One 
Hundred and Thirtv-sixth Indiana, under 
Capt. Hollingsworth, and served three 
months. He was engatjed mostlv in doinsr 
guard duty in the vicinity' of Murfreesboro, 
TuUahoma and other places. After remain- 
ing at home a short time, he re-enlisted as 
a private in Company A, One Hundred and 
Forty-third Indiana, under command of 
Capt. Kellogg. He was promoted to the 
rank of a corporal, which position he held 
imtil he was mustered out. He was mar- 
ried March 14, 1S67, to Miss Mary Jane 
Niehous, who was born in Allegheny, Penn., 
December 17, 1S47, and is the daughter of 
John H. and Catharine (Muntz) Niehous, 
both of whom were natives of German}'. 
They are the parents of eight children: 
Ella S., Edward, Katie S., Emma A., 
Mary J., Charles, William H., and Harry W., 
all of whom are living except Edward and 
William H., who both died in infancy. In 
March, 1871, he was employed as sexton of 
Locust Hill cemetery, which position he 
still holds. Mr. Kirkpatrick and wife are 



members of the Methodist Episcopal church. 
Mr. Kirkpatrick is a member of Farragut 
post, G. A. R., and of the Order of the 
Iron Hall. 

John K. Knight was born in Center 
township, this count}', September 8, 1846. 
He is the son of William G. and Caroline 
(AUeon) Knight, the former of whom was 
born in this count}', November 18, 1822, 
and the latter in Germany, November 24, 
1828. They were the parents of si.x child- 
ren: John H., Elizabeth J., William L., 
Mary B., Caroline A. and Charles A., only 
two of whom are hving, John H. and Will- 
iam L. John H. Knight spent his early 
life on his father's farm. He managed to 
acquire a good education, and taught school 
from the time he w'as twenty until he was 
twenty-three. With this exception he has 
devoted his entire life to farm work. He 
was married February 25, 1875, to Lucy S. 
Troup, who was born in Vanderburgh 
county, February 19, 1854, and is the 
daughter of William and Jessie (Jarvis) 
Troup, both natives of Aberdeen, Scotland. 
Mr. and Mrs. Knight have three children 
living and have lost two. Their names are: 
John W. (deceased), James O., Jessie May, 
Charles Ira (deceased) and John H. Mr. 
Knight resides on the old homestead, forty 
acres of which he now owns. 

John R. Kr.\tz, son of John and Louisa 
(Beauchle) Kratz, was born in this town- 
ship July I, i860. He was educated in the 
schools of Center township, and was occu- 
pied on the farm for a few years afterward, 
and then learned the blacksmith's trade in 
his father's shop in Kratzville. In October, 
1S83, he formed a partnership with his bro- 
ther, and the following spring the two bought 
their father's shop and have since continued 
in partnership. He was married October 
13, 18S6, to Miss Hannah Rhine, a native of 
this county, but who, when young, removed 



CENTER TOWNSHIP. 



em 



with her parents to Louisville, where she 
resided when married. She was. the daugh- 
ter of Frederick and Frederica Rhine, both 
natives of Germany. Her father is de- 
ceased, but her mother still resides in Louis- 
ville. Mr. Kratz and wife went to housekeep- 
ing in Kratzville,where they still reside. They 
have one child, Viola, born July 26, 1S87. 
Mr. Kratz is an honest, industrious young 
man, and he and wife are highly respected. 
They are both members of the Presbyterian 
church. In politics Mr. Kratz is a republican. 
Christian W. Kratz, trustee of Center 
township, was born in this county, Jul}' 2, 
1S55. He is the son of John and Louisa 
(Beauchle) Kratz, the former of whom was 
born May 31, 1S30, the latter July 3, 1S31, 
both natives of Germany- They came to 
the United States when quite young with 
their parents. Our subject's grandfather 
Kratz, settled first at Pittsburgii about 1S34. 
where he remained about four years, and 
then moved to this county. He settled in 
German township in the first place, and 
then in Center township in 1857 oriS58. The 
grandfather Beauchle came to this county 
about 1 84 1. Here the father and mother of 
Christian grew to manhood and womanhood, 
and were married August 10, 1854. They 
were the parents of eight children: Chris- 
tian W., Elizabeth, Louisa, John R., Peter, 
Christiana, Karl and Martha, all of whom 
are living except Louisa and Peter, the for- 
mer of whom died from the effects of a 
burn after she was about twenty-one years 
of age, and the latter died in childhood. 
Christian W. spent his early life, in good 
part, in school, and thus acquired a very 
good common school education. At the 
age of seventeen he entered his father's 
blacksmith shop, which was established in 
1854, and learned that trade, and continued 
to work with his father until he was twenty- 
three years of age, when he went into part- 



nership with him. They remained in part- 
nership until October, 1883, when he formed 
a partnership with his brother, John R., in 
the same business. In the following spring 
the two sons bought the shop from their 
father, and have continued the business to 
the present time. Christian W. Kratz was 
married November 3, 18S0, to Miss Minnie 
Schemet, who was born in this township 
January 14, i860, and is the daughter 
of Louis and Caroline (Stahl) Schemet. 
In April, 1888, Mr. Kratz was elected trustee 
of Center town.ship, and is filling the office 
to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. 
The Kratz family is one quite prominent in 
V^anderburgh count\', and is noted for its in- 
dustry and enterprise. The late Christian 
Kratz, of Evansville, is an uncle of this sub- 
ject. Mr. Kratz and wife are members of 
the Presbyterian church. In politics he is a 
republican. 

Jacob Laubscher was born in Switzer- 
land, November 4, 1832. He is the son of 
Jacob and Elizabeth (Gygi) Laubscher, 
both of whom died in Switzerland, the year 
of his father's decease being 1836. He was 
educated in his native countr}-, where he 
attended school until he was fourteen years 
of age. He then learned the watch-maker's 
trade, at which business he worked until he 
was twenty-three years of age, and then he 
emigrated to the L^nited States, arriving in 
Pennsylvania in 1855. There he did farm 
work for about one )-ear. He then spent 
six months in traveling, and settled down in 
Hamilton countv, Ind., where another year 
was spent in farm work. From there he 
came to this county in the fall of 1857-8. 
Here he did farm work for about two 
vears, then went to Spencer countv, Ind., 
and worked on a farm for another year. 
On July 21, 1861, he enlisted as a private in 
Company F, First Indiana cavalry, and 
served until September 12, 1864, when he 



6U 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 



was mustered out at Indianapolis. During 
his term of service he was in the following 
battles: Farmington, Mo., iS6i; Cotton 
Plant, in 1862; Yazoo Pass; Augusta, Ark., 
July 4, 1862, where he was struck in the 
left leg above the knee by a spent ball, 
causing a wound which though somewhat 
painful did not disable him from duty; 
Helena, Ark., July 4, 1863; Little Rock; 
Pine Bluff, and numerous other smaller en- 
gagements. At March's Mill, Ark., April 
8, 1864, his command had a desperate 
encounter with an overwhelming force 
of the enemy, and he was severely 
wounded by being shot through the 
fleshy part of the left arm, also in 
the left elbow, his left thumb shot off, 
and he also received a scalp wound, which 
rendered him unconscious. He was taken 
prisoner, and was held until Jul}' of the same 
year, when he was paroled. He then re- 
turned to his regiment, but did not engage 
in any other battles until he was mustered 
out. Mr. Laubscher is grievously disabled 
by his wounds and exposure, and yet the 
pension he draws is only $12 per month. 
After the war he returned to Spencer county, 
where he remained until about 1876, en- 
gaged in farming. He then came to Center 
township, where he has since remained, with 
the exception of one year spent in Knight 
township. He was married in 1876, to Mrs. 
Emily Schide, who was born in French 
Switzerland, May 18, 1832. She was the 
mother of two daughters, Ida and Caroline, 
who still make their home with their step- 
father. Mr. Laubscher is a member of 
Farragut post, G. A. R., and politically is a 
staunch republican. He was a brave and 
gallant soldier, who never faltered from duty, 
and is in civil life an upright and indus- 
trious man, and his family are highly 
thought of. 
John W. Laubscher, one of the leading 



men of Center township, was born March 
31, 1838. He is the son of Christian and 
Mary Ann (Swahlen) Laubscher. The\' 
were both born in Canton Berne, Switzer- 
land, in 181 2, and emigrated to the United 
States late in the year 1837. Thej' remained 
a short time in Pennsylvania, where John 
was born, and then settled in Ripley county, 
Ind., where they lived seven years, working 
on a farm. Coming to German township, 
this county, the father worked on a farm for 
two years, and then settled on the farm 
where his son now resides. The}' reached 
Evansville in 1846, and settled finally in 
1848. Christian Laubscher died December 
2, 18S5. His wife survives and resides 
with her daughter on a part of the old 
homestead. Mr. Laubscher's early life was 
spent on the farm, while in Center town- 
ship. After coming to German township, 
he assisted in clearing the farm and burning 
lime for ten years. In about 1863 he and 
his father formed a partnership in the steam ■ 
machine business, owning a threshing 
machine, saw-mill, etc. This partnership 
lasted until about 1867 or 1S68, when 
Christian S., another son, bought his father's 
interest, and the two brothers formed a 
partnership that has lasted to the present 
time. In 1876 they founded a grist-miU, 
with a saw-mill attached, and have 
since built up a splendid trade. In ad- 
dition to the gnst-miil, the brothers 
still run a threshing machine every year, 
and each owns a small farm. The Laub- 
scher brothers are among the most substan- 
tial citizens of Center township, and are 
known far and wide for their industry, enter- 
prise and fair dealing with every one. John W. 
Laubscher was married October 6, 1861, to 
Miss Anna Kisling, who was born in Switzer- 
land, June 10, 1834. Mr. and Mrs. Laub- 
scher are the parents of seven children: 
Simon J., born July 22, 1863; William F., 



CENTER TOWNSHIP. 



(115 



August 29, 1864; Edward C, July 6, 1866; 
Adolph, November, 1868, died when sixteen 
months old; Adolph L., April 26, 1S71; 
Andrew C, March 11, 1873; Samuel R., 
June 16, 1875, all of whom are engaged with 
their father in the business. Mr. Laub- 
scher and family are members of the Ger- 
man Methodist church. In politics he is a 
republican. He was elected township trus- 
tee in April, 1884, and that he served the peo- 
ple well was proven by the fact that he was 
re-elected by a largely increased majority to 
the same office in 1886. 

George Linxwiler, grandfather of 
Isaac W. Linxwiler, was born in the town 
of Two Bridges, Germany, April, 1768, 
and attended school in his native country 
from six to fourteen years of age, receiving 
a good common school education. Me then 
served an apprenticeship of three years, 
learning the miller's trade. lie emigrated 
to the United States, landing at New York 
in 1785, and going from there to Pennsyl- 
vania. He was married in 1790, to Miss 
Catherine Stull, a native of the same place 
in Germany, born June 5, 1767. After 
coming to New York in 1785, she worked 
three years in the citj' to pay her passage 
to America. They probably resided in 
Pennsylvania foi several years after their 
marriage, removing to Vanderburgh county 
previous to 1809. George Linxwiler died 
February 22, 1857, his wife early in No- 
vember, 1858. William Linxwiler, father 
of Isaac, was born in this county February 
12, 1809, being the third white child, and 
Xhejirst male white child born in the county. 
He was the j'oungest of thirteen children, 
one of his older brothers having been a 
soldier in the war of 181 2, and wounded 
during that war. William Linxwiler was a 
farmer, his father having been the first to 
locate a number of farms in different places 
in the county. He was married February 
36 



10, 1833, to Jane Clinton, who was born in 
Warren, Ohio, Januar\' 20, 18 15, the daugh- 
ter of Jonathan and Letitia (McAlree) Clin- 
ton, both natives of Ireland, who came from 
that countrj' to Ohio and settled in Trum- 
bull county. Thence they came to this 
county in 1S31. Mrs. Clinton died August 
24, 1874, aged eighty-seven. They were 
the parents of seven children : Henderson, 
born March 12, 1835, died January 22, 1839; 
John D., born July 11, 1837; Margaret E., 
born September 10, 1839; George H., born 
Januar}- 21, 1842, died September 5, 1858; 
Mary J., born May 25, 1845; Isaac W., 
born September 14, 1847; Benjamin L., 
born October 7, 1849, died January 8, 1867. 
William Linxwiler died February 10, 1882, 
his wife March 13, 1888. WiUiam Linx- 
wiler settled on the farm where his son 
resides, in 1833. Isaac W. Linxwiler was 
born and reared on this farm, and was edu- 
cated in the schools of this township. He 
has devoted his entire life to farming, and 
now owns sixty-two acres of land, a part of 
the old homestead, nearly all in cultivation. 
He was married October 31, 1872, to Miss 
Cidney W. Hanson, who was born in Ohio, 
Januarj^ 20, 1S52, daughter of William and 
Joanna Hanson, both of whom were natives 
of Ohio, and came to this count}' in 1865. 
They went to housekeeping on the farm 
where they still reside. They are the par- 
ents of seven children living and one dead: 
Emma E., born Jul}- 25, 1874; D^i'sy L., 
June 28, 1876, died October 9, 1876; 
Charles E., March 14, 1878; James C, Feb- 
ruary 13, 18S0; William H., Jul}' 5, 1881; 
Laura B., July 17, 1S83; Jane J., April 28, 
18S5; Isaac L., August 11, 1887. Mr. 
Linxwiler is a republican in politics. He is 
a member of the A. O. U. W., Vanderburgh 
lodge. No. 34. He is an honest, industrious 
man, and represents one of the oldest, if not 
the very oldest, families in the county. 



616 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 



Samuel C Longbine, a prominent citi- 
zen of Center township, was born in this 
township, December lo, 1849. He is the 
son of George and Catherine (Severe) 
Longbine. . The former is a native of Saxe- 
Coburg, Germany, and the latter of Vir- 
ginia. After their marriage they resided in 
Vanderburgh county, where Mr. Longbine 
gave his attention to farming until his death, 
which occurred August 24, 1880, his wife 
having preceded him about twenty-five 
years, October 11, 1855. Samuel was edu- 
cated in the schools of Center township, and 
worked on the farm with his father until he 
was fourteen, and the greater portion of the 
time until he w-as twenty-three. He was 
married May 24, 1873, to Miss Clarissa 
Brown, who was born in this township, 
November 20, 1849. '^^^ ^^^ ^^^ daughter 
of John M. and Clarissa (Linxwiler) Broun, 
the former of whom was born in the state 
of New York, and the latter on the farm 
where she and her husband now reside. 
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Long- 
bine settled down to farm life, and have oc- 
cupied their present home for seven years. 
He has devoted his time entirely to agricul- 
ture, except the time spent in filling various 
township offices, such as constable for six 
years, tax collector two years, and road su- 
pervisor, as which he is now serving his 
second term. They have no children of 
their own, but have an adopted daughter, 
Ida (Willis) Longbine, who was born Janu- 
ar}^ 10, 1877. Mrs. Longbine is a member 
of the Methodist church. In politics Mr. 
Longbine is a republican. He and wife 
own a farm of fort}' acres, nearly all of 
which is in cultivation. He is an honest, 
industrious gentleman, and he and family 
are well-known and highl}- respected. 

Charles F. McJohnston, a native of 
County Longford, Ireland, was born Sep- 
tember 30, 1810. He is the son of Charles 



Mcjohnson, sr., who wa^ a native of the 
same county in Ireland, and was born in 
17S1. He married and lived in his native 
country until he had seven children, three 
sons and four daughters, when his wife 
died. He then took his children and emi- 
grated to America, and landed at Philadel- 
phia in August, 1818. Here he left his 
children while he spent some time in look- 
ing for a location in New York and else- 
where. Failing in this he procured wagons 
and made the journey across the mountains 
to Pittsburgh, where he arrived at the end of 
four weeks. He then built a flat-boat and 
started with his family down the Ohio river, 
but, after reaching Beaver Dam, a short 
distance below Pittsburgh, he landed, sold 
his boat and spent the winter at that place. 
In the next spring, however, he built two 
other boats, on one of which he placed his 
family, and on the other his horses, and con- 
tinued his journey down the Ohio to Evans- 
ville, which place was reached about March 
25, 1819. Here he left his children on the 
boat, and went out into what is now Center 
township, this county, and entered 1,000 
or more acres of land, his being the first 
land ever entered in that vicinit}-. He re- 
turned for his family, and took them onto 
his land, where he settled down in the wil- 
derness. He, with the help of his sons, at 
once began to clear the land for farming. 
The remainder of his life was spent here, 
and his home soon became known as one from 
which no wayfarer would be turned away. 
In August, 1827, he was elected to rep- 
resent the counties of Vanderburgh and 
Warrick, in the state legislature, but did 
not live to serve his term out. Nothing 
shows his popularitv at home more than the 
fact that in this election onl}- two votes were 
cast against him in his own township. He 
died May 3, 1828. Charles F. McJohnston 
spent but eight years of his life in Ireland, a 



CENTER TOWNSHIP. 



617 



part of which he attended school and then 
he accompanied his father to this county, 
where he assisted his father in clearingf the 
land, and he has lived up to the present 
time on some one of the farms he helped to 
make. He was married February 14, 1833, 
to Miss Mary Wasson, of Gibson county, 
who was born September 15, 1815, and was 
the daughter of Joseph and Jane (Adams) 
Wasson. Mr. Wasson was a Unitarian 
minister, and both he and his wife were 
natives of South Carolina. Mr. and Mrs. 
Mcjohnston are the parents of nine children, 
viz.: Catherine, born February' 6, 1834; 
Arthur F., born February 19, 1837; Joseph 
W., born February 18, 1839; ^^laria J., born 
February 24, 1841 ; James W., born May 
30, 1843; Melissa, born October 16, 1S45; 
William H., born June 14, 1S48; Levi I., 
born April 5, 185 1, and Katie, born Febru- 
ary 21, 1854. -^^ ^^^ living except the first 
two, Catherine, who died in her seventh 
year, and Arthur F., who died at the age of 
fifty, from the effects of exposure in the 
civil war, he having been a member of 
Company K, Sixty-fifth Indiana volunteers. 
Mr. and Mrs. Mcjohnston are now among 
the most venerable citizens of the county, 
and it is very interesting to hear them relate 
the many things of importance that have 
taken place within their recollection. They 
live all alone on the farm where they have 
been continuously for about forty j-ears, but 
Mr. Mcjohnston has divided the estate 
among his children, and four of them live 
in sight of their parents. For their ad- 
vanced age thev are hale and heart}', and 
seem to bid fair to remain some time yet. 
They were present at the birth of the 
county, and have witnessed its growth and 
advancement through all its stages of pro- 
gress, and have taken no small share in 
making their portion of the county what it 
is. Mr. Mcjohnston's father was a Wes- 



leyan Methodist, and he has been a member 
of the Methodist church for more than si.xty 
years, and his wife for nearly as long. In 
politics he was a whig, and is now a repub- 
lican. 

John F. Moffett was born on the farm 
where he now resides, October 31, 1840, 
son of James and Wilhelmina (Mcjohnston) 
Moffett. The father was born in County 
Armagh, Ireland, March 10, 1805; the 
mother was born in Longford county, Ire- 
land, June 14, 1814. Mr. Moffett's father 
settled on the farm where his son now re- 
sides, entering the land from the govern- 
ment. Here he lived until his death Sep- 
tember 5, 1869. His wife survived until 
February 2, 1885. On this farm John Mof- 
fett passed his early life. In August, 1862, 
he enlisted in Company H, Sixty-fifth Indi- 
ana regiment, served three years, and was 
mustered out a corporal in July, 1865. 
While in the service he participated in the 
battles of Resaca, Nashville, of the At- 
lanta campaign, and various other engage- 
ments. March 19, 1868, he was married to 
Miss Janet Brodie, who was born April 3, 
1844, in the city of Mexico, daughter of 
Andrew and Janet (Henry) Brodie, both 
natives of Scodand. The first seven years 
of their married life were spent at the home 
of Mr. Brodie in this township. They next 
removed to the farm where they now reside. 
He owns eighty acres of good land nearly 
all in cultivation. Mr. and Mrs. Moffett are 
the parents of two children : James B., born 
January i, 1869, and Mamie, born May 16, 
1871; the latter died July 25, 1872. Mr. 
Moffett is a member of Farragut post. No. 
27, G. A. R., and he and his entire family 
are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
church. In politics he is a republican. 

Rachel H. Purdue. — Daniel Williams, 
a native of Wales, immigrated to the 
United States before the revolutionary 



618 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 



war, and made his home in Virginia. 
Here he was married to a Miss Den- 
ton. They raised a family of eleven 
children, ten sons and one daughter. One 
of these sons, WiUiam D., was born March 
30, 1760. He worked on a farm until he 
was sixteen j-ears of age, when he entered 
the revolutionary war, and served until in- 
dependence was achieved. He then re- 
turned to Virginia, and afterward emi- 
grated to Tennessee, where he was married 
to a Miss Shelton. They were the parents 
of twelve children; subsequently, this wife 
having died, he married in 1816, Mrs. 
Susanah Hudson, a widow with eight child- 
ren. She was a native of North Carolina, 
born March 12, 1781, daughter of "William 
and Amelia (Retherford) McDonald. To 
this marriage these children were born: 
Calvin McDonald, born 1817; James L., 
born July i, 1819; Henry M.,born April 26, 
1821; Rachel H. born September 16, 1823, 
and Isabel P., born January 29, 1826. 
Rachel H., was born in Butler county, 
Ky., and when four years of age she 
accompanied her parents to Warrick 
county, Ind. They settled in the vicinity of 
Boonville, in the fall of 1827. What litde 
schooling she obtained was in that count}', 
being often compelled to walk three miles 
or more to find a school of any kind. She 
was married in Warrick county to Rich- 
ard Robeson Purdue, July 18, 1841. 
Prior to the revolutionary war, Richard 
Robeson Purdue, Louis Gregory Purdue, 
and another brother emigrated from France 
and settled in South Carolina. When the 
war broke out one of the brothers went with 
Washington and the other with Marion, and 
both fought until the close of the war. 
Richard was married before he entered the 
army and had three children. In all, he was 
the father of twent^'-two sons, when his wife 
die<i.. He was married the second time and 



had one son, Howell Gregory Purdue. His 
second wife d3ing, he was married again 
and had another son, Jarrett Purdue. He 
then died, and his widow married a French- 
man, Gabriel Visor. Howell Gregory, 
Richard Purdue's only son by his second 
wife, was married August 25, 1814, to Miss 
Nancy Jane Dixon, whose mother was Ellen 
(Evans) Dixon. She and her husband were 
both natives of South Carolina, where he 
was born October 21, 1790, and she Decem- 
ber 30, 1795. They were married in Ken- 
tucky, but made their home in Tennessee. 
They were the parents of eleven children, 
viz. : Richard Robeson, born February 3, 
1816, Jarrett G., Ellen E., William D., An- 
drew v., Howell G., Basil B., Susan, Oliver 
L., and Nancy J. They were born in Mont- 
gomery count}', Tenn., except the last four, 
natives of Warrick county. The parents 
emigrated from Tennessee to Kentucky in 
December, 1829, and the next fall reaching 
Warrick county. His death occurred July 
5, 1850, and she passed away February 4, 
1868. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. 
Richard R. Purdue resided in different parts 
of Warrick and Spencer counties until 
1853, when they removed to Marion 
county. 111., in which place they resided until 
his death, October 2, 1858. They were 
the parents of nine children : Jarrett G., born 
June 10, 1842, who enlisted in 1861 as a 
private in the Twenty-fifth Indiana volunteer 
infantry, and after participating in the battle 
of Shiloh, died near Corinth, Miss., June 10, 
1862; Susan M., born September 5, 1843, 
died November 2, 1844; William H., born 
August 30, 1846; Orrin C, born June 24, 
1848; Richard H., born April 9, 1853; Sam- 
uel D., born March 13, 1856, and James B., 
born February 6, 1858. After her husband's 
death, she returned to Warrick county, 
where she was married to Rufus Roberts, 
the marriage taking place in April, 1S59. 



CENTER TOWNSHIP. 



619 



Two sons resulted from this union : Rufus 
J., born October 12, i860, died in infancy, 
and Union B., born April 14, 1S62. When 
the latter was only a few weeks old, she and 
Mr. Roberts separated, since which time 
she has remained a widow, and made her 
home in Warrick county, until the summer 
of 1886, when she removed to the city of 
Evansville, where she still resides with her 
youngest child. 

Dr. S. Ruark, an old and prominent 
physician of Center township, was born in 
Richland county. 111., July 17, 1825. He is 
the son of Reason and Mary J. (Banks) 
Ruark. The former was born in Maryland 
about 1800, and the latter in the south a 
few years later. In 1844 he left the farm 
and came to Evansville, where he remained 
a short time, and then went to Memphis, 
Tenn., and spent the winter. In the spring 
of 1845, he returned to Evansville, and 
entered upon the study of medicine, reading 
with Drs. Wilcox and Lane for two years, 
and then with Dr. Casselberry for one year. 
He graduated from the old Evansville Med- 
ical College about 1850, having practiced 
for two years before graduating. After 
graduating, he continued the practice of 
medicine in Evansville for two years, in 
Henderson county, Ky., for six years, m 
New Harmony for six years. He then 
returned to Evansville, and has remained in 
that city and vicinity until the present time. 
At present he resides four miles north of 
the city on the Fulton avenue road, where 
he owns a farm of over sixty acres of land, 
on which he has a pleasant, comfortable 
home, and an orchard containing a large 
variety of fruit grown in this vicinity. Dr. 
Ruark was married November 6, 1849, to 
Julia Ann Rogers, a native of this county, 
daughter of William and Elizabeth (Mar- 
quess) Rogers. Mrs. Ruark died May 3, 
1869, aged fort}- years, nine months and 



eighteen days. On April 6, 1870, he was 
married to Miss Sophia Blakey, who was 
born in Virginia about 1848. They are the 
parents of a son, born May 19, 1888. They 
are both members of the Methodist Episco- 
pal church. In politics the doctor is a 
republican. 

Robert Ruston, a prominent citizen of 
Center township, was born in Chatteris, 
Cambridgeshire, England, April 6, 181 2, 
the son of Richard and Mary (Farmor) 
Ruston. He was married October 25, 1835, 
to Lydia Grant, born May 2, 181 2. On 
April 6, 1837, he left England, bringing 
with him liis wife and one son. He stopped 
en route at Cleveland, after which he came 
to this county and settled in Scott township, 
where he enfra<red in farmin<j. Here he re- 
mained about ten years and then removed 
to Campbell township, Warrick county, 
where he lived about thirty years, when he 
returned to Vanderburgh county, this time 
settling in Center township, where he now 
resides. Mr. Ruston is the father of six 
children by his first wife: Matthew, born 
July 26, 1836; Mary, December 30, 1838; 
Daniel, May 24, 1840; Henry, October 
13, 1841; James C, March 10, 1843, and 
Andrew, July 22, 1844, all born in this county 
except Matthew, who is a native of Eng- 
land. Three are dead, Ephriam, Jane and 
Henrv, a member of the Sixty-fifth Indiana, 
died at Knoxville, Tenn., December 14, 1864. 
Mrs. Ruston died February 3, 1846. Mr. 
Ruston was a second time married August 
26, 1846, to Mrs. Mary Dodd, a widow with 
three children. Mr. Ruston was the father 
of one child by his second wife, Ephriam, 
who was born August 31, 1850. Mr. Rus- 
ton was again left a widower April 29, 
1880. September 25, 1881, he married 
Miss Maria Carr, born August 11, 1833, 
daughter of Henry and Mary (Toland) 
Carr, natives of the north of Ireland. Mr. 



6S0 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 



Ruston is a member of the Methodist 
church, and Mrs. Ruston is a devout 
Catholic. 

H. William Schnelle was born in 
Brunswick, German}^ December 2, 1840, 
the son of William and Hannah (Bertram) 
Schnelle. He accompanied his parents to 
the United States, landing at New Orleans 
in the spring of 1854. They settled first in 
German township and then removed to the 
farm in Center township, where the son now 
resides. Here his father died in March, 
1 88 1, his wife having preceded him, Feb- 
ruary 20, 1879. I" August, 1862, Mr. 
Schnelle enlisted as a private in Company 
E, Thirtj'-second Indiana volunteer infantry, 
the first German regiment from Indiana. 
He was mustered out June, 1865. During 
his term of service he participated in some 
of the principal battles of the war. At 
Perryville he was taken prisoner, but was 
paroled the next day. At Chickamauga he 
was severely wounded in the left side of the 
head, which gives him a great deal of 
trouble yet, the bone pressing against the 
brain. This wound rendered him unfit for 
duty until the spring of 1864, when he re- 
turned to his regiment, then in east Ten- 
nessee, and was with Sherman in the Atlanta 
campaign, and after Sherman went on to the 
sea his regiment remained in the vicinity of 
Atlanta until he was mustered out. After 
he returned home he took a course in the 
Evansville Commercial College, kept books 
for nearly two j'ears, and was in the 
grocery business one year, and then came 
to the farm, where he has since resided. He 
was married in the spring of 1867 to Miss 
Margaret Soesser, daughter of Simon 
Soesser. He is the father of seven children, 
viz.: Henry W., William S., Minnie, Ed- 
ward, August, Frederick and Simon. Mr. 
Schnelle and family are members of the 
Evangelical church. He is a republican 



politically. He owns a farm of about forty 
acres, nearh^ all in cultivation. He and family 
are among the best citizens of the township. 
His wound, received at Chickamauga, causes 
him to be subject to attacks of epileps}'. 
He draws a pension of $30 per month for 
this injury, which but slightly compensates 
for it. 

Jacob Kunz, an old resident of Center 
township, was born in Germany May 19, 
1828, son of Conrad and Elizabeth Kunz. 
His father died when he was only a few 
months old, and his mother ten years later. 
He emigrated to the United States in 1850, 
arriving at New York in January of that 
year, and in May reached Evansville. Jan- 
uary 27, 1857, he was married to Mrs. Car- 
oline L. Schlag, the widow of John Schlag. 
She was born in Germany Februarj' 2, 1822, 
daughter of John Haberer. Her parents 
both died in Germany. After their mar- 
riage Mr. and Mrs. Kunz settled on the 
farm where he still resides, where at first 
there was but little cleared land on the place 
of ninety-four acres. Now it is all cleared 
except twenty-five acres. He and his wife 
are the parents of three children : Elizabeth, 
born November 11, 1857, who died Septem- 
ber, 1869; Anna, born 1864, who died in 
infancy, and David G., born September 16, 
1859. Mrs. Kunz died October 12, 1884. 
Mr. Kunz and family are members of the 
Presbyterian church. In politics he is a re- 
publican. He is one of the well-to-do farm- 
ers, and has always been an honest, indus- 
trious man. 

Christian F. Schlag, son of John 
Schlag and his wife Caroline (afterward 
Mrs. Kunz), is now a prominent farmer of 
this township, where he was born September 
16, 1852. He was married November 19, 
1879, ^^ Miss Anna Freyling, who was born 
in Warrick county, April 8, 1857, the 
daughter of Stephen and Anna (Pickett) 



CENTER TOWNSHIP. 



621 



Freyling. They are the parents of two 
children: Louis S., born June 2, 1S82, and 
David G., born February 25, 1884. He and 
his wife are members of the Presbyterian 
church. In politics he is a republican. 

Conrad Schmidt, a venerable farmer of 
this township, was born in Bavaria, February 
15, 1810, the son of Andrew and Christina 
Schmidt. When he was fourteen his 
mother died and his father married again. 
After leaving school he was employed as a 
shoemaker. In 1832, he, together with his 
father, stepmother, four brothers, one sister 
and two step-sisters emigrated to the United 
States. After two years at New Orleans 
they came to this county in the spring of 
1834, and settled in the woods on the farm 
where he now resides. Conrad's father died 
in 1839, and his stepmother lived until about 
ten years ago. Mr. Schmidt was married 
September 10, 1839, to Miss Mary Schwab, 
who was born in Switzerland, July 8,1822, 
daughter of Christian and Catherine 
Schwab. When about twelve years of age 
she accompanied her parents from Switzer- 
land to this count}', spending four years at 
Pittsburgh, and arriving at Evansville in the 
spring of 1838. They remained about three 
years in Evansville, and then came to this 
township, where the father died about 1869, 
and the mother a year later. Mr. and Mrs. 
Schmidt have spent nearh" forty-nine years 
together on this farm. They raised a fam- 
ily of twelve children, seven of whom are 
still living, and the }oungest to die was 
seven years of age. The children's names 
are: Mary, deceased; Christina, deceased; 
Catherine, deceased; Elizabeth, Philip, 
Henry; Wilhelmina, deceased; Simon, 
deceased; Louisa, Margaret, George and 
Ida. Mr. Schmidt owns eighty acres 
of land, all of which he assisted in 
clearing himself. He and familv are mem- 
bers of the Presbyterian church. Politically 



Mr. Schmidt is a republican. None are 
more highly respected than this aged couple. 
Anton Sciimitt, an aged and respected 
farmer of Center township, was born in 
Rhenish Bavaria, at Wachenheim-by-the- 
Hardt, February 14, 1814, the son of 
David and Justina (Hallcr) Schmitt. 
When he was fourteen, he was engaged in 
a vineyard, which business he thoroughly 
understood. Mr. Schmitt was married May 
16, 1838, to Miss Barbara Kunz, born in 
Germany, December 4, 181 7, daughter of 
Conrad and Susan Kunz. Her father died 
in his native country in 1828, and her mother 
died when Mrs. Schmitt was an infant. In 
1840, Mr. and Mrs. Schmitt, together with 
their oldest child, Mr. Schmitt's father and 
mother, one brother and one sister, emi- 
grated to the United States, reaching Evans- 
ville in June. Anton and wife settled in a 
little loij cabin on the farm where he still 
lives, and his father and mother on another 
near his. Here his father, who was born in 
1776, died, October 9, 1S44, and his mother 
the,n went to Evansville and resided with her 
daughter until her death, May 3, 1873, at the 
age of ninety-four years. Mr. Schmitt was 
eminently successful, and increased his farm 
of forty acres to one of 167 acres, and the 
eight or ten acres of cleared land that he 
found, to more than 100. The log cabin has 
been replaced by a substantial frame struc- 
ture, which is comfortable and commo- 
dious. In addition to this he has erected 
quite a handsome two-story residence for 
his son, which together with fifty acres of 
land he gave to him. He and wife are the 
parents of five children: Margaret, Eliza- 
beth, David (deceased), Catherine, Charles. 
Mr. and Mrs. Schmitt, have passed a little 
more than fifty years together, forty-eight 
at their present home. They are members 
of the United E\angelical church. In poli- 
tics Mr. Schmitt is a republican. Ch.vrles 



sss 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 



ScHMiTT, son of Anton, was educated in the 
schools of Center township, and studied Ger- 
man at Darmstadt. He has devoted his entire 
life to farm work, and owns a farm of fifty 
acres, nearl}^ all of which is in cultivation, 
and is well improved. He was married 
August 31, 1874, to Miss Louisa Kuster, 
who was born in this county January 14, 
1855, daughter of Christopher and Louisa 
(Swarz) Kuster, natives of Germany, who 
emigrated some thirty-five or forty years ago, 
and now resides in Scott township. Mr. and 
Mrs. Schmitt are the parents of five child- 
ren: Otto (deceased), Clara, John, Victor, 
Elizabeth. Mr. and Mrs. Schmitt are 
members of the Lutheran church. In poli- 
tics he is republican. He is an honest, indus- 
trious young farmer. 

John Henry Peter Schmidt was born 
at Casseburg, Lauenburg, Prussia, July 29, 
1831, the son of John Henr^^ and Mary 
(Ludemann) Schmidt, both of whom died 
in their native countr}-, the father about 
1880 and the mother about 1863. In the fall 
of 1856 he emigrated to the United States, 
and from New York went to Milwaukee, 
where he was variously employed, princi- 
pally in a printing office, for a year and a 
half. From Milwaukee he went to Tell 
City, Ind., where he remained until the 
breaking out of the war, when he enlisted 
as a private in Company A, Sixtieth Indiana 
infantry, under the command of Col. Owen, 
and served three years. He participated in 
the battles of Munfordville, Arkansas Post, 
Chickasaw Bottoms, Vicksburg, Black 
River, and in skirmishes near Jackson, 
Miss., and at Carencro, where he was taken 
prisoner and held for six or seven weeks. 
After being exchanged, he was with Banks 
on his Red River expedition. He was dis- 
charged in the spring of 1865, and then re- 
turned to Tell City and engaged in the 
shingle business for one year. He then 



came to Evansville, where he followed the 
wharf-boat business for nine or ten years, 
after which he came to Center township 
and bought the farm where he now resides. 
He was married April i, 1875, to Mrs. 
Sophia (Andres) Bremer, the widow of 
Henry E. Bremer. She was born in Hol- 
stein, Germany, about 1834, daughter of 
Jacob and Catherine (Bank) Andres. Her 
father died in Germany about 1852, and her 
mother in Tell City, Ind., about ten years 
later. Mr. Schmidt and wife have one 
child, Mary Christina Francisca, born Jan- 
uary 16, 1876. They are members of the 
Presbyterian church. In politics Mr. 
Schmidt is a republican. He was a gallant 
soldier, and is now an honest, industrious 
and successful farmer. 

Rev. Ulrich Schroeter, an old and 
highly respected resident of Center town- 
ship, was born near Berne, Switzerland, 
August, 1826, the son of John and Eliza- 
beth Schroeter. His maternal grandfather 
was John Swahlen, who immigrated at the 
age of eighty years, and lived over nine 
3'ears after reaching this country. Ulrich 
Schroeter acquired a good academic educa- 
tion, and some knowledge of the French 
language. In March, 1847, he, with his 
parents, brother Christian, sisters Anna and 
Elizabeth, and his grandfather, emigrated to 
the United States, and reached Evansville, 
in July, 1847. The family settled on a farm 
in German township, nearly all of which 
was in the woods. The father died about 
five years later, but the mother lived about 
twenty years. Ulrich made his home prin- 
cipally with his uncle, Christian Swahlen, 
in Center township, and was variously em- 
ployed. At about the age of twenty-six, he 
made a profession of religion, uniting with 
the German Methodist church. He was 
licensed to preach, and was a local preacher 
for some time. He became an itinerant 



CENTER TOWNSHIP. 



6SS 



minister, his first circuit including Logans- 
port, Wabash, Peru, and other places. In 
this work he remained about one year, when 
his health failed. A year later he again en- 
tered the itineracy, visiting Santa Claus, 
New Boston, Santa Fe, Grandview, and 
other places in Spencer county. There he 
was married May ii, 1858, to Miss Mary 
Fryhofer, who was born in Jackson county, 
Ind., May 29, 1840. She is the daughter of 
Jacob Fryhofer, born March 11, 1806, and 
his wife Susanna born December 18, 1805, 
both natives of Canton Cirach, Switzerland. 
They came to the United States about 1835, 
and settled first in Jackson county, then in 
Spencer county, where Mrs. Fryhofer died 
February 12, 1863. Mr. Fryhofer now re- 
sides in Riley county, Kansas. Soon after 
his marriage, Mr. Schroeter gave up his 
circuit and returned to Vanderburgh county, 
and purchased the farm in Center town- 
ship, on which he now resides. He has 
cleared most of it, and erected a substantial 
house and two large barns. Durinjj the 
time he has been enirafred in farmin<r he 
has been a local minister and a leading mem- 
ber of the German Methodist church. He 
has been in demand to preach funeral ser- 
mons, far and near, and he was never too 
busv to respond to all the demands of this 
kind. At present there is an elegant brick 
church erected near his farm, the successful 
completion of which was due, in great part, 
to the efforts of Mr. Schroeter. He and his 
wife are the parents of thirteen children, 
nine of whom are livinjj. Their names are: 
Lydia E., John W., Hannah S. (deceased), 
Emma L. (deceased), Louis F. (deceased), 
Emma Clara (deceased), Wilhelm Jacob, 
Henr}' Edward, Albert Walter, Jesse F., 
Samuel T., Irwin Benjamin and Arthur 
Clemens. 

Charles F. W. Schwartz was born in 
Prussia, December 26, 1839, ^^^ ^°" °^ Ernst 



Henry and Louisa (Redemeir) Schwartz. 
At the age of seven he accompanied his pa- 
rents to the United States, arriving at 
Evansville in December, 1846. They oc- 
cupied a farm in Scott township about eight 
years, and then removed to German town- 
ship, where Mrs. Schwartz died about the 
year 1854. Mr. Schwartz survived her 
until September, 1874. October 20, 1862, 
Charles enlisted as a pri\ate in Company 
K, Twenty-fourth Indiana volunteer infan- 
try, and served until October 19, 1865, 
when he was mustered out at Galveston, 
Te.\'. Some of the principal battles in 
which he participated were Port Gibson, 
Champion Hills, siege of Vicksburg, siege 
of Blakely, Ala. After coming home 
he worked at the carpenter's trade and then 
resumed farming. He was married July 

22, 1869, to Miss Caroline Schemet, who 
was born at Wittenberg, Germany, May 3, 
1851, the daughter of Louis and Caroline 
Schemet, who now reside m this township. 
Mr. and Mrs. Schwartz have had the follow- 
ing children: Caroline C. (deceased), 
Wilhelmina R. and Mary B., (deceased); 
Louisa R., Louis F., William H., Anna 
Catherine, Ella Augusta, Christian Gottlieb, 
and Edward Arthur. Mr. Schwartz and 
family are members of the German Metho- 
dist church. 

Ernst Henry Schwartz was born in 
Scott township, J anuarj' 2, 1850, the son of 
E. H. and Louisa Schwartz, above men- 
tioned. He was married May 5, 1S85, to 
Miss Kate Krieger. who was born in this 
county May 16, 1868, daughter of William 
and Lizzie (Stichert) Krieger, natives of 
German}'; he died in this count)- December 

23, 18S6, and she December, 1884. Mr. 
and Mrs. Schwartz are the parents of two 
children : Emma M.,born February 15, 1886, 
and Wesley W., born August 28, 1887. 
In religion, they are German Methodists. 



62i 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 



Frederick Steinmetz, an old and promi- 
nent farmer of this township, was born in 
Wachenheim-b3-the-Hardt, Germany, June 
II, 1811, the son of Bernhard and Eliza- 
beth (Koehler) Steinmetz, who died in 
that country, his father in 1829, and his 
mother in 1838. Frederick attended school 
until he was fourteen years of age, becom- 
ing an exceptionally good penman, and 
afterward was engaged in his father's vine- 
yard until he was about twenty-seven years 
old. March 16, 183 7, he married Miss Eliza- 
beth Schmidt, who was born in German}', 
April II, 181 1, daughter of David andjustina 
(Haller) Schmidt. Her parents afterward 
came to the United States and settled in 
Center township. Mr. and Mrs. Steinmetz 
emigrated to the United States, leaving 
home April 24, 1837. They reached Evans- 
ville June 19, and on October 27, 1837, pur- 
chased a farm of eighty acres in Center 
township. He worked there about eleven 
years and then bought his farm of 160 
acres, which was then entirely wooded. 
Now there are about 100 acres cleared, and 
all the work of opening this farm has been 
done by him and his sons. They are the 
parents of seven children: Henry, Anna 
Marie (deceased), Justina, Conrad (de- 
ceased), Elizabeth, August and Bernhard. 
Mr. Steinmetz and family are members of 
the Evangelical church. Mr. Steinmetz 
was for several years secretary of the Home 
Mutual Fire Insurance company of Vander- 
burgh county. 

John Ulrich was born in Switzerland, 
July 29, 1842, the son of Joseph and Anna 
(Schroeter) Ulrich. Mr. Ulrich's pa- 
rents immigrated and landed at New 
York, July 12, 1847, and came at once 
to Evansville, and settled in this town- 
ship. In the spring of 1862, Ulrich took a 
trip up the Tennessee river on a govern- 
ment boat, and on the 20th of July, 1862, 



enlisted as a private in Company H, 
Sixty-fifth Indiana volunteer infantr}', and 
served two years, ten months and live days. 
He participated in the battles of Blounts- 
ville, Tenn., where he was painfully 
wounded in the wrist, Dallas, Resaca and 
other engagements of the Atlanta campaign. 
Near Decatur he was shot through the 
right side, breaking two of his ribs and 
producing a very dangerous wound. This 
was so serious and so long in healing that 
he was unable to return to his regiment. 
When he was mustered out May 25, 1865, 
the wound had not yet healed and it still 
disables him. He was married October 15, 
1866, to Miss Hannah M. Heubner, who 
was born in this county, March 18, 1847, 
daughter of Peter and Harriet Heubner. 
Mr. and Mrs. Ulrich are members of the 
German Methodist church, and he belongs 
to Farragut post, G. A. R. They are the 
parents of nine children: Anna Eliza (de- 
ceased), William H., Edward R. (deceased), 
Harriet F., Walter W., Elizabeth M., Jesse 
Martin, Sarah Esther and Ada Belle (de- 
ceased). 

Karl Volkmann was born in German}', 
September 15, 1844. He is the son of 
Andrew and CaroHne Volkmann. When 
Karl was about nineteen years old he emi- 
grated to the United Slates, and reached 
this county in May, 1864. He was vari- 
ously occupied for a time, and then pur- 
chased sixty acres of the 120 acres which 
he now owns. Since that time he has been 
engaged in farming, and has been ver}' suc- 
cessful. He was married about 1866 to 
Miss Justina Meyer, a native of Germany, 
daughter of Christian and Charlotte Meyer. 
They are parents of eight living children : 
Ernest, Charles, Frederick, Mary, Alvina, 
Gusta, Otto, Louisa, and two deceased, 
Carohne and August. Mr. Volkmann and 
family are members of the Lutheran church. 



CENTER TOWNSHIP. 



6S5 



He has held the office of supervisor for two 
years. Mrs. Volkmann's father was sheriff 
of the court in the old country, was highly 
educated, and tilled that position nearly all 
his life. 

Michael Weber was born in Germany, 
July 2, 1S39. He is the son of Jacob and 
Catherine (Hoomel) Weber, the former of 
whom was born in Germanj', August 3, 
1812, and the latter about iSoi. In 1S52, 
the family, which consisted of the parents 
and four children : Nicholas, Michael, Mary 
and Catherine, landed at New Orleans, and 
reached Evansville June 7. In August of 
the same year, his father settled in Center 
township. Here they chopped cord-wood 
out of all the available timber, made rails, 
and prepared thirty acres for agricul- 
ture. In the spring of 1856 they bought 
fifty-two acres of land, where Michael now 
resides. They afterward bought eighty 
acres more of woodland. This land is now 
all cleared, e.xcept about four acres, and the 
Webers did the greater portion of the work 
themselves. Michael's mother died Octo- 
ber 3, 1861, but his father still Hves at 
Evansville. Michael Weber and Miss Mary 
Schmidt were married December 10, 1867. 
She was born in Pennsylvania September 
18, 1850, the daughter of Michael and Chris- 
tina Schmidt. Her parents removed from 
Pennsylvania about 1855, and settled in 
Center township, where they still reside. 
Mr. Weber has been frequently called upon 
to act as administrator in settling various es- 
tates, and he has given entire satisfaction in 
this regard. He and wife are tiie parents 
of five children : Jacob, Michael, John, Mary 
and Michael. The tirst named Michael was 
killed by a horse when only one year, three 
months and three days old. In 18S1 Mr. 
Weber's health failed, and he took a trip to 
Germany, where he remained three months, 



but after he returned he suffered a relapse, 
and then took a trip to Alabama and Flor- 
ida. He and family are members of the 
Evangelical Lutheran church. He has been 
a member of Crescent Lodge, No. 122, 
I. O. O. F., for about thirteen years. 

Benj.\min S. Young, ex-count)' commis- 
sioner, was born December 18, 1830, in 
Chatteris, Cambridgeshire, England. He is 
the .son of William and x\nn (Briggs) Young, 
natives of England, who came to America 
about 1835. They landed at New Orleans, 
and at Vanderburg county, in the spring of 
1836, first settling on the Kratzville road in 
this township, thence moving to the Blue 
Grass flats. From there they came to the 
farm where Benjamin now resides, and the 
father purchased jointly with his brother, 
eighty acres of land from Ephriam Hall, pay- 
ing $200 for what is now w'orth $60 an acre. 
William Young died a year or two later, 
from the kick of a horse. In a few years 
Mrs. Younff married William Skeels. Mr. 
Skeels took a trip to California, accom- 
panied by Benjamin, where he remained 
some five or six years. On his return, the 
family removed to the eastern part of Cen- 
ter township. At the breaking out of the 
war, Mr. Skeels enlisted in the sixty-fifth 
regiment, Indiana volunteers, and was taken 
prisoner and died in Andersonville prison. 
His widow died at the home of her son, in 
1882. Benjamin spent his early life in work- 
ing on the farm, saw-milling, and steamboat- 
ing, on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. 
In the latter part of 1854, he returned to 
Evansville, and on April 25, 1855, wedded 
Miss Harriet Lawrence, daughter of Freder- 
ick and Elizabeth (Cartwright) Lawrence, 
natives of New York. Mr. Young bought 
out the other heirs to the old homestead, 
where he and his wife have since resided. 
They have had eleven children, nine of 
whom are living: Mary, Olivia, Anna J., 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 



Charles S., Fletcher, died in infancy, Robert 
L., John H. (Francis, twin brother of John, 
died in infancy), Laura, Katie, Emma, 
Esther. Mr. Young was elected constable 
about 1863, and served in that capacity for 
about eight years. In 1872 he was elected 
county commissioner, which office he tilled 
with honor and credit for three 3'ears. Mr. 
Young and family are members of the 
Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he 
is a republican. He cast his first vote for 
president for Gen. Scott. Mr. Young is a 
popular and worthy citizen. 

Knight tozviskip, prior to 1S40 and after 
the establishment of Vanderburgh county, 
formed a part of the extensive township of 
Pigeon. It is now bounded on the north by 
Center township and Warrick county, on 
the east by Warrick county, on the south 
by the Ohio river, and on the west b}' Pigeon 
township. Along the river border the sur- 
face is low and subject to inundation. Here 
are found the rich alluvial lands of the river 
bottom. Along the old canal bed, or the 
present Une of the L. E. & St. L. R. R. are 
rich lands, at one time swampy, but now, 
through modern S3'stem of drainage, con- 
sidered as good as any lands in the county. 
In the greater part of the township, aside 
from the localities named, the surface is 
gently undulating and the soil of a produc- 
tive character. In early times the entire 
township was covered with dense forests, 
but these have disappeared. The north 
border of the township is washed by Pigeon 
creek, but no considerable streams traverse 
its interior. 

Earl)' Settlers. — Most of the settlers here 
crossed over from Kentucky; indeed, it may 
be said that all of the earhest settlers in this 
township came from that state, to which 
many of them had previousl}' emigrated 
from Virginia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, 
and other states of the south. About the 



winter of 1806 ^Eneas McCallister, the pro- 
genitor of a large family of that name, made 
a settlement opposite the mouth of Green 
river. Though others may have preceded 
him, he was doubtless the first to settle in 
the township which afterward became identi- 
fied with the history of its growth and 
progress. He subsequently removed to 
what was known as the Knight settlement 
some four miles from Evansville in the direc- 
tion of Newburgh. His sons were, Jesse, 
Archibald, and Joseph, all men of great 
worth and good standing. Jesse McCal- 
lister's was a favorite place for the early 
religious workers to congregate. The 
camp grounds were on his farm, and he 
himself was a devout worker. Joseph, the 
youngest, was a clever man and had an in- 
fluence for good in his day, but the rougher 
traits of the pioneer were among his 
possessions. Between 1810 and 181 2 
a number of pioneers braved the dangers of 
life in the woods, and came to share the ex- 
periences of the McCallisters. Daniel No- 
ble settled in the vicinity of Three Mile 
Island, and Daniel James, the uncle of Na- 
thaniel and John James, still below him. 
Next came Samuel Lewis and settled on the 
place afterward so well-known as the home- 
stead of Gen. Joseph Lane. These people 
claimed as their neighbors, John Sprinkle, 
William Briscoe, Solomon Vanoda and Julius 
Wiggins, thoutrh the cabins of these settlers 
stood as far away as the present site of 
Newburgh, the mouth of C^'press creek and 
beyond. Among other early settlers along 
the river were: Henry James, David Aikin 
and John Garrett. Here also hved the 
Lane family, Joseph, Jesse, Simon and 
Floyd, and their parents. These settlers 
did not come until 1818, though for some 
years they had lived on the opposite bank 
of the river. 

This little settlement in Knight township 



KNIGHT TOWNSHIP. 



6S7 



gave to Vanderburgh county, to the state 
and to the nation a man whose name adorns 
the brightest pages of history. Gen. Joseph 
Lane came with his father in 1818 and set- 
tled a short distance below the foot of Three 
Mile Island. In 1S20 he married and be- 
came part owner of his father's land where 
his ten children were born and where his 
family resided until 1853. When but 
twenty-one 3'ears of age he made the race 
for the legislature and won, though pitted 
against such men as Gen. R. M. Evans and 
Judge William Foster. He was five times 
elected to a seat in the lower house of the 
general assembly and twice to the state senate. 
In shaping the legislation of the state he 
acted a conspicuous part, and by his vote and 
influence contributed largely to a satisfactory 
and honorable settlement of the linancial com- 
plications which followed the downfall of the 
great internal improvement system of 1835. 
When war was declared against Mexico in 
1846,116 vacated his seat in the state senate, 
and enlisted to serve in the ranks under that 
gallant officer Capt. Walker. In rapid suc- 
cession he rose to the rank of brigadier 
general, and acted a military career which 
was without spot or blemish. In 1848, 
after his return from the field of battle, he 
was appointed b}- the president governor of 
Oregon, and subsequently represented that 
state in the United States senate. At the 
advanced age of sevent\'-nine years he died 
April 19, 1881, at Roseburg, Ore. 

Another settlement was made about 1813, 
some four miles above Evansville on the 
Newburgh road. There lived Isaac Knight, 
Martin Miller, Samuel Kinion, John Fickas, 
Adam Fickas, Robert Gibson, Humphrey 
Barnett and the McCallisters. John Beach 
settled near what is now known as Howard 
or Asylum farm. Peter Linxweiler lived 
north of the Knight settlement and near 
Pigeon creek; Ambrose Kelsey was be- 



tween the settlement and the city. Isaac 
Knight received the honor of having his 
name perpetuated in the christening of the 
township. He became a freeholder in the 
township in 181 5, and lived on the lands 
bought from the government until his death. 
His family was among the most respected 
in the township. The other pioneers named 
as residing in this settlement were sturdy 
men, skillful hunters and good citizens. 

After the first settlements were made the 
growth and development of the township 
was for many j^ears ver}- slow. North of 
the Knight farm, out toward Pigeon creek, 
and especiall}' through the lowlands, after- 
ward traversed by the Wabash & Erie 
canal, there was not a stick amiss. Indeed, 
it was not until 1S30, and even later, that 
the land in this locality began to be cleared 
up and settled upon. Nor were there any 
settlements whatever in very early times 
east of Isaac Knight's and west of the 
county line, except that now and then along 
the Newburgh road a patch was cut out in 
the forests and a cabin was raised. With 
the great increase of population that was 
ushered in about 1835, Knight township re- 
ceived a very small proportion of the 
foreigners that came into the county. It, 
however, filled up with a good class of citi- 
zens. A considerable portion of the lands 
were entered b}' non-residents, the chief of 
these being the well-known Robert Barnes, 
who made the last entry of land made in the 
township. This outline of the condition 
of the township during its early existence is, 
of necessity, imperfect. 

lioii/nisrcnces. — Adam and Eve Fickas 
settled near Race creek, in Henderson 
county, Ky., in the winter of 1806, and 
thence removed to the Kentucky bank of 
the Ohio river, opposite Three Mile Island, 
in 1808, where they remained until 1S17, at 
which tmie they removed to a farm in War- 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 



rick count}', in recent years known as the 
Simon Lane farm, now owned by Frank 
Staser. Jacob B. Fickas was one of nine 
children born to these pioneers. From an 
account of his recollections of early times in 
Knight township, the following brief extract 
is made: "I have vivid recollections of the 
earthquake which, in iSii, upset the town 
of New Madrid, Mo., and caused the earth 
to sink to such an extent that a lake ap- 
peared where before the town had stood. 
The shaking up reached even this part of 
the country; the shock was sensibl)' felt all 
along our river settlement. In consequence 
a religious furore seized upon the minds of 
the people and the}- thought of little else 
than attending religious worship. About 
this time James McGrady, who was the 
founder of the Cumberland Presbyterian 
church, appeared in this section and 
preached to the people. Phineas Ewing 
and Hiram A. Hunter followed McGrady, 
and under their inspiration the camp meet- 
ing system sprang into existence. A camp 
ground was opened on the farm of Jesse 
McCallister in 1815 or 1816. In about 
two years it was removed to the farm of 
Isaac Knight in the same neighborhood. 
The next season the Baptists had a camp 
meeting in the upper bayou settlement on 
the farm of Jesse Lane. This system of 
religious worship was kept up year after 
year for a period of thirty or forty years. 
Churches. — The Cumberland Presbyte- 
rians from the earliest times have been 
strong in Knight township. But at the pres- 
ent time there is but one organized class of 
this denomination in the township, that on 
the Newburgh road called Hebron. The 
church was first called Nebo, the name being 
changed after the erection of a house of 
worship. The church edifice is a small, 
neat, frame structure, built about 1S58, 
mainly through the instrumentality of Rev. 



John T. Bates, then pastor of the church. 
The class had been organized about ten 
years prior to this time, probably by Rev. 
William Lynn. The early meetings were 
held at what was afterward known as the 
Terry school-house. Among the ministers 
to this charge, besides those named, have 
been: Revs. Ritchie, White, Bowden, Cleve- 
land, Darby and Miller, the present pastor. 
Prominent among the early members were: 
Mrs. Julia Terry, John Hall, Sqiure Vann, 
John Fickas and Isaac Knight. The con- 
gregation is now in a prosperous condition, 
though its membership is numerically small. 

Christian Order. — Through that part of 
the township called in early times the upper 
bayou settlement, or along the river near 
the Three Mile Island, there has grown up 
a strong society of those who worship ac- 
cording to the faith of the Christian Order. 
This sect is an offshoot from the Christian 
church as established by Alexander Camp- 
bell, and was founded by John McCrary, 
Joseph Wasson and John Boren. The Rev. 
George Grimm first came preaching in this 
neighborhood. He was succeeded b}' Rev. 
Tibbetts, and he in turn by Rev. John T. 
Phillips, who for several years has been the 
faithful pastor in charge. Preaching was 
first held in the district school-house, but in 
1868 a neat frame church was erected. 
Mrs. Elizabeth Aikin is recognized b\' all as 
probably the most devoted and earnest sup- 
porter of this church. The congregation is 
very large, and the Sunday school is in a 
prosperous condition. 

Little Sisters of the Poor. — A branch of 
this order was established in Evansville in 
1887, through the kindness and charity of 
Mr. John A. Reitz, the generous millionaire, 
and thoroughly practical Catholic. He 
donated seventeen acres of land on Lincoln 
avenue, in Knight township, one half mile 
from the city limits, whereon was erected a 



KNIGHT TOWNSHIP. 



629 



splendid and spacious building, fitted with 
all modern improvements, to be the home 
for the aged poor in charge of the Sisters. 
The land and building are worth more than 
$^o,ooo. The building is of brick, three- 
stories, 225x75 feet in dimensions, with two 
wings half the size of the main building. 
A statue of St. Joseph, the gift of Mrs. 
John A. Reitz, ornaments the front of the 
structure. Sister Albertine is the Superior, 
and has eight assistants. At present there 
are forty-seven inmates (male and female), 
of all nationalities, ranging from sixty to 
ninety years of age. No needy person who 
conforms to the mild rules of the institution 
is excluded, regardless of color, condition, 
or religious belief. 

Hospital Jar t lie Insane. — This state in- 
stitution is located in Knight township, on 
what was formerly known as the Howard 
farm, on the Newburgh road, about three 
miles from the city of Evansville. The 
county records show that in 1882, Mr. Sam- 
uel Barker, then count}- commissioner, pre- 
sented resolutions to the board of commis- 
sioners setting forth the needs of additional 
accommodations for the insane in the state 
of Indiana. Through the efforts of Hon. 
William Rahm, jr., state senator, Hons. John 
F. Pruitt and J. W. Spain, representatives, 
the county and city otlicers and a committee 
of citizens composed of Capt. H. C. Good- 
ing, Hon. J. A. Lemcke, Dr. M. Muhl- 
hausen, and Mr. Thomas P. Byrnes, the 
state legislature was induced to visit Evans- 
ville with a view of selecting a site for such 
an as^'luni as the needs of the state de- 
manded. The legislature was handsomely 
entertained by the citizens of the city, and 
the advantages of the location were so 
clearly presented that favorable action was 
secured. A handsome edifice, built of brick, 
at a cost of about $250,000, and capable of 
accommodating 1,000 inmates, was erected 



in 1886, by P. H. McCormick, of Columbus, 
Ind., contractor, under the supervision of the 
hospital commissioners, and after a design 
prepared by E. H. Ketcham, of Indianapolis, 
Ind., architect. The asylum farm cost 
$20,000. 

Tozrns. — On April i, 1S37, William 
Walker laid out .a town in the southeast 
quarter of section 13, township 6 south, range 
10 west, and called it Smyrna. The Wabash 
& Erie canal was expected to lift the place 
to greatness, but with the decay of that 
waterway, Smyrna was abandoned. At 
present there are no towns of importance in 
the township. Smythe's station on the 
L., E. & St. L. railroad is the site of Mr. 
Henry Sm^-the's extensive tile factory, 
which has been in successful operation for 
several years. 

Henry H. Barnett, ex-trustee of Knight 
township, was born in this township Decem- 
ber 31, 1846, the son of Humphrey and 
Emily R. (Caldwell) Barnett. His father 
was born April 5, 181 1, in this township, and 
was married to Emily R- Caldwell, April 12, 
1838. He and two other men were killed 
by a stroke of lightning, in Knight town- 
ship, while moving a threshing machine, 
August 19, 1850. The mother was born in 
Kentuck}', March 2, 1820. She was mar- 
ried to Nathaniel J. James, July 12, 1853, 
and died in 1866. The early life of Henry 
H. Barnett was spent in his native township, 
and in early manhood he adopted the voca- 
tion of a farmer. He has in connection 
with farming, dealt in live stock for a num- 
ber of years past. He was married Oc- 
tober 8, 1872, to Victoria Harper, a native 
of Knight township, born about 1853, daugh- 
ter of David and Elizabeth (Fields) Harper. 
She died January 18, 1S77, and on May 21, 
1878, Mr. Barnett was married to Nellie E. 
Harper, a sister of his first wife, born in 
Knight township, April, 1859. She died 



630 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 



September 23, 1887. Mr. Barnett is the 
father of five children: Harry D. (de- 
ceased), Ivy M., Charles H., NelHe, and Rus- 
sell, of whom the last four are the children 
of his second wife. In 1882, he was elected 
assessor, which position he resigned in 1884, 
to accept the office of township trustee. He 
was re-elected to this latter office in 1886, 
and has lately retired from six years' 
creditable service. 

George D. Bowen, proprietor of the 
Crescent City Nursery, was born in county 
of Norfolk, England, October 6, 1837, the 
son of John and Harriet (Burton) Bowen, 
who spent their entire lives in that country. 
As early as twelve years of age he became 
employed in a nursery, and he has made the 
nursery work the vocation of his life. When 
seventeen years old he emigrated to Amer- 
ica, and at Rochester, N. Y., worked in a 
nurserj' from two to three j'ears. He then 
went to Eaton Rapids, Mich., and was a 
partner in a nursery about two years. In 
the fall of 1858 he returned to Rochester, 
where he entered into a contract with ex- 
Mayor William Baker and his brother, Con- 
rad Baker, in pursuance of which in Novem- 
ber, 1858, he came to this county and 
established a nursery, which he conducted 
until 1863. It was styled the Crescent" City 
Nursery by Gov. Baker in the spring of 
1859. In 1863 Mr. Bowen became the pro- 
prietor of the nursery himself, and he has 
developed it into one of the best nurseries 
in the state, and his reputation is not con- 
fined to Vanderburgh county. He was 
married February 16, 1S59, to Elizabeth 
Jackson, who was born in Daviess county, 
this state. Their marriage has resulted in 
the birth of one child, William C. Bowen, 
now ten years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Bowen 
are members of the Presb^'terian church. 
He is a member of the A. O. U. W., and in 
politics is a republican. Mr. Bowen has the 



respect and confidence of his feUowmen, and 
all of his dealings have been characterized 
by integrity. 

John J. Byrne, trustee of Knight town- 
ship, was born in Beaver county, Penn., March 
2, 1832. He is the son of Michael and 
Eleanor (O'Brien) Byrne, both natives of 
Count}^ Kerry, Ireland. His father was 
born in 1800, and was the son of Daniel and 
Mary Byrne. The father and mother 
emigrated to America in 1824, and located 
in Beaver county, Penn., but when John was 
about twelve years old, they removed to 
Allegheny county. He was married in Al- 
legheny county, Penn., March 13, 1862, to 
Margaret Riddle. She was born in that 
county July 12, 1837, and is the daughter of 
Samuel and Jane (Turner) Riddle. Her fa- 
ther was born May 4, 1794, son of Samuel 
and Jane Riddle. Her mother was the 
daughter of Samuel and Anna (Ewing) 
Turner, who came across the Allegheny 
mountains on horseback in a very early da}\ 
A pair of baskets was suspended across the 
horse's back in the form of saddle-bags, and 
in these baskets the children found a place 
to ride. For one year after their marriage 
Mr. and Mrs. Byrne resided on a farm in 
Allegheny county. In 1863 they emigrated 
to Vanderburgh county. They moved to 
their present home on the Washington av- 
enue road, section 35, in November, 1887. 
Mr. Byrne owns in all 140 acres of land, 
100 of which lie in Knight township, and 
the remainder in Warrick county. The 
wife of Mr. B^rne is a member of the Chris- 
tian church, and he is a member of the 
Catholic church. In 1888 he was elected 
trustee, raising his party's majority from 
thirty-six to seventj'-three. 

G. W. Clark was born in Pose}- county, 
this state, August 16, 1S55, the son of 
Erastus A. and Sallie A. (Grant) Clark, 
the latter of whom was a second cousin of 



KNIGHT TOWNSHIP. 



ess 



Gen. U. S. Grant. In 1861 his parents re- 
moved to Gibson county, and a jear later 
located in Evansville, where, until he was a 
man, the subject of this sketch remained. 
During his bo^'hood and youth he was 
variously employed. At twenty 3-ears of 
age, on August 15, 1875, he was married to 
Miss Ann D. Knapp. She was born on the 
farm where she and her husband now re- 
side, November 12, 1858, the daughter of 
William D. and Margaret A. (Housley) 
Knapp, the former of whom was born in 
Natchez, Miss., and the latter in Warrick 
county. Her father was the son of Artemus 
Knapp, once a prominent business man of 
Natchez, who died there of yellow fever 
prior to the war. Mr. and Mrs. Clark began 
housekeeping on the farm they now occupj'. 
In November, 1884, they removed to 
Evansville, where for about two years he 
was engaged in the grocery trade. In 18S6 
they returned to their farm of liftv-three and 
one-third acres. They have four children : 
Vashti L., Lizzie A. (deceased), William A. 
and Rosa A. Mr. and Mrs. Clark are 
members of the Christian church. 

M.\j. Francis M. Ewixg was born in 
Knox county, this state, November 6, 1836, 
the son of Robert W. and Temperance M. 
(Cook) Ewing, who were respectively na- 
tives of Kentucky and Tennessee. His 
father was born February 22, 1808, the son 
of Robert and Elizabeth (Booker) Ewing, 
both natives of Virginia. Robert Ewing 
was the son of James and Sarah (Edwards) 
Ewing. The Ewing family, of which the 
major is a descendant, fled from Scotland 
during the time of the persecution of the 
Protestants by the Catholics. The}' settled 
on the Foj'le in Ireland, near Londonderry, 
where they suffered in common with others, 
all the horrors of the famous siege of that 
city some ten or twelve years prior to the 
American revolution. Three brothers, 
37 



named James, Alexander and Samuel, emi- 
grated and settled in Virginia. Francis M. 
Ewing is a descendant of the first-named 
James Ewing, who is his great-grandfather. 
His mother was born October 10, 1808, the 
daughter of Joshua Cook. She was married 
to Robert W. Ewing May 20, 1827. When 
Francis was eight years old his parents re- 
moved from Knox to Sullivan county, this 
state, and at fifteen years of age he accom- 
panied his parents to Edgar county. 111., and 
located in the town of Paris. Shortly after- 
ward the family removed to Wapello 
county, Iowa, where his mother died. His 
father then returned with his children to 
Paris, III, in the vicinity of which Francis 
remained until the year 1861. In addition 
to a district school education, he was a stu- 
dent in an academy at Paris, 111., two years. 
In April, 1861, he became a volunteer 
soldier and was mustered as a private in 
Company E, Twelfth Illinois infantry, with 
which he served until July 20, 1863, when 
he was promoted to the rank of captain and 
was placed in command of Company B, Fifty- 
fifth United States colored infantry. Sep- 
tember 19, 1865, he was promoted to the rank 
of major. He was honorably discharged at 
Baton Rouge, La., October 12, 1865. He 
performed faithful service at Fort Henry, 
Fort Donelson, Shiloh and the siege and 
battle of Corinth. In the engagement at 
Guntown, Miss., June 10, 1864, he re- 
ceived a painful, though not dangerous, gun- 
shot wound in the left lower limb. The 
ball lodged between the tibia and fibula 
bones, from which place it has never been 
extracted. For two years after the war he 
was engaged in the cotton business at Vicks- 
burg. Late in 1867, he went to Kansas, 
where he resided for five y-ears, the greater 
part of the time in Neosho count}', where 
he conducted farming interests. In July, 
1872, he came to Evansville. During three 



634 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 



years he was traveling salesman for a 
wholesale grocery house, and during two 
years he conducted a retail grocery store. 
In January, 1877, he removed to his present 
home in Knight township. His attention 
since 1877 has been given to farming and the 
dairy business. December 16, 1869, Mr. 
Ewing was married to Mrs. Nancy Caroline 
Phar. She was born in this countj^, Octo- 
ber 25, 1841, the daughter of Humphrey 
and Emily R. Barnett. She was married 
to Jonathan Phar January 28, i86j. He 
died September 16, 1S67. Mr. and Mrs. 
Ewing have had six children: Estella M., 
Nettie E., Charlotte T., Grace (deceased), 
Walter L., Carrie and Bessie. Mr. and 
Mrs. Ewing are members of the First Bap- 
tist church, of which their children, Estella, 
Nettie and Charlotte are also members. 
Mr. Ewing is a member of the Masonic 
and G. A. R. lodges. 

Samuel R. Fickas was born on the 
farm he now occupies December 11, 1828, 
son of John and Hannah (Barnett) Fickas, 
the former of whom was born in Penn- 
sylvania and the latter in this count3\ His 
father was born about 1795, and was the 
son of Adam and Eve Fickas. His mother 
was bom in the year 1800, daughter of 
Humphre}' and Nancy Barnett, the former 
of whom was a soldier in the revolutionary 
war, and afterward became one of the 
earliest settlers in this part of Indiana. 
John Fickas served in the war of 181 2, and 
was present at the battle of New Orleans. 
He died in Knight township August 4, 1862. 
His wife survived him until the 2d of the 
following November. The early life of 
Samuel was spent on the old homestead. In 
1849 he went to California, where for two 
years he worked at mining. He then re- 
turned to Knight township, but in 1853, 
went to Oregon. In the fall of 1854 he re- 
moved from Oregon to California. During 



his residence in those states his chief occu- 
pation was mining. In January, 1858, he 
again returned to Knight township. After 
185S his undivided attention was given to 
farming, and in this connection he has been 
very successful. He owns 320 acres of 
good land in Knight townsliip, about 250 of 
which are in cultivation. In October, 1852, 
Mr. Fickas was married to Nancy E. James, 
also a native of this township, the daughter 
of William and Winnie (Lane) James. She 
died in Oregon City, Ore., June 3, 1853. 
His second marriage was June 3, 1859, to 
Miss Sarah James, a cousin of his first wife, 
and daughter of Nathaniel and Ruth 
(Parker) James. She died September 8, 
1873, and on the 6th day of October, 1877, 
Mr. Fickas was married to Miss Eliza- 
beth Ann Schofield. She was born in Vin- 
cennes, Knox county, January 20, 1837, and 
is the daughter of Richard and Mar)' Mills 
Schofield. Her father was born in Roch- 
dale, England, August 22, 1810, son of 
John and Elizabeth (Clegg) Schofield. Her 
mother was born in Unsworth, England, 
May 2, 1814, daughter of Robert and Han- 
nah (Woods) Mills. Her father came to 
America at seventeen vears of age, and her 
mother came in 1819. When Mrs. Fickas 
was born her father was manager of Bon- 
ner's Cotton factory at Vincennes. In 1861 
her parents came to Vanderburgh county, 
and located in Knight township. Her mother 
died June 12, 1865, and her father, Feb- 
ruary 26, 1878. By his second wife Mr. 
Fickas became the father of five children: 
John (deceased), Ruth J., Sarah E., Edna 
and Clara (twins), Clara (deceased). By 
his present wife Mr. Fickas was the father 
of one child, Russell O. (deceased). Mrs. 
Fickas is a member of the Episcopal church. 
He is a member of the Presbyterian church, 
and is an Odd Fellow. 
John Peter Graf was born in Germany, 



KNIGHT TOWNSHIP. 



635. 



August 7, 1S30, the son of Phillip David 
and Margaret (Bittinger) Graf. He came 
with his parents to America in 1837. The 
family landed at New Orleans, where they 
remained nearly a year. They then pro- 
ceeded to Cincinnati, where they lived three 
or four years. Afterward they settled on a 
farm in Clark county, about 1841. There 
Mr. Graf was married, November 15, i860, 
to Mary Catharine Kramb. She is a native 
of German)', born March 15, 1842, daughter 
of Phillip Henry and Mary Catharine 
(Webber) Kramb, the former of whom died 
when Catharine was but four jears old. 
Her mother came with her children to 
America in 1858. For about three years 
after his marriage Mr. Graf worked at 
coopering in Clark county. In about 1865 
he became the proprietor of an eating 
saloon in Jeffersonville. In October, 1866, he 
removed with his family to Evansville and 
engaged in the grocery business, to which 
he gave his attention for about thirteen 
years. In November, 187S, he and familv 
removed to their present beautiful home, one 
mile east of the city. He and wife have 
had nine children: David (deceased), 
George (deceased), Philip (deceased), 
Emma M., John (deceased), Katie V., 
Ida C, Lutie M. and Henry C. Mr. and 
Mrs. Graf are members of the Lutheran 
church. 

Samuel Grainger was born on a farm 
three miles east of Evansville, April 6, 1835, 
son of Ira P. and Phoebe J. (Brumfield) 
Grainger, the former of whom was born in 
Sumner county, Tenn., in 1809, and the 
latter is a native of Kentucky. He grew to 
manhood on the old homestead in Kni<rht 
township. In Februar}', 1S57, he was mar- 
rried to Jennie Gibson, the daughter of 
Robert Gibson. She died March i, 1858. 
August 26, i860, Mr. Grainger was married 
to Frances M. Barnett. She is also a native 



of Knight township, who was born on the 
farm where she now lives, October 14, 1845. 
She is the daughter of Joseph and Abigail 
(Gillett) Barnett. Mr. Grainger has spent 
his entire life in Knight township, with the 
exception of two years, — from the spring of 
1884 to 1 886 — during which he was a resi- 
dent of Evansville. He has been exten- 
sively engaged in the growing of pota- 
toes, having crops as great as 16,000 
bushels in a single year. He is the father 
of eleven children: Jennie F., Mary (de- 
ceased), Ira P., James W., Charles (de- 
ceased), Henry H. (deceased), Carlos (de- 
ceased), Samuel R., Esther, George C, and 
Maggie O. Mr. Grainger is a member of 
the Masonic and Odd Fellows lodses. He 
has served his township as constable one 
year, as assessor fourteen years, and as 
trustee seven and on?-half years; in all 
capacities in a faithful manner. The pa- 
rents of Mrs. Grainger were both born in 
Knight township. Mrs. Grainger owns a 
farm of loi 1-2 acres, all of which is in culti- 
vation. She is a good manager and a 
worth}- and esteemed lady. 

John James was born near his present 
home. May 26, 1S26. He is the son of Henry 
and Nancy (Barnett) James, the former of 
whom was born in Virginia. His father and 
mother were married in this county and settled 
on the farm where he was born in a very 
early day. His mother died there May 28, 

1830. His father afterward married Mrs. 
Cynthia Shultz, with whom he moved to 
Henry county, Iowa. In the spring of 1846 
he returned on a visit to this county and 
died at the home of his son, Hon. Nathaniel 
J. James, on April 2. John James was mar- 
ried to Martha J. Ringer, August 8, 1S50. 
She was born in Kentucky-, January 11, 

183 1, daughter of Michael and Martha 
Ringer. The sole occupation of his life 
has been farming, and he is now one of the 



636 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 



wealthiest farmers and most extensive free- 
holders in Vanderburgh count}'. He owns 
619 acres of good land in Knight town- 
ship. His home farm contains 300 
acres, about all of which is in cultivation. 
The first wife of Mr. James died April 23, 
1878. On the 5th day of September, 1878, 
Mr. James was married to Mary Frances 
Dewees. She was born in Jackson county, 
W. Va., July 3, 1858, and is the daughter of 
John and Sarah (Davault) Dewees, both 
natives of West Virginia. The first mar- 
riage of Mr. James resulted in the birth of 
three children: John J., Henr}' and Frances 
M. (deceased). Mr. James and his present 
wife have had two children: Arthur and 
Winnie. Mr. and Mrs James are members 
of the Christian church. 

Alexander Maddux was born in Meade 
county, Ky., May 7, 1820, the son of 
Thomas Maddux, who was a native of Green 
Brier county, Va. The mother died when 
he was but seven weeks old. His father 
afterward married Elizabeth Boesinger. 
When he was fourteen j'ears old he accom- 
panied his father and stepmother to Perry 
county, Ind., where his stepmother died 
about six years later. Shortly after the 
death of Mrs. Maddux, her husband returned 
with his children to Kentucky, and located 
at Cloverport, where he died within a year 
or so. For a year or two after his father's 
death, Mr. Maddux farmed in Perry county, 
this state. About 1845 he went to Clay 
county. Mo., where, during the winter of 
1845-6, he taught school, then he returned 
to Kentucky, and attended school at Har- 
densburg. He was then a clerk in a gen- 
eral store at Stevensport about one year, and 
in 1847 entered the employ of Dr. James 
Graves, of Louisville, with whom he was 
engaged as traveling salesman three years. 
February 14, 1850, he was married to 
Susan Edmond; she was born in this countv, 



May 9, 1822, the daughter of John Edmond, 
who was a native of Somerset count}', Penn., 
Mr. and Mrs. Maddux lived on a farm in 
Union township, this county, for a period of 
fourteen j^ears, and during the first seven 
3'ears he was extensively engaged in supply- 
ing wood to the Ohio river steamboats. In 
March, 1863, Mr. Maddux removed to 
Evansville, where he resided about twenty 
years. His attention during that time was 
given to his farming interests, which were 
very extensive, and to the renting of varipus 
properties which he owned in the city. In 
January, 1882, he removed to his present 
elegant home, one mile east of the ciiy. He 
owns at this time about 500 acres of farm 
land in Vanderburgh county. He is also the 
owner of a number of valuable properties 
in Evansville, the rentals of which bring him 
a considerable income. Mr. Maddux and 
wife have an only child, whose name is Tal- 
itha J. She was born December 20, 1852, 
and was married September 23, 1872, to 
John J. Brose, bj' whom she is the mother 
of two children: Susie B. and Effie M. 
Mr. Brose was born April 7, 1844, and died 
July I, 1878. Mr. Maddux is a member of 
the Baptist church and of the I. O. O. F. 
Besides serving as justice of the peace he 
has served as a member of the board of 
county commissioners one term. 

Robert A. Pollock was born in Scot- 
land, April 2, 1840, the son of James and 
Elizabeth (Gray) Pollock, with whom he 
came to America when he was between two 
and three j'ears old. His father was born 
near Glasgow, Scotland. They found a 
home in the province of Ontario, where 
Robert grew to manhood. His father was 
a blacksmith by trade, and also owned a 
farm. In addition to a good common school 
education, he completed a course in a com- 
mercial college at Toronto. About 1863 
he came to the United States, and after a 



KNIGHT TOWNSHIP. 



637 



few weeks at Pithole City, Pa., came to 
Vevay, Ind., where for three years he had 
charge of the wharf-boat. He was then in 
the empio}-, first, of John and William 
Charlton, and afterward of W. B. Owen, 
and it was his duty to attend to the business 
of the American Express company. Du- 
ring this time, however, he spent the winter 
of 1865-6, in the city of New Orleans. In 
the spring of 1S67, he left Vevay and passed 
the following summer in Cincinnati. In the 
fall of 1867 he went back to Northumberland 
count}-, Ontario, and in 1S68 visited Buffalo, 
N. Y., Cincinnati, O., Vevay, Ind., and 
Hamilton, O. In November, 1868, he came ! 
from Vevay to V^anderburgh count}-, and ' 
soon afterward purchased a farm in Knight 
township. Here he settled, and he has 
since civen his attention to farniin<r. Mr. 
Pollock was married on New Year's day, 
187 1, to Elizabeth H. Aiken. She was 
born in Knight township, March 7) 185 1, 
the daughter of Moses and Nancy J. 
(Fickas) Aiken. Their marriage has re- 
sulted in the birth of seven children: Ma- 
mie J., Ella M., deceased. Mora D., Cicero 
D., and Cora A. Mrs. Pollock is a mem- 
ber of the Christian church; he is a member 
of the Presb^'terian church. 

Henry B. Smyth was born in Evans- 
ville, March 21, 1849, the son of Thomas D. 
and Mary L. (Rowley) Smyth, the former 
of whom was born in the County Mona- 
ghan, Ireland, in 1824, and the latter in the 
city of Evansville. At the age of fifteen he 
became a student in Behme's Commercial 
College, of Evansville, in which he obtained 
a good knowledge of book-keeping. In 
March, 1864, his parents removed to Knight 
township, and settled on the farm where he 
now resides, in section 24. This has been 
his home ever since. He helped to clear and 
cultivate the farm until 1871, and in connec- 
tion with his father, engaged in the manu- 



facture of tile. The firm continued under 
the name of Thomas D. Smyth & Son, un- 
til it was dissolved by the death of his father 
on the 14th of May, 1880. Since then 
Henry B. has conducted the business alone. 
He has also in connection with the manu- 
facture of tile, controlled extensive farming 
interests. His farm of 176 acres contains a 
handsome residence and other substantial 
improvements. There is probably not an- 
other farm in Vanderburgh county upon 
which so much work has been done in the 
way of under-drainage. It now has be- 
tween six and seven miles of tile drainage, 
to which additional lines are added each 
year. Mr. Smyth was married March 13, 
1872, to Emma J. Stroud. She was born in 
Union township, this county, March 16, 
1854, the daughter of Benjamin Franklin 
and Sarah J. (Cloud) Stroud. Mr. and Mrs. 
Smyth have had five children: Harry B., 
Richard G., Helen M. (deceased ), Mabel C, 
and Clarence B. Mrs. Smyth is a mem- 
ber of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. 
In 1880 he was elected trustee of Knight 
township. He served one term to the entire 
satisfaction of the public. 

Hon. Jesse M. Stone, born in Genesee 
(now Wyoming) county, N. Y., August 3, 
1825, is the son of Bela and Sarah M. 
(Heacox) Stone, the former of whom was 
born at Greenville, on the Hudson river, and 
the latter near Canandaigua, N. Y. When 
he was three years old his parents removed 
to Rochester, N. Y. His father was a 
blacksmith by trade, which vocation he pur- 
sued in various places in the western part of 
the state of New York. At nineteen years 
of age Jesse M. Stone became employed with 
an older brother in Rochester, who was a 
manufacturer of steel springs. He entered 
upon a course in the commercial college of 
George W. Eastman, and after he attained 
a high degree of proficiency with the pen 



638 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 



he became the assistant of Mr. Eastman, and 
for some time thereafter he was engaged at 
teaching writing at different places in New 
York; also studied in an academy at Canan- 
daigua. In 1S47 he came to Illinois by way 
of the lakes and reached Waukegan on 
Jvjly 4. He joined his father's family in Mc- 
Henry county, 111., but during the winter 
taught a writing school in Racine, Wis. He 
then returned to Woodstock, McHenry 
county, and for some time acted as deputj' 
county recorder, afterward taking a position 
as clerk in a store, beincj so entrafred until 
the' fall of 1851, when he went to St. Paul, 
Minn. There he was employed in the 
recorder's office, and afterward as book- 
keeper and clerk for John R. Irvine. He 
became the partner of Mr. Irvine and with 
him was engaged in the real estate and 
banking business until the latter part of 
1858. In the summer of 1859 he went to 
Fort Abercrombie, on the Red River of the 
North, where he was afterward appointed 
sutler. In June, 1862, he purchased a stock 
of goods in St. Louis and went to Memphis, 
Tenn., where he had intended to retail 
them. He soon disposed of the stock, how- 
ever, but remained in Memphis, where he 
conducted a bakery- until the fall of 1863. 
In December, 1863, he leased a plantation 
of 4,000 acres, 2,500 of which were under 
cultivation, on the west bank of the Missis- 
sippi river in northern Louisiana. He after- 
ward leased two other plantations in Concor- 
dia parish. La., and during the season of 
1864 he controlled the three. His cotton crop 
during that year covered over 2,000 acres 
and he had over 700 acres of corn. Early 
in 1865 he became a controlling partner in 
a wholesale grocery store in New Orleans, 
in which he retained an interest until 186S, 
when he sold to one of his partners and pur- 
chased a plantation in Madison county, 
Miss., upon which he resided until 1875. I" 



the fall of 1869 he was elected a member of 
the Mississippi legislature and served three 
consecutive terms. In the fall of 1875 he 
came to Vanderburgh county. His chief 
attention for a number of years past has 
been given to the lumber business. Mr. 
Stone was married September 10, 1851, to 
Miss Elizabeth Stone, who was born in 
Rome, N. Y., May 30, 1833, the daughter 
of Jesse M. and Mary Stone. Their mar- 
riage has resulted in the birth of seven 
children: Dakota H. (deceased), Lizzie M., 
Jesse M. (deceased), Harry B., Lulu, Frank- 
lin B., and Charles H. Mrs. Stone is a 
member of the Cumberland church. 

William R. Vann was born in Center 
township, July 28, 1830, the son of Absalom 
and Delight (Comstock) Vann, who were 
respectively natives of South Carolina and 
Connecticut. Mrs. Vann had been previ- 
ously the wife of Oliver H. Williams, to 
whom she was married in Connecticut. 
Absalom Vann settled in Henderson county, 
Ky., opposite, and a little above, Evansville, 
in the year 1806. He served in the war of 
I Si 2, after which he came to Vanderburgh 
county, where he spent the rest of his life. 
Mr. Vann died January 8, 1845, and his wife 
on the 5th of March of the same year. 
She had been a church member over forty 
years. When Absalom was between one 
and two years old, his parents removed from 
Center to Knight township, and located on 
the farm he now occupies. He was married 
March 22, 1855, to Mrs. Ellen Carney, born 
in Washington count}', Ohio, October 3, 
1832, the daughter of Jonathan and Mary 
(Racer) Middleswart. She was married 
September j5, 1849, to Andrew J. Carnej', 
who died in February, 1854. Mr. and Mrs. 
Vann have had three children: Olive S., 
George L. and Ernest E. (deceased). By 
her first husband Mrs. Vann had two chil- 
dren : Eugene M. (deceased), and Mary F., 



UNION TOWNSHIP. 



6S9 



who was accidentally shot by a man w ho 
was firing at a hawk. Mr. and Mrs. Vann 
are members of the Cumberland Presby- 
terian church. He has served his township 
as justice of the peace for twenty-five years. 
He became a member of a temperance so- 
ciety in 1847, and has ever since been a total 
abstainer. 

Union township was organized May 10, 
1S19. It lies in the southwest corner of the 
county, and is really at times an island, 
being surrounded b}' the bayou and the 
Ohio river. Here the river makes a bend 
like a horseshoe, there being one place 
where it js scarcely three miles across the 
township. Its surface is very low, being 
almost entirely composed of " river bottom " 
lands. In 18S4 the entire township was 
submerged, with the exception of two or 
three very small spots of land. The soil 
in the lower part of the township is sand}' 
and very productive. Its yield of corn, 
tobacco and potatoes is exceeding!}- great. 
In the northern part there is more of a clay 
soil, and wheat, hay, and clover are more 
generally grown. Its surface, as is usual 
in the alluvial lands along the river, is much 
cut up by ponds and sloughs. When cleared 
and drained, the beds of these water reser- 
voirs furnish the richest and most productive 
soil to be found. 

Early Settlers. — Being on the river 
border, and thus easy of access. Union town- 
ship was one of the first to invite the ad- 
venturous pioneer. As early as 1806 or 
1807, a number of settlers had invaded its 
limits. The settlement most widely known 
in early times, and probably among the first 
in the township, was that of William 
Anthony, opposite Henderson or Red Banks, 
as it was then called. William Anthony 
was a sturdy, independent, manly character, 
a farmer, hunter and ferrj-man. For years 
his place was known as Anthony's ferry. 



His sons, James and Frank, were honorable 
men. James went to the front with the 
Union armies in 1861, rose to the rank of 
captain, made a bright record, and died in 
the service. The Anthonys were Kentuck- 
ians, possessed some means, and became 
influential in local political matters. 

Another of the earlier settlements was 
that made in section 15 and thereabouts, 
some five miles below Evansville, by George 
Sirkle, Nicholas Long, Jonathan Jones, and 
others. George Edmond and John Stoner 
afterward, but in early times, came into 
this neighborhood from the adjoining town- 
ship of Perry. George Sirkle, a Virginian, 
was a man of character and influence. He 
had proved his patriotism in the country's 
early wars, and became a valuable citizen. 
He served on the first board of commission- 
ers for Vanderburgh count}', and occupied 
other positions of trust and honor in the 
community, always with credit to himself 
and profit to the public, whose confidence he 
had won. His sons, Lewis and Andrew, were 
useful citizens in their day. Nicholas Long 
was a German, who came to the west from 
Virginia. He was industrious and thrifty, and 
accumulated considerable property, consid- 
ering the limited advantages of his times. 
His family, large in numbers, was eminently 
respectable, and his sons attained local 
prominence. Jonathan Jones, an upright, 
sterling character, was the father of Judge 
James G. Jones, a brilliant lawyer and prom- 
inent man in his day. George Edmond was 
a sturdy pioneer, who raised a respectable 
family, one of whom, Michael, still lives in 
Union township, and is, perhaps, the oldest 
resident native born citizen in the county. 

Between the Sirkle and Anthony settle- 
ments there were many cabins. Along the 
old Red Bank trail many favorite spots for 
the building of a cabin presented themselves 
to the pioneers. The Kings, Neals, and 



6^0 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 



Chapmans were tolerably early settlers, 
though not among the first. Subsequently 
these names represented large and influen- 
tial families. Jacob Sprinkle came into the 
township before 1817, and afterward be- 
came well-known. 

One of the most prominent and most 
widely known of the earh' settlers in this 
neighborhood was Joseph M. McDowell. 
He lived about four miles above Henderson, 
and his house early became a favorite stop- 
ping place for the wear\- hunter or traveler. 
It became a public tavern, and the genuine 
hospitality found there gave the host an 
enviable reputation in all the country round. 
His sons, Joseph P. and William G., became 
well-known and useful citizens. 

Below Henderson ferr\-, the Strouds, 
Damons, Gerards, Aliens, Chisenhalls, 
Wrights, and Williamsons were among the 
early settlers. These people of simple hab- 
its and manners were never drawn aside 
from the pioneer customs. They dealt 
fairly with their fellow men, lived unevent- 
ful lives, but were good and valuable citi- 
zens. In this same strip of territory lived 
in early times, Fred Ensle}', of German de- 
scent, a thrifty, economical, God-Iearing 
man, who gave to the communit}' a good 
famiU^, supporters of the church and one 
a Baptist minister. By great industry this 
pioneer cleared a farm, and accumulated a 
very comfortable estate. Still further up on 
the western side of the township, following 
the river in its curve, in or near section 20, 
lived William Greathouse, whose name was 
well-known in early days though now, his 
descendants having gone to other lands, it is 
unknown in these parts. 

The farmers of Union and other town- 
ships immediately on the river had a better 
source of revenue than the ordinary work 
of the farmer. The as yet almost unbroken 
forests were in demand for the fuel of the 



steamers then passing up and down at fre- 
quent intervals. The use of coal had not 
then been commenced. Manv farmers en- 
gaged in chopping w'ood, and the wood 
yards established along the river were well- 
known points. That of William Great- 
house was the chief factor in his property 
accumulations. Another industry common 
among the farmers of that day, and engaged 
in prominently by Mr. Greathouse, was 
; pork-raising. The mast furnished excellent 
: food, and at times the woods were full of 
hogs. Many of the Union township farmers 
! got their start on the road to wealth by the 
! prosecution of these industries, and not by a 
strict application to tilling the soil. 

Among the first settlers in the interior of 
' the township were Chapman Carter, Lewis 
F. Ragar, and the Chapmans. Owing to 
; the low and at times inundated nature of 
this localit}', there were no particularly large 
settlements. A single cabin on some high 
point was generally surrounded for miles by 
an unbroken forest. This condition re- 
mained until long after the entire settlement 
of the other more favorable parts of the 
township. A sturdy settler who came as 
early as 1818 or 1819, was John Shaffner, 
a hardworking, honest German, who was 
not known out of his township, but was re- 
spected by all his neighbors as a quiet, good 
man. He was industrious enough to buy 
his land; there he lived and died; his sons, 
worthy people, grew to manhood, lived and 
died on the same place; but there are now 
no survivors of the name in the township. 
Among the early settlers not elsewhere 
mentioned, were Lewis Rouse, the head of 
a large family of eleven people, the Dar- 
nels, Asas, Slovers, and Harmons. James 
J. Sanders was an old settler, a farmer and 
blacksmith. He had a shop in early times 
about a mile from the Henderson road and 
three miles from Henderson, which was a 



UNION TOWNSHIP. 



641 



well-known smithy and one of the first in 
the township. 

The early settlers used the mortar and 
pestle for crushing corn, and later went to 
mill at Red Banks, or that favorite place, 
Neglej-'s, on Pigeon creek. Andrew Sirkle 
built a horse-mill about 1830, and operated 
it for ten or twelve years. William Gray- 
son, of Kentuckj', bought the mill and 
moved it over the river. There were no 
saw-mills in the township until thirty or thir- 
ty-five years ago. Mat Burns constructed 
the first stationary mill, though previously 
many portable mills had worked in the town- 
ship, and in early days many logs were 
taken from here to Audubon's mill at Red 
Banks. As late as 1840, it was common to 
use the whip-saw. The logs were first 
hewed to the desired size, lines were struck, 
it was elevated to a scaffold and with one 
man above and another below, the saw was 
slowly worked through it. 

Thus brief mention has been made of the 
earliest settlement of the various parts of 
the township. Tiie names of man}' of the 
pioneers, well worth}- of honorable mention, 
are forever lost. The development of this 
township — its growth following the settle- 
ment — was very gradual. In 1828 there 
were but twenty-three voters in the town- 
ship. There was never an}' rush of foreign- 
ers or colonists. The lands were taken by 
settlers that drifted in singly, mostly from 
Kentucky, and by the descendants of the 
first settlers. Much of the land in the town- 
ship is held by non-residents, who purchased 
it from the government or from the unfortu- 
nate or reckless descendants of the pioneers. 
Of those who came in afterward, not 
as earliest settlers, but still what may now 
be called an early day, there were the Aster- 
holts, the father and his sons Frank and Jo- 
seph, Andrew Hoppe, Charles Kamp, 
Christian Schneller, John Gerloch, John 



Roth, and many other well-to-do, good citi- 
zens. Carroll Saunders and his descend- 
ants and relatives have occupied a leading 
place in the township. Samuel Barker, one 
of the wealthiest and most prominent men 
of the county, has been since 1832 a resident 
of the township. He is a man of great 
worth, intellect, character and influence. He 
served the public as county commissioner, 
and in all the walks of life has commanded 
the esteem of his cotemporaries. 

A Squatter. — One of the most typical 
representatives of that class of easy-going, 
free-from-care pioneers, who rejoiced in the 
excitement of the chase, and ever loved to 
recount their exploits, was " old man Flat, 
the yarn-teller," as the settlers often spoke 
of him. His chief delight was to pass away 
time in spinning yarns, many of which had 
not a grain of truth in them. He was a 
hunter in the woods most of the time, and 
the owner of a vivid imagination. He kept 
many a fire-side circle laughing with good 
humor at his unreasonable stories, and thus 
served a useful purpose. To this day the 
young folks of Union township are amused 
at the stories of old Flat, which have lost 
nothing in all these years, though told so 
often. Some of them surpass, in their por- 
trayal of desperate hunts, and the wonder- 
ful achievements of the narrator, the most 
thrilling recitals of Baron Munchausen. 
There were many of these squatters who 
lived in the woods and went away when the 
game was thinned out. They lived for the 
day, and did nothing to perpetuate their 
names. A generation passed and they were 
forgotten. 

Incidents. — The trying experience of 
Philip Cheaney and Harvey Wheeler during 
the high water of 1884, was ecjual to any 
which might have beset the path of the 
pioneer. In that year the water was higher 
than it had been since 1S32, and caused 



€4^ 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 



great destruction to property and stock as 
well as much suffering among the families 
in the low lands. These two men were in a 
house dangerously situated, and making up 
their minds that the house was bound to be 
swept from its foundation and probably 
dashed to pieces by the swift current, the 
the wind and waves, they put out in a skiff 
in the darkness and storm, and at length 
reached a small pine tree into which they 
climbed for safety. Here they remained 
all night through intense suffering. The 
night was so cold that hogs in some parts 
of the township were frozen to death. 
Though almost exhausted they were res- 
cued soon after the dawn of the day follow- 
ing their terrible exposure. Their miraculous 
escape was attributed in part to the fact 
that the rolling waves frequently dashed en- 
tirely over them and kept them so activel}' 
engaged that freezing was avoided. About 
the same time three men saved themselves 
from death by climbing into a pecan tree 
near the Henderson ferry, and remaining 
over night. 

Churches. — In early times the Baptists 
and Methodists predominated in this town- 
ship. Earlj^ meetings were held at the 
houses of members, and such men as John 
Schraeder, Richard and Joseph Wheeler, 
Robert Parrett, for the Methodists, and 
Benoni Stinson, for the Baptists, preached 
to the people. As results of the faithful 
labors of these men, two churches were built. 
Zion Baptist church was near the Henderson 
ferry, and flourished for a number of 3'ears, 
doing much good, being the scene of many 
large meetings and good revivals. It has 
long since passed away. Victor chapel, a 
Methodist Episcopal church, was a mile or 
more above Zion. It continued from early 
times, until swept away by the high water 
of 1884, to be a favorite meeting place. It 
was supported by circuit riders, had a good 



congregation, among whom as its chief 
supporters, perhaps, were Samuel Barker 
and John Walden. About three miles be- 
low the Henderson ferry there were a Bap- 
tist church and a Methodist church. The 
high water of 1884 swept both of these 
awaj'. Since the disasters wrought b)' this 
high water, there has not been a church 
kept up by these old-time denominations. 
The people worship at various places out- 
side of the township. 

About fifteen years ago a neat frame 
church 25x15 feet, and comfortably furnished, 
was built on section 16, on the old Sirkle 
farm, by the Catholics of that neighborhood. 
There were about fifteen families under 
charge of Father Sondermann, and services 
were held regularly, though in late years 
the congregation has been without a priest. 
The membership is not large, but efforts are 
now being made to have frequent service 
and to build up the church. Joseph Shenck, 
Adam Shenck, and Andrew Hoppe have 
been among tlie faithful and influential sup- 
porters of this church. The church was 
dedicated to the Sacred Heart and blessed 
in June, 1874, ^J R^v. P. McDermott, of 
Evans ville. 

The German Lutherans about ten years 
ago, built a neat country church on the old 
Schaffner place, afterward the Kamp farm. 
Leopold Kamp, Conrad Burgdorf, John Gar- 
loch, and John Roth, and their wives, were 
among the most active in bringing the church 
into existence. There is a large congrega- 
tion now under the charge of Rev. Veay, of 
Henderson, Ky., and a prosperous Sabbath 
school, with Leopold Kamp, as superin- 
tendent. 

Tuzviis. — There is not a town worthy of 
that name in Union township. Cypress has 
a postoffice, a blacksmith shop, and a small 
store. Joseph Shenck' is postmaster and 
proprietor of the store. At two or three of 



UNION TOWNSHIP. 



64s 



the road-crossings there are a few shops, 
and places of refreshment, but none boast 
of themselves as towns. On March i, 1820, 
Joseph M. McDowell laid out a town in the 
southeast quarter of section 21, township 7 
south, range 11 west, and called it Unionville. 
The village passed out of existence before 
the coming of the present generation. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Samuel Barker, ex-commissioner of 
Vanderburgh county, and one among its 
most prominent and substantial citizens, was 
born in Charleston, S. C, July 22, 
1820, the son of William Rogers and Ann 
Maria (Johnson) Barker. His father was 
born in Newburyport about the 3'ear 1790, 
and was the son of Samuel and Betsy 
(Rogers) Barker, who settled in Massa- 
chusetts about twenty years previous, and 
served through the revolutionary war. Miss 
Betsy Rogers was the daughter of Capt. 
Rogers, of the continental arm}-, in whose 
company Samuel Barker served, and at the 
close of 'the war the young soldier won the 
hand of his captain's daughter. While in 
the service, he was one of the sentinels who 
guarded Major Andre, the British spy. 
Samuel Barker was a farmer by occupa- 
tion, and spent nearly his entire life in the 
state of Massachusetts. He died in that 
state in about the year 1828. William R. 
Barker, the father of our subject, spent his 
boyhood and youth on a farm in the vicinity 
of Newburyport, Mass. At the age of 
twenty-one he left home and went to Bos- 
ton, where for several years he inspected 
mackerel. From Boston he went to 
Charleston, S. C, where for some ten or 
twelve j'ears he was successfully engaged 
in the grocery business. In Charleston he 
formed the ac(juaintance of Miss Ann Maria 
Johnson, to whom he was married in about 
1816. She was born in Georgia, and was 



about four 3'ears younger than her husband. 
Her paternal ancestry was Scotch. In the 
meantime, before going to Charleston, Mr. 
Barker had served his country as a soldier 
in the war of 181 2. In Charleston he was 
doing a successful business, but after 
a residence of a few years, there 
arose an insurrection which partly de- 
termined him to remove from the 
place. The slaves had formed a conspiracy 
to murder all the whites, and a night was 
set for" their bloody deed. Fortunately the 
plot was discovered before the night arrived. 
Twenty-two of the ringleaders were convict- 
ed, and all were hanged on the same gal- 
lows. William R. Barker was a member 
of the military company that was detailed to 
guard the convicted negroes, and he was a 
witness to their execution. He then enter- 
tained a belief which he frequently expressed, 
that the slavery question would bring about 
a civil war, and he preferred to have his 
family without its domain. Accordingly, in 
the year 1826, in a two-horse carriage, he 
removed his wife and six children across 
the mountains to Cincinnati. One of these 
children, a brother of Samuel, afterward be- 
came the well-known Dr. William S. Barker, 
of Boonville, for forty 3-ears a practitioner 
there, and during the war surgeon of the 
One Hundred and Twentieth Indiana. For 
four 3'ears after liis arrival, William R. 
Barker was enjjaoed in the drv coods 
business. In 1S30, he removed to Law- 
renceburg, Ind., w'here Samuel Barker 
was a school-mate of ex-Gov. Albert 
G. Porter. In November, 1832, he removed 
to this count}', and settled in Union town- 
ship, where both he and his wife spent the 
rest of their lives. SliortI}' after his locat- 
ing in this countv, he was appointed one of 
the count3' commissioners. He died in Juh', 
1837, and his wife survived him until about 
1852. Samuel Barker spent but a few years 



6U 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 



at his native city of Charleston, but while 
there, at the age of five, he saw General 
Lafayette at the reception tendered him by 
that city in 1825. He was twelve years of 
age when his parents came to this county. 
The first settlement was made on the farm he 
now occupies and it has been his residence for 
fifty-six years. In early manhood he chose 
the vocation of a farmer, and aside from 
public service this pursuit has been his sole 
occupation. His Hfe has been one of indus- 
try, and he now has a rank among the most 
wealthy farmers of Vanderburgh county, 
and is one of her most extensive free-hold- 
ers. While his long citizenship would natu- 
rally have given him a wide acquaintance, 
it has been in the capacity of a public man 
that he has become so familiar to the people 
of Vanderburgh county. In i860 he was 
elected treasurer of his township, and served 
one year. In 1868 he was elected to the 
office of township trustee, which he resigned 
in 1869 ^'^ accept an appointment as a mem- 
ber of the board of county commissioners. 
He served out the unexpired term, and also 
served during the two terms which followed, 
being elected to the office in 1870, and re- 
elected in 1872. In 1880 he was a^ain 
re-elected and served one term. During his 
incumbenc}', which covered a period of nine 
years, some of the most important events in 
the history of the county occurred. He 
helped to build the first gravel road in the 
county, and besides wielding an influence 
which led to the construction and improve- 
ment of many other roads of this class, he 
was the originator of the project which led 
to the removal of the Evansville and Hen- 
derson gravel road from the river bank to 
its present location. While he was county 
commissioner, by the authority of the 
entire board, Mr. Barker purchased 
the present orphan asylum, and it was 
while he was a member of the board that 



the site of the old infirmary building was 
sold and the present new building con- 
structed. Among the bridges built were 
the one at the salt well, one over Pigeon 
creek, and the iron bridge on the First 
avenue road. But perhaps by far the most 
important of all his official acts was the one 
which led to the construction of the new 
state hospital for the insane, that is now the 
pride of every citizen of Vanderburgh 
county. While president of the board, Mr. 
Barker drafted, introduced, 'and secured the 
adoption of a set of resolutions in which he 
eloquently set forth the great need of an 
institution for the incurably insane of the 
state, and setting forth reasons why Evans- 
ville should be selected as the site of such 
institution. While much credit is due to the 
county's representatives in the state legisla- 
ture for their diligent efforts in behalf of 
the measure and to the citizens generally 
for the gallant manner in which they 
strengthened the movement, the credit of 
originating it belongs entirely to Mr. Barker. 
On the 2d da}' of July, 1847, Mr-. Barker 
was married to Mary A. King, daughter of 
James and Susan King. Her parents were 
natives of Virginia, in which state she was 
born November 25, 1824. She came with 
her parents to Union township in the year 
1 83 1. Their marriage has resulted in the 
birth of three children, William R., Francis 
A., and Ann Maria, of whom the eldest and 
joungest are deceased. Francis A. Barker 
was born December 2, 1850, and is the onl}' 
child living. The daughter, Anna Maria 
Barker, was married to Dr. Henry S. Bell, 
at eighteen years of age, and some four or 
five years later she and her husband settled 
at Paris, 111. Mrs. Bell died September 20, 
1887, at Pasadena, Cal., whither she had 
gone for her health. Her father, mother 
and, brother Francis, were with her when 
she died, and her husband, who arrived a 



UNION TOWNSHIP. 



045 



few hours later, brought her remains to this 
county, and interred them in Oakhill ceme- 
tery. She left two children, Samuel B. and 
RobertN. Mrs. Barkerjoined the Methodist 
Episcopal church at eighteen years of age, and 
has been a member ever since. Mr. Barker 
has been a devoted member of the same 
church since the twent3--seventh year of his 
age. He was formerly a whig in politics, 
but since 1856 he has ardently supported 
the principles of the republican party. 
Durinjr the war of the rebellion he was a 
member of the compan}' of home guards 
that was commanded by Capt. B. F. Will- 
iamson. Mr. Barker's record for honesty, 
integrity and uprightness is one which pos- 
terity can well emulate and admire. 

LEoroLD A. Ka.mp was born in »Pru£sia, 
January 9, 1831, and is the son of Christopher 
L. and Renetta Kamp. In jouth he was 
employed in his father's flouring mill, and 
was in the service of the government two 
years, guarding the government's wood- 
lands. Since coming to the United States 
he has been farming, but has also taught 
German school two years. He was married 
May 2, 1864, ^*^ Sarah Lauer, who was 
born in Perry township, December 19, 1845, 
a sister of James H. Lauer, postmaster at 
Evansville. She died March 10, 1865. 
August 28, 1867, Mr. Kamp was married to 
Elizabeth Bauer. She was born in German 
township, July 10, 1846, and died Januarj' 
13, 187 1. On July 29, 1880, he married 
Mrs. Louisa Gaertner, who was born in 
Prussia, March 11, 1840, the daughter of 
Adolph Pepmiller. She immigrated with 
her parents by way of New Orleans, and 
while on the Mississippi river her mother 
died with cholera. Her father settled at 
Newburgh. September 18, 1858, Miss 
Pepmiller married Peter Gaertner, a native 
of Hesse, Germany, who died March 31, 
1873. By his wife, Louisa, Mr. Kamp had 



two children, Katie B. A. and Louis W. 
(deceased). B_v her first husband Mrs. 
Kamp had eight children: George (de- 
ceased), John, Louis, Caroline (deceased), 
Louisa (deceased), Augusta E. (deceased), 
and Catharine. Mr. and Mrs. Kamp are 
members of the German Lutheran church. 
He is a member of the D. O. H. lodge. 
He was elected assessor in 1876, and served 
four years. He was again elected in 1886. 
He. has been an active member of his 
church, and has labored with the children in 
the Sabbath school almost every Sunday for 
many years. 

James L. King, member of the board of 
countv commissioners, was born in this 
township February 17, 1844, the son of 
John F. and Judith B. (Neale) King. All 
his earh- life was spent on the old King 
homestead, where he was born. In August, 
1862, he enlisted in the Union army in Com- 
pany H, Eighth Kentucky cavalr}', with 
which he served nearly two months. Feb- 
ruary 6, 1864, he entered Company F, 
One Hundred and Twentieth Indiana, and 
served with this until the close of the war. 
He was mustered out at Raleigh, N. C, 
Januarj^ 8, 1866, and was honorably dis- 
charged at Indianapolis a few days later. 
He was in the battles of Resaca, Peach 
Tree Creek and the campaign of Atlanta. 
He was married January 29, 1869, to 
Louisa L. Long. She is a native of Union 
township, born September 12, 1847, the 
daughter of Simeon and Mar}' W. (Har- 
rinirton) Longr. Thev have had six children: 
Richard W. and Judith B. (twins), Ida M., 
Nettie A., Ora A. and Amy L., of whom 
Richard W., Judith B. and Ora A. are de- 
ceased. Mr. King is a member of the 
K. of H., the A. O. U. \V. and the G. A. R., 
and in politics he is a republican. He 
served as justice of the peace ten years, 
and was elected county commissioner in 



646 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 



November, i8S6, and is performing the du- 
ties of that position in a creditable manner. 
His friends are only limited by his acquaint- 
ances, and his integrity and honest}' of pur- 
pose are unquestioned. 

Mrs. Sophie Edmond was born in Ger- 
many, September 20, 1836, and is the 
daughter of Julius and Christina (Evers) 
Burgdorf. Her father came to America in 
1847, and his family joined him at Evans- 
ville in 1850, after a remarkably prolonged 
voyage. When Miss Sophie was fifteen 
years old she spent several months with an 
aunt at New Orleans, and while she was 
there her father removed to Posey count}-, 
soon, however, returning to this county. 
She was married to John Edmond, October 
10, 1858. He was born in Somerset county, 
Penn.,June8,i799, and was the son of George 
Edmond. In 180S, George Edmond moved 
with his family to Kentucky, and in 1815 to 
Vanderburgh county. They settled in 
Union township, of which John Edmond was 
afterward an influential and honored citizen. 
He died October 12, 1876. He was a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal church. 
Mr. and Mrs. Edmond had six children : 
Lula C (deceased), John P., Julia W. (de- 
ceased), Augusta M., Ohve L., and Mineola 
(deceased). Mrs. Edmond is a member of 
the Lutheran church. She owns 108 acres 
of good land, and resides in a comfortable 
home. 

John F. Edmond was born in this town- 
ship May 15, 1862, the son of John and 
Sophie (Burgdorf) Edmond, above men- 
tioned. He was born and grew to manhood 
on the old homestead. In the fall of 1879, 
he entered the Evansville Commercial Col- 
lege, in which he completed a business 
course and a course in penmanship. At the 
age of twenty-two he engaged in farming 
on his own account, and now owns 178 
acres of good land in Union township. He 



was married February 10, 1S85, to Delia 
Cullin, who was born m Hardin county, Ky., 
April I, 1 861, daughter of John and Eliza- 
beth (Tabor) Cullen. When she was eight 
years old her parents located in Gibson 
county, and in 1S75, came to Union town- 
ship. Her mother is still living, in Missouri. 
Mr. and Mrs. Edmond have two children: 
Bertram, born November 12, 1885, and 
John O., born October 29, 1887. 

Michael Edmond, who is probably the 
oldest living native-born citizen of Vander- 
burgh county, was born within the present 
limits of Perry township, near the site of 
Ingle's coal mine, about the middle of 
November, 1815. He is the son of George 
and Susan Edmond, who were born, reared 
and married in Pennsylvania, but who emi- 
grated to Kentucky about 1808, and in 1815 
came to Vanderburgh county. Mr. Ed- 
mond spent the greater part of his life in 
Union township. He was married July 20, 
1845, to Jane C. McCorkle; she was born in 
North Carolina, May 4, 1826, the daughter 
of Thomas and Mary (Mclntyre) McCorkle, 
who, when she was but six weeks old, 
moved to Gibson county. Fi\'e or six years 
later they came to Vanderburgh county. 
Mr, and Mrs. Edmond have had ten child- 
ren: Mary A. (deceased), WilHam H., 
James A., John F. (deceased), Margaret E., 
Laura J., Michael L., Susan M., Robert W., 
and a daughter that died unnamed. 

Richard J. Gerard was born in this 
township October 22, 1842, son of Hamil- 
ton and Arena (Shook) Gerard, both of 
whom were born in the vicinity of Law- 
renceburg, Ind. He was reared on the old 
homestead, most of which he now owns. 
He was married to Mary M. Higgins, May 
28, 1865. She was born in Georgia, June 6, 
1845, daughter of John and Rebecca (Fain) 
Higgins. After his marriage his place of 
residence has been on the old homestead, 



UNIOX TOWNSHIP. 



61^7 



except from February, 1883, to September, 
1887, when he resideH in Evansville. He 
owns about 160 acres of land in Union town- 
ship. He and wife have had a family of 
nine children: Murta (deceased), Shelby, 
Minnie (deceased), Douglas M. (deceased), 
Charles, John (deceased), Mary (deceased), 
Myrtle (deceased), and Mary. Mr. and 
Mrs. Gerard are members of the Methodist 
Episcopal church. 

Andrew Happe, a native of Germany, 
was born February 7, 1S31, the son of John 
and Gertrude (Braker) Happe. At the age 
of twenty-two he came to America. A 
brother, Louis Happe, preceded him two 
years before, and a sister, Theresa, came 
with Andrew. Andrew came to Vander- 
burgh count}^ and located in German town- 
ship, but three years later removed to Union 
township, where he has since resided. He 
owns 430 acres of first-class land, all in this 
township, and is regarded as one of the sub- 
stantial men of the county. He was married 
in November, 1S58, to Gertrude Dornbush, 
who died December 25, 1863. About two 
years later he married Charlotte Becker, 
who died August 25, 1880. June 13, 
1882, he married Christina Behr, now living. 
Mr. Happe has six children living: Peter, 
Anna, Lizzie, Lena, Diana and John. Mr. 
and Mrs. Happe are members of the Catholic 
church. Mr. Happe has been elected jus- 
tice of the peace several times but always 
declined to serve. 

Bertiiold a. Kamp was born in Ger- 
many, March 24, 1845, the son of Chris- 
tophec and Renetta (Schroeder) Kamp, 
with whom he came to America in 1853. 
In August, 1861, Berthold entered Company 
K, Thirty-second Indiana volunteers, and 
served three years and two months. He 
was in the battles of Shiloh, Stone River, 
Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, the Atlanta 
campaign, besides many other smaller en- 



gagements. He was taken prisoner at 
Stone River, December 31, 1863, and was 
confined for two months, about half that 
time in Libb}- prison. He was honorably 
discharged at Indianapolis, October, 1864. 
He then returned to Union township, and 
for a number of years managed portable 
machinery, including a saw-mill. He also 
attended to his farming interests. As early 
as i865) he and his brother Louis con- 
structed from an old separator a corn- 
sheller, and from 1865 and 1879 several 
other machines of this kind were con- 
structed by Berthold Kamp for his own use. 
In 1879, he invented and patented a new 
corn-sheller, and has since manufactured 
and sold this machine, which is known as 
the Kamp Corn-Sheller, and is one of the 
best. From 18S4 to 18S8 his manufactur- 
ing was carried on in Evansville. He also 
attends to his farming land, nearly 400 
acres, all in Union township. Mr. Kamp 
was married December 17, 1869, to Susan 
E., daughter of James W. King. They 
have had five children: James W., Mattie, 
Minnie, Annie, (deceased), and Nellie. Mr. 
Kamp is a member of the A. O. U. W. and 
the G. A. R., and is one of the influential 
and notable men of the count}'. 

Albert C. K.vmp is a native of Prussia, 
born June 6, 1S37, son of Christopher L. 
and Renetta Kamp, above referred to. The 
family immigrated, and reached New York 
August 28, 1853, arrived at Evansville Sep- 
tember 16, and on the 8th of October set- 
tled on the farm Albert now occupies, in 
Union township. There the father died in 
July, 1863, and the mother in September, 1878. 
Mr. Kamp owns 290 acres in Union town- 
ship, including the old Kamp homestead, his 
residence. Since 1863 Mr. Kamp has been 
all the time interested in saw-milling, more or 
less. He was married November 15, 1863, 
to Anna Gramm, born in Germany Septem- 



6J^ 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 



ber 20, 1844, daughter of Dr. William and 
Harriet Gramm, with whom she immigrated 
in 1852, to Evansv'ille. While in Evans- 
ville her father practiced medicine. In 1863 
they removed to Union township. Mr. and 
Mrs. Kamp have had ten children : William 
L., Lena I., Annette, Albert, Nettie, Otto, 
Walter, Romeo (deceased),JuHa and Robert. 
The family are members of the German Lu- 
theran church. He is a member of the 
D. O. H., the F. & A. M., the A. O. U. W., 
and the Iron Hall lodges. He was elected 
trustee in 1880, and was re-elected in 1882. 

Richard W. King, trustee of Union 
township, was born in that township near 
where he now resides, October 31, 1846, 
and is the son of John F. and Judith B. 
(Neal) King, both natives of West Virginia. 
In early manhood he took up the vocation 
of a farmer. He was married January 16, 
1873, to Frances V. Rutter, born in Union 
township January 30, 1850, daughter of 
Edmond and Priscilla (Long) Rutter, the 
former of whom was a native of Pennsyl- 
vania, bhe died March 2, 1880, leaving one 
child, Dora N. April 9, 1882, Mr. King 
was married to Mary Martin, born in Posey 
county, January 8, 1859, daughter of Henry 
and Lucinda (Schisenhallj Martin. Mr. 
King and his present wife have had four 
children: Noah H. (deceased), Essie, and 
Barney and Birdie (twins). Mr. King is a 
member of the Masonic order of the rank 
of Knight Templar. In politics he is a re- 
publican. He was elected trustee in 1886, 
and was re-elected in 1888. He received a 
majority of twenty-six at the former, and a 
majority of tifty-two at the latter, election, 
though his party in Union township is in the 
minority. 

Michael Kolb was born in Germany, 
January 3, 1848, son of John and Anna Bar- 
bara Kolb. His father died when Michael 
was four years old, and he was but fourteen 



when his mother died. At sixteen j-ears of 
age he immigrated and came directl}' to 
Evansville. He was employed on a farm 
in Union township for five jears, and then 
crossed to Henderson county, Ky., and be- 
iian farmintj • for himself. He continued 
there seventeen years. On January 9, 1873, 
he was married to Amelia Deusner. She 
was born in Evansville August 23, 1853, 
daughter of Philip and Mary (Schaeffer) 
Deusner, natives of Germanv. February 17, 
1886, Mr. and Mrs. Kolb removed from 
Henderson county to Union township, and 
they have since occupied their present home. 
Mr. Kolb owns 142 acres, about 130 of 
which are in cultivation. He and wife have 
had ten children: Philip W., Emma M., 
Ida L., Michael C, William A., Katie (de- 
ceased), Frederick G., Elizabeth M., Annie 
C, and Mary L. Mr. and Mrs. Kolb are 
members of the Presb3'terian church, and he 
is an Odd Fellow. 

John A. Neale, a citizen of Union town- 
ship, was born on the farm he now occupies, 
July I, 1854. He is the son of Shapleigh 
R. and Martha (King) Neale, both of whom 
were natives of Virginia. His father was 
born December 31, 1819, and was the son 
of James P. Neale. He was married to 
Martha King in 1844. Both the father and 
mother of our subject died in Union town- 
ship, the latter on the 29th of August, 1865, 
and the former on the 17th of September, 
1878. John A. has thus far spent his life on 
a farm. When he was fourteen years old 
his father removed to Posey county, this 
state. Two years later he returned to his farm 
in Union township, and a part of which is now 
owned bv our subject, who gives his whole 
attention to farming, in which pursuit he is 
successful. He is a member of the Masonic 
lodge. He was elected trustee of his 
township in the spring of 1884, and served 
in a satisfactory manner one term. 





^a^^^T-^ ySa^j^^^^jz^ — 



UNION TOWNSHIP. 



649 



John Robertson was born in Union 
township, November 21, 1826, son of An- 
thony and Sarah (Kazy) Robertson. His 
boyhood and youth were spent in Union and 
Perr}' townships. April, 1846, he became 
a soldier in the Me.xican war, in Company 
K, Second Indiana volunteer infantr}', com- 
manded by Capt. Walker, who was killed 
in the battle of Buena Vista. He was 
discharged at New Orleans, in July, 
1S47. October, 1853, he was married 
to Willie Isabel Miller. She was born in 
Union township, and was the dauohter of 
John and Willie Miller. She died March 11, 
1857. On the 14th of February, i860, Mr. 
Robertson was married to Elizabeth Gerard. 
She was born near Lawrenceburg, this state, 
and was the daughter of William and Lo- 
vina (Reneau) Gerard. Mrs. Elizabeth 
Robertson died August 13, 1880. By his 
first wife, Mr. Robertson became the father 
of two children : John P. and James A., of 
whom the former is deceased. By his sec- 
ond wife he had four children : Willie, 
Olive, Rit, and Thomas, all deceased. Mr. 
Robertson is an honorable, upright man and 
one of the county's most worthy pioneers. 

Mrs. Anna B. Roth was born in Ger- 
many, March 10, 1S37, the daughter of 
Heinrich and Eve Elizabeth (Bonner) 
Maenshaen. She. was married to John 
Roth, March 6, 1858. He was a native of 
Germany, born February 19, 1834, ''^"•^^ '^^^ 
the son of Adam Roth. In June, i860, Mr. 
and Mrs. Roth emigrated to America. 
They took up their residence in Union 
township, in which Mr. Roth pursued the 
vocation of a farmer until his death, on the 
9th day of December, 1884. Mr. Roth was 
successful as a farmer, and when he died he 
owned 267 acres of land. He was a mem- ! 
bar of the German Lutheran church. Mrs. j 
Roth has had a family of nine children:, 
Elizabeth, Caroline, John B., Anna, Mar- 1 
38 



garet, Henrietta, Adam, Wilhelmina and 
Anna. Mrs. Roth is a member of the Ger- 
man Lutheran church, in which all her chil- 
dren have a membership. 

J.\MEs F. Saunders, a citizen of Union 
township, was born in Perry township, this 
county, April 15, 1S39. He was the son of 
William C. and Lydia E. (Fauquher) Saun- 
ders, the former of whom was a native of 
Vanderburgh county, and the latter of Ken- 
tucky. His father was born September 22, 
1815, and was the son of Ezekiel and Isabel 
(WilHs) Saunders, who were among the 
first settlers of Vanderburgh county. Will- 
iam C. Saunders was married to L3dia E. 
Fauquher September 10, 1834. ^'^"^ ^^'^^ 
born March 12, 1814, and was the daughter 
of James F. and Margaret Fauquher, who 
were early settlers of German township, this 
county. James F. Saunders spent his boy- 
hood and youth on a farm in his native town- 
ship. At twenty years of age he went to 
Union township, where he has resided since 
and engaged in agriculture for himself, and 
he has since given his undivided attention to 
farming. He- began life for himself with- 
out means, and nearly all of his property' is 
the product of hard work and good manage- 
ment. He owns 300 acres of excellent land, 
all in Union township. He was married 
March 9, 1870, to Haidee Upfield. She 
was born in Lancaster, Fairfield county, 
Ohio, January 22, 1850, and is the daughter 
of William and Martha (Wilson) Upfield. 
Mrs. and Mrs. Saunders have had four chil- 
dren: Ida M., George, Ruth, and one that 
died in infancy unnamed. In politics, Mr. 
Saunders is a democrat, and has served his 
township as assessor, and two terms as 
trustee, and was county commissioner three 
years, in all of which he was a faithful and 
judicious public servant. 

Andrew J. Sirkle was born in the 
township in which he resides, February 12, 



650 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 



1835, and is the son of Andrew and Nancy 
(Long) Sirkle, both of whom were natives 
of Virginia. His father and mother were 
among the earliest settlers of Union town- 
ship, in which both spent the last years of 
their lives. The subject of this sketch grew 
to manhood on the old Sirkle homestead, of 
a part of which he is now in possession. 
From 1875 to 18S0, he was a resident of 
Posey count}'. His life occupation is farm- 
ing, and his efforts have been liberally re- 
warded. He owns 444 acres of land. Mr. 
Sirkle was married June 8, 1865, to Kate E. 
Deusner. She was born in the city of 
Evansville, April 4, 1847, and was the 
daughter of Philip and Amelia Deusner, 
both of whom were natives of Germany. 
Mr. and Mrs. Sirkle have had ten children, 
as follows: Philip (deceased) and Amelia, 
twins, Andrew J., Lula A., William, Luke 
(deceased) and Lois E., twins, Joseph (de- 
ceased) and Fred, twins, and Walter. The 
wife of Mr. Sirkle is a member of the Pres- 
byterian church. He is a prosperous farmer 
and a man in whom the public has full con- 
fidence. 

Calvin H. Stroud, late of Union town- 
ship, was born near Lawrenceburg, Dear- 
born county, Ind., September 28, 1822, and 
was the son of Joshua and Mary (Gaw) 
Stroud. Joshua Stroud was born in South 
Carolina, January 5, 1780, and his wife, 
Mary Gaw, was born in North Carolina, 
April 23, 1784. They were married No- 
vember 5, 1801, and became the parents of 
fourteen children, of whom the subject of 
this sketch was the ele\enth. Calvin H. 
Stroud, who spent his j'outh on the old 
homestead which his father entered in Union 
township. He spent a considerable portion 
of his life on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. 
There was probabh' no flat-boatman on the 
river, better or more favorably known than 
Mr. Stroud. He was married September 



28, 1852, to Emeline Cox. Mrs. Stroud died 
October 15, 1855, leaving one child, Mary 
F., who was born September 11, 1853. On 
the 1 2th day of April, i860, Mr. Stroud was 
married to Miss Helen M. Kelse3^ She 
was born in Knight township, this county, 
January 20, 1839, and is the daughter of 
Loren A. and Mary M. (Williams) Kelsey, 
the former of whom was born in Genesee 
county, N. Y., March 31, 1816. Her pater- 
nal grandparents were Ambrose and Maria 
(Marsh) Kelsey, both of whom died in this 
county. Loren A. Kelsey was married to 
Mary M. Williams, February 4, 1838. She 
was born in Knight township, March 2, 1817, 
and was the daughter of Oliver H. and 
Delight (Cumstock) Williams. Mrs. Mary 
I M. Kelsey died July 31, 1843. Mr. Kelsey 
died July 9, 1870. The second marriage 
of Mr. Stroud resulted in the birth of six 
children: Robert J., born June 14, 1861; 
Emeline, born September 20, 1863; two 
daughters that died unnamed; Helen A., 
born June 18, 1883, died February 28, 1883; 
and Mary, born June 12, 1875. Mr. Stroud 
died Ma}' 7, 1884. His widow and three 
children who survive him, still occupy the 
old homestead. Mrs. Stroud owns 105 
acres of land. Her only son, Robert J. 
Stroud, owns in all, 295 acres of land. 

Perry township. — The daring exploit of 
Commodore Perr}', by which he achieved 
one of the most brilliant victories known to 
the early history of the nation, caused this 
township to be named in his honor. The 
township was organized September 10, 
1840. Prior to this time it formed a part of 
the ancient township of Pigeon. The sur- 
face of the township is rolling, and in parts 
hilly ; the soil is fairly productive ; no streams 
of importance traverse it. It is bounded on 
the north by German towmship, on the 
east by Center and Pigeon townships and 
the Ohio river, on the south by Union town- 



PERRY TOWNSHIP. 



651 



ship and the Ohio river, and on the west by 
Posey county. 

Earlv Scltlcrs. — The settlement of Perr}' 
township began soon after the dawn of the 
nineteenth century. Concerning the name 
and character of him who first penetrated 
the wilderness then here nothing is known. 
As early as iSo6 or 1807 a few pioneers 
had crossed, on rude rafts, from the Ken- 
tucky shore, and found their wa\' into this 
township. At this date the Indians had not 
left the county, and regardless of the treat- 
ies made by the chiefs of the tribes, many of 
them were inclined to resist the invasion of 
the poorl}' protected pioneers. In view of 
the large German element in the population 
of the count}' to-daj', it is a significant fact 
that the first who is positively known to 
have come here, not as a hunter, but as a 
settler, was a native of German3\ George 
Linxweiler, father of the late William Linx- 
weiler, both well known in their day, was 
one of the first German immigrants to 
this part of the great west. He 
landed opposite the mouth of Green 
river in March, 1806, and after looking 
around the vicinity, settled upon the tract of 
land afterward widely known as the resi- 
dence of the late J. B. Stinson. There he 
erected a log cabin, in which his son Will- 
iam was born on the 12th day of February, 
1809. The best obtainable evidence indi- 
cates that this was the first white child born 
in the township. In the spring of iSir Mr. 
Linxweiler, with his family, removed to the 
Whetstone farm, in what is now Center 
township. About the time this child first 
saw the light of day, another pioneer, who 
was afterward well-known in the township, 
was wending his way to its borders. This 
was George Miller, who came from Ken- 
tucky with his wife, Elizabeth, and settled 
about three miles west of Evansville, in sec- 
tion 33, in which neighborhood he lived until 



his death, which occurred about 1820. The 
Millers crossed the river three times 
before permanently locating, each time 
being driven back by hostile Indians. They 
first landed near the present site of the 
city of Evansville, where they found a 
rude cabin, which had the appearance 
of having been but recently erected, and in 
the wild forests about it there was nothino- 
to indicate that any other attempts at settle- 
ment had been made. They took possession 
of the cabin, Hved in it a few months and 
then pushed on through the wilderness to 
the spot afterward chosen for their perma- 
nent home. Following the Millers, within a 
few months, came Elder John B. Stinson, 
then a young man, and his father, both of 
whom were coopers by trade, at which for 
for some time they were occupied. They 
settled on the banks of the river about two 
miles below Evansville. Here the young 
man rose to a lofty pinnacle in public esteeiri. 
He was commissioned the first sheriff of 
Vanderburgh countj- by Gov. Jennings, 
in 1818, served in the Indian wars as a cap- 
tain with distinction, was elected probate 
judge of the county, served satisfactorilv, 
and was called by the public to serve it 
in various capacities of trust and honor. He 
was a consistent member and able preacher 
in the General Baptist church. Though not a 
eloquent talker, he was profound in thought, 
powerful in argument, and the best disci- 
plinarian the church ever had. In the later 
years of his life he built a home in the city, 
where the custom house now stands, but 
spent most of his time on the farm in Perry 
township. He was one of the most promi- 
nent men Perrj^ township ever produced, and 
decidedly the most prominent up to the date 
of iiis death, which occurred in 1S50. He 
married the eldest daughter of the pioneer 
Mrs. Elizabeth Miller — Matilda Payne — 
and was the father of nine children. 



652 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 



Elder Benoni Stinson, a brother of J. B. 
Stinson, came in 1821, and from that time 
until his death in 1870 lived on the farm 
adjoining that of his brother, and now the 
homestead of Maj. J. B. Cox. He was a 
Baptist preacher, blessed with great natural 
ability, but without a scholarly education. 
It was here in Perry township, on October 
5, 1823, that he gathered about him 
thirty-three devout souls, whose faith 
was like his, and organized that 
afterward powerful denomination known 
as the General Baptists of the west. 

Though others may have "squatted" along 
the river the Millers were doubtless the first 
who pushed their way to the interior of the 
township. For some time after they came 
all about them was a pathless, wolf-infested 
wilderness. They at once commenced 
clearing a spot in the forest for cultivation, 
and soon had a small cornfield and truck- 
patch. Between their clearing and the cabin 
on the Stinson place there was a strip of 
woods, but a footpath was soon tramped 
through the underbrush between the places, 
and these pioneers were neighbors in the full- 
est sense of that word, so rich in meaning. 
Westward, near the Posey county line, and 
about three miles from the Millers, another 
settlement was made about 1S25. There 
William Ragland and William Martin raised 
their cabins. Soon . others drifted in to 
share with them the trials and hardships, the 
joys and triumphs of life on the frontier. 
Beyond this settlement there was no other 
until Posey county was reached. 

James Robertson was an earlj' settler in 
the Miller neighborhood ; lie was a prosper- 
ous farmer, and lived in the township until 
his death, about 1845. He married Nancy 
Stinson, now Mrs. Calloway, who was born 
in the J. B. Stinson farm in 1809, and lived 
continuously in the count}' until two years 
ago, when she went to reside with her 



daughters in White county. 111. It is gen- 
erally conceded that she was the first female 
white child born in Perry township. Among 
the first of these settlers was William Wag- 
non. Upon his arrival he settled near the 
Millers, but subsequently removed to the 
northwest corner of the township, and died 
there at about ninety years of age. He 
was one of the first associate judges of the 
new county, and wielded considerable in- 
fluence in his day. He was a rough char- 
acter, unscrupulous, and made himself 
obnoxious to man}- of the early settlers. 
About the time of the commencement of hos- 
tilities in tlie westconseej^uent upon the war of 
181 2 with England, the Indians in this section 
of Indiana territor}- became more troublesome 
than usual, and the white settlers were 
obliged to exercise extreme caution for the 
protection of the lives of their families. The 
natural hostility of these savages was in- 
flamed by the conduct of Wagnon. He had 
a cabin on the banks of Wagnon creek, 
(which had been named for him.) below 
Evansville, where he sold whiskey. Always 
ready to traffic with the Indians he supplied 
them with " firewater " in order the more 
readily to make sharp bargains, and thus 
deliberately placed the lives of the pioneers 
in danger. His popularity, however, was 
not sufficiently impaired to occasion his de- 
feat at the polls. 

George and Susan Edmond were early 
settlers who subsequently migrated to 
Union township, where the former, in later 
3^ears, was found dead by the roadside, the 
cause of the death being a mj'ster}-, and 
unknown to this day. These pioneers were 
the parents of Michael Edmond, now of 
Union township, who was born near Ingle's 
coal mines, in November, 1815, and is now 
probablv the oldest resident native-born 
citizen of the county. James and Joseph 
Cox, brothers, came to the township in 1818. 



PERRY TOWNSHIP. 



653 



For a time they worked at the potter's trade, 
and subsequently made considerable money 
in sellinij wood to steamers on the Ohio 
river. They were eminently respectable 
always. John M. Lockwood, now a prom- 
inent citizen of Posey county, and in early 
times a man of influence for good here, was 
one of the pioneers in the northwest part of 
the township. Patrick Lyons earlj' became 
a freeholder and lived in the extreme south- 
east corner of the township. Reuben Long 
early came to Perry, but soon moved to 
Union township, where he lived until his 
death. Nicholas Loner, not the German 
pioneer of that name, but an American, be- 
longed to that free-from-care, easy-going 
class who depended on the excitement of the 
chase for pleasure and on its achievements 
for food. He cleared a little "truck-patch" 
in the woods, and went out of the 
country when the game became scarce. 

Thomas and William Hooker were also 
pioneers who, viewed in comparison with 
the rush and hurr}- that characterize the 
present age, might be considered indo- 
lent and thriftless. They were poor but 
honest men, and were never weaned from 
the simple customs of the backwoodsmen. 
Thomas was one of the stoutest men of his 
da}-, and in those friendly contests of " main 
strength and awkwardness," so common at 
log rolhngs and barn raisings, always won 
the victory. Peter Miller, who came with 
his parents in 1809, lived m Perr}- town- 
ship, until about 1853, then in Union town- 
ship until about 1870, when he died, was a 
noted deer hunter and a stor}^ teller. He is 
known to have killed upward of fifty deer in 
a year, and occasionally brought down a 
bear. He was six feet high, very slender, 
a very fast walker and a good runner. He 
could walk farther in a day than any man in 
the settlement, and was the winner at all 
the early day foot-races. His stories were 



always so graphic that they have not 
yet faded from the memories of 
his listeners. Other pioneers were 
Oliver and Isaac Fairchild, who died 
in the township at an earl}- date, John 
Stoner, who earl}' removed to Union town- 
ship, Henry D. Smith, a well-known old 
time shoemaker, Ezekiel Saunders, grand- 
father of James D. Saunders, of Union town- 
ship, a prominent preacher in the regular 
Baptist church, who lived for thirty or forty 
years near the Posey county line on the 
lower Mt. Vernon road, exerting an influ- 
ence for good during all that time, and Jef- 
frey Saunders, Ezekiel's brother, who later 
was a well-known citizen of Posey county. 
Following these pioneers came others, 
singly and in groups, and gradually the wild 
beasts that so long had annoyed and endan- 
gered the life of the settlers, were driven 
out, and their homes became the dwelling 
places of civilized men. Slowly, but with 
never a backw'ard step, the evolution went 
on. Progress became the watchword em- 
blazoned on the banner of the marching 
generations; the log cabin, chinked and 
daubed, gave way to the comfortable and 
even luxurious home; the clearing or the 
truck-patch grew into broad fields, 
fenced and farmed on scientific principles, 
with the best machinery that the inge- 
nuity of man could devise ; huge barns filled 
with plenty, and well-fed cattle, either in 
stalls or roaming in rich pastures, replaced 
the straw-shed and the poor cow that 
browsed so long on dry twigs that she be- 
came an easy prey to the hungry wolves 
that chased and killed her; school-houses 
and churches sprang into existence as if at 
the command of the magi, until now the 
best results of enlightenment and civilized 
effort seem to have been attained. 

Perry township received a large propor- 
tion of those thrifty Germans who came in 



esJ^ 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 



upon this section of the country between 
1830 and 1840, in numbers somewhat as the 
Goths and Huns of the north poured in 
upon the Romans of old. They and their 
descendants now compose a large part of the 
population, and yet many of the children of 
the pioneers possess the lands of their fathers. 

A Tragedy. — In 1 851 or 1852 a gang of 
counterfeiters carried on their operations in 
Perry township under the leadership of 
Milo Dolly. Three of the men, Grigsby, 
Skaggs and Spelts by name, broke into the 
house of an inoffensive German named 
Miller, killed him and his two sons, mutil- 
ated their bodies and then set fire to the 
house and destroyed all evidences of their 
crime. An inquest was held, and a verdict 
found which implicated none of the guilty 
parties. The public generally believed the 
dreadful calamity to be the result of an ac- 
cident. The criminals, however, had forged 
Miller's name to a bill of sale of his personal 
propertjr, and to a deed or mortgage of his 
lands. In trymg to enforce these false 
claims, the perpetrators of the crime ex- 
posed their guilt, and the details of the af- 
fair were fully discovered. Intense excite- 
ment followed. Grigsby was a well-appearing 
man, of good repute, aud associated with re- 
spectable people. His connection with the 
deed occasioned great astonishment. An 
interesting trial ensued, and the murderers 
were sent to the penitentiary, where 
two of them, Skaggs and Spelts, died. 
Nothing ever before so thoroughly aroused 
the people of Perry township as did this 
tragedy. 

Churches. — Probabl}'' the first church 
organization in the township was that effected 
by the followers of Ezekiel Saunders, 
already mentioned as a powerful Baptist 
preacher of earh- da^'S, known as the 
Regular Baptists. Prominent among his co- 
laborers were Elders Jacobs and Parker. 



Their early meetings were held at the old 
Saunders homestead and the church flour- 
ished for several years, having in 1823 at 
least 100 devoted, active members. Subse- 
quently the society built a church in Posej' 
county, and thus ended its history so far as 
connected with this township. Because of 
doctrinal differences thirty-three members of 
this congregation withdrew under the leader- 
ship of the gifted Benoni Stinson, and on 
October 5, 1823, formed a society which 
still prospers — the General Baptists of the 
west. Elder Stinson was chosen pastor for 
the new church and continued in that 
relation almost continuously until his death, 
which occurred in 1870. He taught the doc- 
trines of free moral agency and a general 
atonement, abandoning those of predes- 
tination and a partial atonement. The 
new congregation soon after its for- 
mation built a small log church in 
what is now German township, near the 
Perry township line. Here they worshipped 
for two or three years and then moved to a 
point near the site of the present church. 
The second building was small and made of 
logs. It served the growing congregation 
only a few years, when the demands for a 
larger edifice became so great that a frame 
building, commodious and substantial, was 
provided. This church was erected in 1857, 
was dedicated by Elder Stinson and other 
preachers, and is still well preserved. It 
stands on the Henderson road, about one 
mile from the city limits. Others who have 
served as pastors to this congregation are: 
Elders Jesse Lane, Alvah Parker, J. B. Stin- 
son, James Enslee, J. W. Blackburn, Wilson 
Blackburn, T. M. Strain, Jacob Spear and 
W. W. Charles. For about fifteen j'ears 
past the congregation has averaged about 
sixty members, and is now quite prosperous. 
The German Evangelical Lutheran Enian- 
ncPs Church, of Perry township, was organ- 



PERRY TOWNSHIP. 



656 



ized in 1854 throujjh the labors of Rev. A. 
Saupert, who served the society for man}' 
years. Under him a division arose and 
about one-half the members went with him 
to Trinity church in Evans\ille. The church 
has always been supphed by the pastor of a 
church of the same name on the corner of 
First avenue and East Franklin street in 
Evansville. They are separate organiza- 
tions, but the country church is a filial of the 
city church. Rev. Saupert was succeeded 
by Rev. Reidenbach, and he by Rev. H. 
Koenig, who served twelve years. The 
present pastor is Rev. George Bachmann, 
in charge during the past twelve years. 
Among the earliest members were: Henr}' 
Oppermann, Christ Bakelmann, Conrad 
Schuenemann, Henry Henricks, Henry 
Mahrenholz, Fred Mahrenholz, Traugott 
Hauschild, and their families. The present 
membership comprises fourteen families; 
fifty communicants. In 1854, o" ^^^ middle 
Mt. Vernon road, six miles from Evansville, 
a small log building was erected as a place 
of worship. Since renovated and remodeled, 
it has been made a very neat and comfort- 
able edifice. 

Tozviis. — There are no towns in the 
township except Perryville, or Babytovvn 
as commonly called, which is practically a 
small part of Evansville, having no import- 
ance as a separate village. Col. John Rhein- 
lander, a man of considerable note as a 
soldier in the Mexican and civil wars, and 
as a leading business man, established a 
grocery and cigar factory here some thirty 
years ago. The growth and the inception of 
the place have been due to this enterprise. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Joseph H. Br.\ndis, deceased, was a na- 
tive of England, born in Birmingham, Octo- 
ber 28, 1805. At Stratford at an early age 
he made his first entrv into business, and 



engaged, grew and was strengthened to a 
considerable extent. Mr. Brandis came to 
this country from Stratford in the year 1840. 
He resided for short time in Evansville, and 
; then removed to a farm in Perry township, 
five miles west of the city, which was his 
home in all the succeeding years. He 
brought with him from England a wife and 
five children, of whom only one survives 
him, Mrs. Rosanna Cralley, of Mount Ver- 
non, Ind. His wife died in 1849. In the 
summer of 1849 he made a voyage to Eng- 
land for the purpose of transacting business 
there. Mr. Brandis was married again 
March 14, 1855, to Mrs. Maria Felstead, a 
widow lad}' with three children, Anna, 
Mary and George, all of whom are living. 
She was born in 1831, in the parish of 
Blunlesham, England, the daughter of 
Thomas and wife. In 1832 her parents 
emigrated to America, coming directly 
to Evansville, near where she was raised. 
Her parents are now deceased, and are 
buried ten miles from the city. Her mar- 
riage with Joseph Felstead, a native of 
Chatteris, England, occurred September 
26, 1849, and he died in June, 1854, aged 
thirty years. In 1872 Mr. Brandis started 
a bookstore on the corner of Second and 
Locust streets, and in 1875 he purchased the 
bookstore of Dobell & Conyngton, then oc- 
cupying part of the present First National 
bank building. By reason of his wide busi- 
ness relations and congenial and upright 
character, Mr. Brandis became generally 
esteemed, and through life was surrounded 
by a host of friends. After leading an ac- 
tive business life for several years, he re- 
tired to his quiet country home. Having 
acquired considerable taste for reading, he 
had several years before selected with ex- 
treme care a handsome library of instructive 
and useful books, where his leisure time was 
mostly spent in a way that was pleasant and 



666 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 



owing to his keen talent and dose applica- 
tion, the dry goods business, in which he 
profitable. After twent3--eight years of 
happy married life, Mr. Brandis and wife 
were separated by his death, which oc- 
curred May 8, 1883, when he had reached 
the age of seventy-eight years. His widow 
and seven children, viz. : Martha, Joseph H., 
Ellen, Sarah, WiUiam E., Thomas J. and 
Charles D., still survive him. Mrs. Brandis 
resides at the old homestead, which is 
pleasantly situated, and surrounded with all 
of life's comfort. 

Herman Klamer, who resides just west 
of Evansville, in Perry township, is a native 
of Germany, born September 25, 1836, son of 
JohnM. and Charlotte (Kleinsmidt) Klamer. 
At fifteen years of age he became emploj^ed 
in a brick yard, and thus continued in his 
native country until 1855, in June of which 
year he emigrated to America and came to 
the city of Evansville. In the spring of 
1856 he became employed in a brick yard 
in the vicinitj' of Evansville. In 1859 he 
took a contract to manufacture a quantity of 
brick in Posey county, where he spent one 
season. During the summer of i860, he 
was engaged at brick-making in Armstrong 
township. From the fall of i860, until the 
spring of 1864, his attention was given to 
his farm in Perry township. In March, 
1864, he removed to Evansville, and he has 
ever since resided either in the city or in its 
immediate vicinity. For some six or seven 
years after removing to town, Mr. Klamer 
conducted a brick yard. In the spring of 
1872 he was appointed street commissioner, 
and served in that capacity three years. In 
1875 he became a partner in the Bunker 
Hill Flouring mills, to which his attention 
was given until 1884, when he sold out. 
Since 1884 he has owned and operated a 
large brick yard west of the city. On the 
25th of November, i860, Mr. Klamer was 



married to Mary Schloskey, a native of 
Germany, born August 6, 1840, the daugh- 
ter of William and Christiana Schloske}', 
with whom she came to America in the 
spring of 1851. Mr. and Mrs. Klamer have 
had ten children : Matilda E., William M., 
Gustav H., Herman H., Clara, Selma, Vina, 
Oscar A., Ida (deceased), and Albert A. Mr. 
and Mrs. Klamer and all of their children 
are members of the Zion's church. He is a 
member of the I. O. O. F. and D. O. H. 
lodges. In 1884 he was elected trustee of 
Perry township, and was re-elected in 1886, 
with an increased majority. 

Henry Kreipke, a prominent miller of 
Perry township, was born February 16, 
1854, son of Henry and Catherine Kreipke. 
He received a good common school and 
commercial college education. He began 
business in Evansville in the feed-store and 
commission trade, which he followed until 
1883. He then entered the large flouring- 
mill, of which he is at present the half 
owner, which has become a leading indus- 
try, and one of the prominent mills of the 
countr}-. There is a capital of $45,000 in- 
vested in the business; the capacity of the 
mill is 350 barrels a day, and there is $300,- 
000 .worth of product handled per year. 
They use the very latest roller process, and 
make the finest grade of flour, which is sold 
throughout the entire south, besides being 
in great demand at home. The establish- 
ment is a large four-story brick building, 
situated in the western suburbs of the city, 
and uses a ninety-horse steam power. Mr. 
Kreipke was married January 24, 1883, to 
Alice Ayers, and the result of this happy 
union has been two children, Charles Edwin 
and Pearl Carolina. He is a member of St. 
John's church and belongs to the Knights 
of Pythias. He is a man of rare ability in 
business, and has fine executive talent, which 
assure him prosperity. He enjoys the con- 



PERRY TOWNSHIP. 



657 



fidence and respect of the community, and 
all with whom he comes in contact through 
his extensive business. 

William Poggemeier, a prominent 
farmer of Perry township, is a native of 
Prussia, born October lo, 1825, son of 
Anst Poggemeier, and his wife Mary. He 
emigrated to this country in 1846, and was 
twenty-one years of age when he arrived. 
He came directly to Evansville and to Ger- 
man township, where he resided for about 
four months. He found work as a carpen- 
ter, which trade he learned in Prussia, and 
he continued in this vocation for about five 
years, when he married and settled down 
on a farm, and has since devoted himself to 
agriculture. He bought the farm in Perry 
township, which he still occupies, in 1849, 
and moved upon it in 1850. In March, 
1850, Mr. Poggemeier was married to 
Louisa Reckfurst, daughter of Henr^' and 
Katherine Reckfurst, and they have had 
nine children : Mary, Caroline, Henr}^, Will- 
iam, Frederick, Wilhelmina, Mary, John and 
August, all of whom are deceased except 
Mary. Mr. Poggemeier is a republican, and 
his religious associations are with the Luth- 
eran church. 

Conrad Rose, a well-known farmer of 
Perry township, was born in Germany, Sep- 
tember II, 1841, the son of Ludwig and 
Louisa Rose, who came to Evansville from 
the fatherland in about 1845. The father 
died in that city about four weeks after his 
arrival, when Conrad was but four j-ears 
old. As a boy and 3-outh he was able to 
attend school but six months, but by close 
application, soon was able to read and write 
the strange language to which he was so 
inauspiciously introduced. He chose the 
business of agriculture as his pursuit in life, 
and has devoted himself to it with the ex- 
ception of three years spent valiantly on the 
field, during the war of the rebellion. He 



enlisted in July, 1862, in Company H, Si.xty- 
fifth Indiana Volunteer infantry, under Col. 
Foster, and was engaged with his com- 
mand in the battles of Bean Station, Rock- 
ville, Franklin, Nashville, Blountsville, and 
many others, and through the entire cam- 
paign and march to the sea under Sherman. 
He was confined to the hospital for six or 
seven weeks, and has not full}' recovered 
from the effect of that army illness to this 
day. He was mustered out at Grcensburg, 
N. C, and discharged at Indianapolis, at the. 
close of the war. He was married Janu- 
ary 29, 1868, to Octavia Stinson, daughter 
of the distinguished General Baptist preacher 
and pioneer, whose famil}' is known through- 
out southern Indiana, and whose distin- 
guished career is treated of in another part 
of this volume. They have had four child- 
ren: Benoni S., Parthenia, Guy C, and 
Harry B., all living and at home but Guy, 
who departed tiiis life February 9, 1876. 
Mr. Rose and his estimable lady are faithful 
members of the Baptist church, and are 
leaders in their community. He is a mem- 
ber of the A. O. U. W. and G. A. R., and 
is in politics a staunch republican. 

John N. Steiner was born in Saxe- 
Coburg, Germany, in 1815, the son of Adam 
and Barbara Steiner. He emigrated to 
America in 1838, over half a century ago. 
He came directly to Cincinnati, where he 
spent ten years as a clerk in a restaurant. 
He then, in 1848, went to Perry township, 
and in that year settled on the farm which he 
now occupies. Then the countrj' was con- 
siderably a wilderness, and land was cheap. 
While in Ohio he had the opportunity to 
work on the first railroad built 'in that state, 
and he has seen Evansville grow from a vil- 
lage to a great city. He was married in 
1847, to Margaret Roeder, daughter of 
Fred Roeder, of German township, and 
they have had eight children, all of whom 



668 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 



are living: John, Fred, George, Charles, 
Andrew, William, Lizzie and Christina. 
Mr. Steiner received a good education in 
his native language, and has also become 
versed in English. He is a republican, and 
a member of the Methodist church. He 
has done well in life, having a good home 
upon a fine farm of no acres. 

Washington Stinchfield, a prominent 
farmer of Perry township, was born in Van- 
derburgh county, February 3, 1844, and is the 
son of Hiram Stinchfield, and Sarah A. Mc- 
Creary, his wife. The mother was a native 
of Virginia. The father was born in this 
Btate also, the son of Daniel Stinchfield, who 
came from Miine, at a da}' when the country 
was very wild, and was one of the very 
earliest pioneers who began the work of 
making the paths straight for the future 
commonwealth. The subject of this sketch 
was educated in the common schools of 
Perry township, receiving a good training. 
Hardl}' had he completed this stage of his 
life, when the rebellion broke out, and in 
August, 1862, when he was eighteen years 
old, Mr. Stinchfleld enlisted in Company D, 
Ninety-first Indiana volunteer infantry, un- 
der Col. Mehringer. He participated in 
the battles of Atlanta, Kenesaw Mountain, 
Franklin, Nashville, and marched through 
Georgia with Gen. Sherman. On June 29, 
1865, he was honorably discharged at Salis- 
bury, N. C, and mustered out at Indianapolis, 
after three years of brave and patriotic service 
in defense of his country. This was the only 
period in his life, during which he has not 
been engaged in agriculture, a pursuit which 
has been to him both pleasant and profitable. 
He was married December 15, 1869, to 
Mary A. Sanders, daughter of John Sanders, 
and Elizabeth, his wife, both of this country. 
This union has been a happy one, and has 
brought them nine children : John, George, 
Sadie, Caddie, Harriet, Charles W., Moses 



O., Clinton and Herman E., of whom all 
are living but John, George, and Harriet. 
Mr. Stinchfield has been a member of the 
I. O. O F. for twenty years. 

James L. Thompson, a prominenl citizen 
of Perry township, was born in Glasgow, 
Scotland, December 15, 1832. He received 
a common school and academic education in 
his native land, and learned the profession of 
steam-engineering, under the severe restric- 
tions of Scotland. In 1856 he came to 
America, and came direct to Evansville, and 
soon after engaged as engineer for the 
Ardril Iron Works, on Green river, 
Ky. At the outbreaking of the rebellion 
he enhsted in Company D, Fifth Ohio vol- 
unteer infantry, under Col. Dunning. 
His captain was John H. Patrick. After 
serving with this regiment three months he 
enlisted in Company G, Twenty-sixth Ohio, 
and served altogether over four years, being 
one of the veterans in 1865. He partici- 
pated in the battles of Stone River, Mission 
Ridge, Knoxville, Franklin and Nashville, 
and then went with his command to Texas. 
After his long and perilous service in defense 
of the nation, he was mustered out at Camp 
Chase, Columbus, Ohio. He then resumed 
the practice of engineering, and is now en- 
gaged in running the engine at Ingle's 
mines. In 1868 Mr. Thompson was married 
to Amanda Smith, who lived but one year. 
In 1 87 1 he married Louisa, daughter of 
Frederick Keck, and they have had these 
children, Emeline, James F., Jacobina Agnes, 
Louisa and Margaret. Mr. Thompson is a 
member of the A. O. U. W., and affiliates 
with the Baptist, and his wife with the 
Methodist, church. In politics he is a repub- 
lican. He has a beautiful home on the Mt. 
Vernon road. Mr. Thompson's parents 
were James Thompson and Jane Laing, his 
wife, who both lived their entire lives in 
Scotland. 



GERMAN TOWNSHIP. 



659 



James S. Wills, a highly respected citizen 
and pioneer of Perry township, was born 
March i, 1822, in Scott township, this count}', 
tiie son of WilHam Wills and his wife, 
Frances Sellings. The parents came to 
Vanderburgh county in 18 19 from the county 
of Kent, England, where the father was en- 
gaged as a measure-maker. James spent 
the early part of his life with his father at 
the farm in Scott township, and was able 
to receive but a limited education. At the 
age of eighteen he learned the trade of car- 
penter, which he followed for three years 
and then returned to the farm hfe, which he 
followed for thirteen years with success. In 
June, 1S57, he again began to work at car- 
pentry, but this was interrupted in 1861 b}' 
the war of the rebellion. He enlisted July 
8, 1861, in Company B, Twent\'-fifth regi- 
ment Indiana volunteers, under Col. Veatch. 
With his regiment he participated in the fol- 
lowing battles: Blackwater, Fort Henry, 
Fort Donelson, Shiloh, siege of Corinth. 
Mr. Wills was severely wounded on the 
steamer Continental iroingc from St. Louis to 
Cairo, ana he has never recovered full}- from 
the wound. After the siege of Corinth, Mr. 
Wills returned to Evansville and remained 
in the hospital for some time, and on regaining 
strength, returned to his regiment and par- 
ticipated in the battle of Davis Mills, Miss. 
He was discharged in October, 1863, at 
Evansville, ending a most honorable service 
in defense of his country and flag. Since 
then he has devoted himself to the peaceful 
business of farming and carpentry. In 1845 
he was married to Frances Martin, and they 
had four children, William, Armilda, John 
Perry, and Laura. But two are living, John 
Perry and Laura, in California. Mr. Wills 
was married a second time in 1864 to 
Amelia Newman, by whom he had ten 
children: Carrie, U. S. Grant, AmeHa, 
James, Henry, Wallace, George, Aaron, 



Letitia, and Donald. Mr. Wills is a mem- 
ber of the I. O. O. F., and has passed through 
the chairs. 

German tozvnship, with its present name 
and bounds, was created September i, 1845. 
Upon the organization of the county and its 
division into civil townships, its territory 
formed a part of each of the two first town- 
ships — Pigeon and Armstrong. Subse- 
quently the two tiers of sections on the 
south formed a part of Perry township. It 
is now bounded on the north by Armstrong, 
on the east by Scott and Center, on the 
south by Perry township, and on the west 
by Posey county, and embraces within its 
limits twenty-seven sections. Its surface, 
rolling and in parts hilly, was originally 
covered with a dense growth of majestic 
forest trees. Perhaps no part of the county 
produced more splendid timber, and fur- 
nished a more inviting retreat for the game 
that was in all these parts in great abund- 
ance. When deer and turkeys began to be 
scarce in some other parts of the county, 
here they remained plentiful, and he was a 
poor marksman, indeed, who, penetrating 
the wildernesses of German township, could 
not secure venison and fowl for his larder. 

Eiirh' Settlers. — It was about the time that 
the few Anglo-Saxons began to occupy the 
wild lands of what is now Armstrong town- 
ship that German was first invaded by the 
hardy, dauntless pioneers. It is probable 
that occasional hunters and trappers crossed 
its territory while still in the possession of 
the Indians, but such persons had litde in- 
fluence upon its subsecjuent growth, and their 
acts form no part of its history. The first 
permanent settlement, which, by gathering 
together a few families for mutual 
protection from hostile red men and wild 
beasts, formed a nucleus about which a 
neighborhood was gathered, and where the 
woodman's ax first made a clearing and 



660 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 



raised a cabin, which, though rude and un- 
inviting in its aspect, was designed for more 
than a temporary shelter, was made in the 
northwest corner of the township by the 
Hensons, David and Jesse, and Joseph 
Chapman. The date of their coming can 
not be stated. The Hensons took the gifts 
of a bountiful providence, as they were sent, 
without any worry or complaint. The 
Chapmans, Joseph and his famil}-, were a 
" fighting set," yet withal good, respectable 
people, honest, and always poor. William 
and Walter Bryant, hardy backwoodsmen, 
who were known as more than ordinarily 
skillful and successful hunters, came into the 
Henson settlement in very early days. 

To the south of this settlement and within 
two miles of the south line of the township 
— in sections 5 and 6 — a few more cabins 
were raised in a cluster, and here others 
began life's rough experiences in the lonely 
wilds of the forests. Old Jesse Holloway, 
a good natured man, kindly disposed to all, 
and liked by every man who enjoyed the 
hospitality of his humble home, or met him 
at the "rolling" or on the hunt, was one of 
the earliest in this settlement, though it is 
impossible for any man to say whether or 
not he was preceded by some other equally 
courageous pioneer. In this "neck of the 
woods" John Warren became well and fav- 
orably known as an industrious man and 
good citizen. Very few of the earl}' set- 
tlers in these parts took the precaution or 
went to the expense of possessing them- 
selves of the lands where they erected their 
cabins and established their homes. It 
was, indeed, a difficult matter'to accumulate 
enough money, when money was so scarce, 
to pay the sums required by the government 
for a title to the land, though the amount 
was but $2.00 per acre. The industry 
of John Warren had been productive of lar- 
ger results than that of any other individual 



in the neighborhood where he lived, and per- 
haps, in the entire township. He succeeded 
in clearing not less than fort3--two acres on 
the congress land, and had it in very good 
condition. His cabin was a well-built, com- 
fortable structure, such as might be expected 
from the hands of one so industrious and en- 
terprising. A stable of moderate size was 
also on the place. These improvements were 
sold to John Morgan, who entered the land, 
and though they represented many days of 
toil, the purchase monej' was but $40.00. 

About 1820 and 182 1 John and Morri- 
son Fitzgerald, James F. Fauquhar, Nich- 
olas Long, and the Judkins family, became 
a part of this settlement. They did not 
come together, but each family, some of 
them having been for some time in neigh- 
boring localities, drifted in singly, and took 
their places in the small and slowly increas- 
ing community. James Fauquhar was al- 
ways upright, and was tolerabl}' " well 
fixed " financially for his day. He was one 
of the very few old settlers who in this 
township bought his land from the govern- 
ment and passed it to his children. Will- 
iam Fauquhar, a son of James, the pioneer, 
and probably the oldest native born citizen 
of the township, though only sixty-four 
years of age, still resides on the land en- 
tered by his father. John Fauquhar, now a 
resident of Evans\'ille, and Mrs. Lydia 
Saunders, of Union township, are the only 
other surviving descendants of James 
Fauquhar. 

German township was very thinly settled; 
there were only a few spots where a hunter 
encountered human habitations for many 
years after the dawn of civilization in south 
western Indiana. There were none south 
of the settlement last named until Perry 
township was reached. To the eastward, 
in the wild and dense woodland, there was 
not a trail except those of the untamed 



GERMAN TOWNSHIP. 



661 



beasts and their hunters, until the Parlcer 
neighborhood was reached, a little south- 
west of the site of the village of St. Joseph. 
Here in verj' early times, probably not later 
than 1809, the Parkers, Richard Wells, old 
Mr. McKinnis, the father of Alex and 
James, and others, formed a settlement, 
where lived some of the best hunters and 
most sterling characters of the period. In 
the extreme eastern part of the township a 
few settlers were scattered here and there; 
the smoke of a cabin occasionally beckoned 
the weary hunter to a haven of rest, and 
the ax of the pioneer at times made the 
woodland ring with sturdv blows and re- 
sounding echoes even in these less sought, 
for parts. It was in this part of the town- 
ship that James Kirkpatrick and Brian 
Short, afterward very well known, but only 
as simple, rough backwoodsmen, and yet 
with the good traits characteristic of such 
men, built their cabins. Here also lived 
George B. Wagnon, the son of William 
Wagnon, one of the first associate judges 
of the county. Young George was rather 
pretentious for the times and was unpopu- 
lar. His character had little in it worth}' of 
admiration. He was rough, unscrupulous 
and of a Icnv order mentally and morally. 

Besides those whose names have found 
their way into these pages there were many 
other squatters and early settlers who, with 
what may be called the second settle- 
ment of the township, beginning about 
1830, almost fleeing before the hordes of 
industrious immigrants who came from 
across the sea to possess themselves of 
homes in the land of liberty. 

Folded their tents like the Arab, 
And as silently stole away. 

Soon after the year 1830, the state began 
to improve and to attract the attention of in- 
telligent people in all parts of the country. 
The favorable location of Evansville respect- 



ing the cominerce of the west, became the 
objective point of many who were leaving 
the old world and fleeing to America — that 
mighty oak of freedom beneath whose um- 
brage the oppressed of all nations were 
intended to come for shelter and protection. 
When the Germans commenced coming in 
the lands were rapidly taken. The first who 
came to settle among the old set of pioneers 
and to open their eyes to a new condition of 
things, was John Eichle, a good man and 
valuable citizen. His industrious and econom- 
ical habits at first amused the pioneers 
who had been accustomed to taking life 
easy, but saon finding that in the struggle 
for existence they must compete for suc- 
cess with these habits, which were soon 
found to be common to all of the new comers, 
they became alarmed and one by one left 
the countr}' to take up the thread of exist- 
ence in some more favorable land. It is not 
possible or necessary for the purposes of this 
work to name those who came in the great 
throng, before whose surge the early set- 
tlers were forced from their forest homes. 
They were an enterprising, pushing, pru- 
dent people, who, with wonderful celerity, 
cleared away the forests and brought the 
land into cultivation. With the exception 
of a few families, who cling like the last 
leaves upon the tree, there are no represen- 
tatives of the earlier settlers, and the en- 
tire township, as its nanie indicates, is 
peopled with Germans, who in the main are 
thrifty, honest, honorable, and valuable 
citizens. 

It was a natural and fitting thing in the 
material development of this country, that 
its lands should fall into the possession of a 
people who would bring out all its stored-up 
riches and give them to mankind for enjoy- 
ment and advancement, and yet the mind 
lingers with regret upon the fast-fading 
scenes of the early settlers. 



662 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 



Towns. — There are no towns of commer- 
cial or industrial importance in this town- 
ship. The only considerable town is St. 
yoseph, situated in sections 21 and 28, town- 
ship 5 south, of range 11 west. Here Nich- 
olas Long settled in early days, and by pru- 
dence and economy became quite wealthy. 
In the course of time he built a store-house, 
and opened a general store, about which 
clustered the few houses which make up a 
country village — -a postoffice, a smithy, a 
school building and a church. For some 
time the principal merchant at the place has 
been Joseph Hartlein. Upon his death in 
18S7, his sons succeeded to the business, 
and still conduct it. 

Kasson, situated in sections 9 and 10, 
township 6 south, of range 1 1 west, contains 
a postoffice and blacksmith shop, but is with- 
out prospects of becoming important. Very 
near Kasson, on the southeast corner of sec- 
tion 9, township 6 south, range 11 west, as 
early as March 20, 1838, J. W. Lilliston laid 
out a town and named it Germantown, but 
it never attained importance. 

Vienna was laid out in section 31, town- 
ship 5, range 11, January 11, 1838, by John 
A. Morgan. It was quite pretentious, hav- 
ing 177 lots, but they have long since gone 
back to cornfield and meadow. 
. Churches. — In earlv times there were no 
church buildings in this township except one 
in the Henson neighborhood. This was a 
Liberty church, free to all denominations, 
and was erected more than half a century 
asfo. It was the scene of manv ffood meet- 
ings. Here Benoni Stinson, Jerry Cash and 
the Methodist circuit riders often preached. 
For a time religious sentiment was very 
strong, and meetings were frequently held 
at the houses of the Fauquhars, Hensons, 
Eichles and others. The old Liberty 
church was not kept in repair and has long 
since passed away. There is now no church 



in the township where sermons are regularly 
preached in the English tongue. 

German Lutheran. — After the emigration 
of the Germans to this township Lutheran 
churches were soon established. The first 
of these was near the old homestead of the 
Fauquhars, now on the Cynthiana road, in 
the northeast part of the township. It was 
founded about the year 1S38, and soon 
thereafter a log church was erected. This 
was afterward replaced by a spacious and 
comfortable edifice. The membership now 
numbers about ninety, and the church is in 
a very prosperous condition. About the 
same time St. John's church in the north- 
west part of the township, near the Posey 
county line, was organized. Its present 
membership is seventy-five; its church edi- 
fice is a handsome building, erected when 
the congregation had outgrown the little log 
cabin first raised. About 1855 the Presby- 
terians, chiefly through the instrumentality 
of George Naab, a wealthy farmer, organ- 
ized a class and built a church. Its mem- 
bership now numbers 125. All of these 
churches are supplied with comfortable 
parsonages, and are^prospering both tempo- 
rally and spiritualh'. 

St. Joseph's Catholic C//«rc//. — The first 
church, a two-stor}' log house, was built in 
the summer of 1841. The upper story was 
used for divine service, and the lower story 
for a school and pastoral residence. The 
congregation then numbered fifteen families. 
The Redemptorist, Father Czackart, had 
celebrated mass in the house of the widow 
Weiss, in 1836, and made a second visit in 
the following j-ear. Rev. Roman Weinzop- 
fel attended up to May, 1842, and from Octo- 
ber of that 3'ear to the fall of 1845, Rev. Con- 
rad Schniederjans was in charge. In April, 
1846, Father Weinzopfel returned and ac- 
complished much good by many j-ears of 
active labor. The congregation soon be- 



GERMAN TOWNSHIP. 



S6S 



came too large for the old church. On 
May 28, 1850, Bishop de St. Palais laid the 
corner stone for a new edifice, and on April 
13, 1851, divine service was held in it for 
the first time. It was built of brick, 40x86 
feet, ornamented with a handsome steeple, 
and cost exclusive of much labor and mater- 
ial donated, $2,200. It was dedicated 
April 27, 1857, since which time regular 
services have been held and the church has 
abundantly prospered. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Andrew J. Augermeier, trustee of 
German township, was born February 4, 
1850, in that township. His parents were 
Henry and Rosina (Eder) Augermeier, 
both of Hesse Darmstadt, German^'. The 
father was born in 1810, and came to 
America in 1826, located at Lancaster, 
Penn., where he was married in 1846, and 
in 1849 removed to Perry township, Ind. 
In the fall of the same year h^ moved to 
German township, where he died October 
20, 1857. The mother was born in 1818, 
and lives at present with her son. They 
had five children, all sons. Mr. Auger- 
meier taught in the schools of the county, 
and continued in this calling for twelve 
years. In 1S79 he was married to Miss 
Mary L. Grossman, of Perry township. 
To this marriage were born four children, 
two sons and two daughters, all of whom 
survive. In 1886 he was the candidate of 
the democratic party for township trustee, 
and was elected without opposition, and re- 
elected in 1888 in the same manner. This 
was a notable testimonial to the esteem in 
which he is held. He is a member of the 
St. Joseph congregation, Roman Catholic 
church. 

J. V. Fares, a farmer and business man 
of German township, was born in Bavaria, 
Germany, April 10, 1824, the son of Michael 



and Mary Fares. The parents came to this 
country in 1835, settling in Auglaize county, 
Ohio, where they ended their days. When 
they emigrated, Mr. Fares was only eleven 
years old, but he had learned to read and 
write the mother tongue, and after com- 
ing here learned to write and read in 
English. Until he was seventeen he worked 
upon the farm, and after that he learned the 
trade of shoemaker, which he followed from 
1840 to 1854. He is now living on the farm 
which he purchased in 1853. In October, 
1859, he was married to Veronek Mann, 
and they have had twelve children : John, 
Catherine, Caroline, Frederick, Sabina, 
Christina, Gustavus, Margaret, Henry, 
Veronek, Edward, and Louisa. Mr. Fares 
was for many years a member of the I. O. 
O. F. He was raised a Catholic. In poli- 
tics he is a republican. Since 1861 he has 
served the community efficiently as post- 
master at Kasson. 

Charles Gantner, a man of note in Ger- 
man township, was born in Germany, De- 
cember 16, 1834. H*^ 's ^^'^ SO" of Clemens 
and Regina (Fisher) Gantner. His parents 
left their home in German}', March 20, 
1840, came via New York, spent a few days 
in Ohio, then came on to Evansville, and 
moved into their new home in German town- 
ship August 20, 1840. The family consisted 
of Mr. and Mrs. Gantner, and four children: 
Marv, who was a daughter of Mr. Gantner, 
by a previous marriage, Abuns, Richard 
and Charles, our subject. When they set- 
tled here the farm was mostly in the woods, 
there being only about four acres of cleared 
land on the place. Charles remained 
on the farm with his father until he 
was about twenl}- years of age, when his 
father died, November 9, 1852. The farm 
was then rented for two years, and he 
and his mother went to Evansville. His 
mother became dissatisfied with the city, so. 



66^ 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 



at the end of two years, he and his mother 
returned to the farm. His mother remained 
a widow for eleven years, and then married 
Lawrence Spitzer. They reside in this 
township, and she is still hale and hearty, 
and does a great deal of work. Charles 
was married November 30, 1858, to Miss 
Phoebe Schmidt, who was born in Center 
township, this county, October 16, 1838, the 
daughter of Andrew and Elizabeth (Mauer) 
Schmidt, both of whom were born in Ger- 
many, and came to this county about 1834 
or 1835. Her father died about 1871 or 1872, 
and her mother is still living, making her 
home with her son Andrew, in this town- 
ship. Mr. and Mrs. Gantner went to house- 
keeping at their present home. They are 
the parents of thirteen children, all of whom 
are living, viz.: Clemens, born November 
17, 1859; Elizabeth, born February 21, 1861; 
Regina, born October 4, 1862; Caroline, 
born February 25, 1864; Charles A., born 
December 4, 1865; Josephine, born October 

8, 1867; Mary, born April i, 1869; Richard, 
born December 24, 1870; William E., born 
December 10, 1872; Joseph A., born April 

9, 1875; Phcebe, born February i, 1878; 
Matthew A., born October 5, 1880, and 
Gressens, born December 7, 1882. Mr. 
Gantner is a member of Morning Star 
lodge. No 7, I. O. O. F., and his wife is a 
member of Colfax lodge, No. 34, Daughters 
of Rebekah. Politically Mr. Gantner is a 
democrat. He was elected township assessor 
in October, 1870, served two years and was 
elected township trustee the same month 
that his term as assessor expired, and was 
re-elected trustee in 1874, without opposi- 
tion. In April, 1876, he had two opponents, 
both of whom were democrats, and he was 
again elected by a good majority. He did 
all of his own business while in office, and 
his reports were models of neatness and ac- 
curacy. After his term as trustee expired. 



he was elected justice of the peace, which 
office he filled with credit for four years. 

Daniel Webster Goldsmith is the son 
of Daniel F. and Melissa Goldsmith. He 
was born in Center township, this county, 
June 10, 1832. He spent his early life on 
his father's farm in Center township, where 
he assisted in the toilsome work largely un- 
known to the present generation. He con- 
tinued to work on the farm until several 
years after his father's death. He removed 
to his present home in German township in 
May, 1866, where he owns no acres of 
good land. He was married March 3, 1853, 
to Miss Martha J. Fuquay, who was born in 
Warrick county, Ind., September 15, 1833, 
and is the daughter of Stephen and Eliza- 
beth (Peck) Fuquay. They are the par- 
ents of the following children: William H., 
Lizzie, Allen, Fannie, Morton, Mamie, 
Chauncey W., and Foster B., all living, ex- 
cept William H., Lizzie, Foster B. and 
Mamie. Mr. and Mrs. Goldsmith and a part 
of their family are members of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal church, and are among the 
county's most highly respected citizens. 

Henry Gumberts, sr., first became a 
resident of Evansville in 1842, when he 
arrived with his parents, Marx and Rosa 
Gumberts, from the Rhine country of Ger- 
many, where he was born August 8, 1822. 
They passed the remainder of their lives in 
the cit}', and he has had his home in Evans- 
ville with the exception of two years, 1844 
to 1846, at Helena, Ark. He engaged in 
retailing dry goods in 1846, during the war 
was sutler for the Eleventh Kentuck}^ regi- 
ment, and in 1869 entered the wholesale 
liquor trade, at the same time attending to 
real estate auctioneering.,. For twenty j^ears 
he has been doing a large and profitable 
wholesale business at 323 Main street. In 
1872 he was elected to the city council, and 
was twice re-elected. He was married in 




iO^ 



r 




O'P-:^^' 



'^-^^^i^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^J:^^ 



GERMAN TOWNSHIP. 



mi 



1847 to Frederica Seusmeier, who was born 
in Prussia in 1827, and came to this country 
in 1844. They have four children : Jacob M., 
Clara, Fannie and Fred. 

Simon Hartig was born in Lippe-Det- 
mold, Germany, November 20, 1835, the 
son of Frederick W. and Catharine (TeoUe) 
Hartig. Frederick was born about 1807, 
and his wife about 1816. They immigrated 
in 1853 or 1854, and settled in this township. 
Simon, when thirteen years of age, came to 
the United States, reaching New Orleans, 
January i, 1S48. He became engaged in 
farm work, in this count}', and then learned 
the carpenter's trade, which business he fol- 
lowed thirteen 3-ears. He was married 
about January i, 1S63, to Miss Minnie 
Watermann, born in Germany, February 2, 
1846, the daughter of Conrad and Christina 
Watermann. Mr. and Mrs. Hartig are the 
parents of ten children: William, Christina, 
Theodore, Charles, Henrietta, Simon, Henry, 
Minnie, John and Frederick. Mr. Hartig 
owns 166 acres of good land. He and 
family are members of the Evangelical 
church. He was elected township trustee in 
April, 1878, and re-elected in April, 1880, by 
a largel}- increased majority. In April, 18S2, 
he was elected justice of the peace, and 
served four jears. 

Charles Henze, an old resident and 
prominent farmer of German township, was 
born in Germany, December 22, 1S38. He 
is the son of Henry and Dora (Kleiman) 
Henze. His parents were both natives of 
German}-, where his father was born, No- 
vember 22, 179S, and his mother in August, 
1801. At thirteen years of age, he ac- 
companied his parents, together with four 
brothers, William, Henry, August and 
Christian, and three sisters, Henrietta, Lou- 
isa and Wilhelmina, to the United States, 
landing at New Orleans in the spring of 
1 85 1. From there they came at once to 



this coimt}', reaching Evansville June 15 of 
the same year. In a few days they bought 
the farm, a part of which our subject now 
owns. Here the father died in the spring 
of 1875, his mother having preceded him 
ten years, her death occurring in 1865. 
Our subject went to school and worked 
on his father's farm until 1864, when he en- 
listed as a private in Company E, Twenty- 
sixth Indiana volunteer infantry, and served 
until August 28, 1865, when he was mus- 
tered out at St. Louis, Mo. During his 
term of service he was in the battle of 
Spanish Fort, Ala. He was married in 
1859 to Catherine Groeninger, who was 
born in this township January i, 1843, 
the daughter of Frederick and Margaret 
Groeninger, both natives of Germany, who 
emigrated to this country in June, 1832, and 
settled first at Pittsburgh, in this township, 
about 1S40. Here her father died Septem- 
ber 24, 1 886, her mother having died many 
years previous, in 1S57. They have 
six children: Anna, born January 5, i860; 
Henry, born March 30, 1S61; Wilhelmina, 
born March iS, 1S74; Edward, born Feb- 
ruary 3, 1878; Matilda, born December 24, 
1879, ^"'^ Jacob, born February i, 1884. 
Mr. Henze and family are members of the 
Evangelical church. Politically Mr. Henze 
is a republican. He was elected township 
assessor by a good majority in April, 1S86. 
Andrew Schmidt was born in German 
township, March 6, 1846, the son of Andrew 
and Ehzabeth (Mauer) Schmidt, who immi- 
grated to the United States, and coining to 
Indiana, lived successively in Vincennes, 
Pigeon township and Center township, then 
settling on the farm where he died April 24, 
1S72, and where Andrew now lives, his 
mother makinjx her home with him. 
Andrew was married October 6, 1869, to 
Miss Elizabeth Boseker, born in this town- 
ship, September 29, 1850, the daughter 



668 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 



of Charles and Elizabeth Boseker, both 
natives of Germany. They are the parents 
of ten children: Anna, Katie, Elizabeth, 
William, Philip, Jacob, Andrew, George, 
Louisa and Henry. Mr. Schmidt and fam- 
ily are members of the Evangelical church. 
He ranks among the most enterprising 
and successful farmers of his part of the 
count3\ 

Frederick Werkmann, ex-trustee of 
German township, was born in Hesse Darm- 
stadt, Germany, July 8, 1843, the son of 
Peter and Margaret (Naab) Werkmann, 
both natives of Germanv. He accompanied 
his parents to the United States, landing at 
New Orleans in December, 1854, '^"^ reach- 
ing Evansville, January 6, 1855. His father 
died in Evansville the next morning, his sis- 
ter the same day and his mother on the 9th 
of the same month, leaving Frederick and 
one brother the only survivors of the entire 
family. Mr. Werkmann came at once to 
German township and went to work with 
his uncle, George Naab, on the same farm 
which he subsequently bought. He was 
married March 15, 1S68, to Miss Catherine 
Puth, who was born in Germany, September 
5, 1848, the daughter of William and Anna 
Maria Puth, natives of German}-, who emi- 
grated to the United States in December, 
1854, and settled in Posey county. Her 
mother died there more than twenty years 
ago, but her father is still living and makes 
his home with his son in Perry township. 
Mr. Werkmann and wife are members of 
the Evangelical church. He was elected 
township trustee in April, 18S2, and his 
faithful service was rewarded by a re- 
election in 1884, without opposition. 
During his term of office he built two sub- 
stantial brick school-houses. In April, 1888, 
he was elected justice of the peace. 

Armstrotig Township was one of the first 
formed in the county of Vanderburgh. It 



was organized March 9, 1818, and com- 
prised about half of the county. B}- the 
contraction of its limits thrcfugh the forma- 
tion of other civil townships, it has been 
made to comprise but twenty-eight sections 
of land, in the northwest corner of the 
county, bounded on the west and north by 
Posey and Gibson counties, on the east by 
Scott, and on the south by German town- 
ship. Its surface is rolling — more distinctly 
so in the south part, which in early days 
was densely timbered, though the forests 
have long since been almost entirely re- 
moved. The soil of the township is pro- 
ductive, and this combined with the intelli- 
gence and thrift of its farmers, makes its 
people a well-to-do class. The principal 
stream is Big creek, flowing through the 
township from southeast to southwest. 
Barr's creek also traverses the township in its 
western part, but the stream is of no import- 
ance and was never useful for mill purposes, 
except on its broader parts bej'ond the 
township line. 

Early Settlers. — While it is impossible to 
name the year in which the white man and 
his red brother first stood face to face on 
the soil of Armstrong township, it may be 
recorded with a fair degree of accuracy 
that among the earliest settlements in the 
territory now embraced in the confines of 
Vanderburgh county, were those in this 
township. Vincennes was the seat of 
government and the tide of immigration 
first set in motion by the consummation of a 
treaty with the Indians, moved southward 
from that ancient post and village, and 
landed a few squatters in the northern part 
of the county about the same time that its 
first breakers reached the north bank of the 
Ohio river, in the townships of Union, 
Pigeon and Knight. From the best testi- 
mony obtainable, though there are no writ- 
ten memoranda of the facts, the priority of 



ARMSTRONG TOWNSHIP. 



669 



settlement probably rests with the territory 
along the river border. The first settle- 
ments in Armstrong township were in the 
northern part, but just when the first cabin 
was built or the first clearing made, can not 
now be determined. The first settlers were 
representatives of the class already fre- 
quently mentioned as squatters. 

Thomas Saulsbury and Maj. Selser were 
typical representatives of this class. They 
were both well-known in early days, and 
even by the survi\ing generation are not 
entirely forgotten. Thomas Saulsburj' was 
a " pretty wild chap" ; he came in as a 
hunter, made no pretensions as a farmer, 
and remained rough and uncouth as long as 
he was in this locality- He accumulated no 
property, being desirous of satisfying onl}- 
his daily wants, without thought of the mor- 
row or the da3-s which might come when he 
could neither hunt or work. He built a 
cabin, however, and cleared a few acres of 
land. When the game began to get scarce 
he grew restless and pushed on to other and 
better hunting grounds. Disposing of his 
improvements to 'S(juire McDonald for a 
small amount, and gathering his family, his 
dogs, and the few necessary household 
goods together, he left the scenes of his oft- 
recounted exploits and was never heard of 
more. Maj. Selzer was of the same type. 
Joseph Caters, John Livingston, and John R. 
Kitchens were also known as followers of 
the game. 

It is impossible to name the pioneers in 
the priorit}' of their coming. Among the 
earliest were James Martin and his two sons. 
Thomas and Charles, who came from South 
Carolina in a ver}- early day, and afterward 
became well-known in all parts of the 
county. The elder Martin was a Regular 
Baptist preacher of the early backwoods 
style, uneducated; and yet with homely 
illustrations and powerful speech, backed by 



an upright life which all men admired, he 
was a power for good among the pioneers. 
Charles Martin was a progressive man, and 
a good farmer for those days. He was one 
of the first to build a horse-power mill in 
the township, which served in a great degree 
to ameliorate the hardships of life in the 
woods. On the 8th of November, 1819, he 
was licensed to keep a tavern, the first in 
Armstrong township. For many years his 
hospitable house was a favorite place w'ith 
all who went that way. The rates fixed by 
the county commissioners as permissible to 
be charged by him, were as follows: Each 
diet, 37/^ cents; keeping horse, 50 cents; 
lodging, 12}-^ cents; one-half pint of rum, 
brandy or wine, 50 cents; one-half pint of 
gin, peach, or apple brandy or bounce, 25 
cents; one-half pint of whiskey, 12 }i cents. 
John Armstrong, sr., for whom the town- 
ship was named, was another of the early 
settlers. He. had been a sailor, and came 
with some ready money, unlike most of the 
early settlers, and entered considerable land. 
It seemed strange that one, so much of 
whose life had been spent on the ocean, 
should at last settle in the wilds of the inter- 
ior where he could not even hear the dash- 
ing of the waves upon the coast. He was a 
veritable " salt," full of stories, and never 
happier than when surrounded by attentive 
listeners. The monotonous life of the fore- 
castle had prepared him for the monotony of 
pioneer life in the woods. Here he found a 
people glad to hear his constant talk about 
the sea. They had not heard his stories a 
thousand times, as had his shipmates no 
doubt. In the lonely cabins of the pioneers 
with the great backlog filling every recess 
with its illuminating glory he was wont to 
become an attractive figure to all, from the 
boy whose life was just budding into hope, 
to the old man whose source of greatest joy 
was retrospection. Mr. Armstrong was in- 



670 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 



dustrious and pushing, though not particu- 
larly prominent. He was respected by all 
and died when about ninety years of age, in 
the township bearing his name. 

Immediately following the occupation of 
Armstrong township by civilized men few 
were more prominent than David Brumfield. 
Far above the average in intelligence, he 
was recommended to the governor for ap- 
pointment as justice of the peace, by the 
iirst court held in Warrick county in 1813, 
and afterward when Vanderburgh county 
was organized, he was chosen by the elec- 
tors as one of the first county commission- 
ers. He maintained an honorable promi- 
nence throughout his entire career. The 
early elections were held at the house of 
Zadok McNew, which stood in section 
32, township 4 south, range 11 west, was a 
small double log house, one and one-half 
stories high, and remained well preserved 
for manyyears. Zadok McNew was an early 
settler, not particularly able or prominent, 
but at one time a justice of the peace. He 
became a well-known citizen and raised a 
respected and honorable family. One of his 
daughters was married in early times to 
James Patton, who secured a tolerably fair 
education and taught school in various parts 
of the county. Patrick Calvert was dis- 
tinguished among the old-time folks as a 
shrewd trader. He came into the township 
in 1816 and accumulated considerable prop- 
erty by trading in live-stock. He was well- 
known in all the county as the leading stock 
dealer in that section, and his judgment was 
considered remarkably good. He and his 
descendants have built for their family name 
an honorable place in the history of the 
township. 

Judge John McCrary was selected b}^ the 
voters at the first election held in the county, 
to occupy a place on the bench as associate 
judge. He was a man of sterling worth. 



and long occupied a prominent place in the 
annals of Armstrong township. Among the 
earliest settlers was Moses Pruitt, who 
came to the township prior to 1810. Simp- 
son Ritchey was also well-known in this 
township. At an early date he built a horse- 
mill. This, or the one built by Charles 
Martin, was the first in the township. Set- 
tlers at first used the mortar for pulverizing 
corn, and afterward went to David Negley's 
mill, in Center township, or to that of Joseph 
Wasson, in Gibson county. John Ferrell, 
Daniel and Joshua Rose, and many others 
whose names it is not possible to ascertain, 
were among the pioneers. Some of those 
who were not among the first, but 
who acted a conspicuous part in the early 
history of the count)', were Gen. Elisha 
Harrison, also an earl}' resident of Evans- 
ville, a man of great strength of character 
and personal worth, who occupied many 
positions of trust and honor; 'Squire Samuel 
McDonald, a Virginian, and a very promi- 
ment man, who for a quarter of a century 
held the office of justice of the peace; 
George W. Finch, a justice of the peace, 
and for four years a state senator; William 
Stewart, whose influence was ever for good, 
and many others. The lands in Armstrong 
township were taken gradually b}' the sons 
of the pioneers who became of age, and by 
others who, leaving their homes in the older 
states, after weeks and months of endurance 
and trial found a spot near some spring or 
settlement of good neighbors which their 
fancies selected as a good place to locate. 
Very few foreigners found their way here 
until 1S35. Over in the townships east of 
Armstrong, many were settling from beyond 
the ocean, but the ties of nationality had great 
effect on those early comers. Each sought 
out those from his native state or clime 
as any stranger might hunt out a brother in 
going to a new country. The public lands 



AEMSTE ONG TO WNSHIP. 



671 



were soon taken, and the entire township 
became, almost as if by magic, a garden 
where it had been with few exceptions, wil- 
derness, and soon, instead of the hunter's 
trail or the cartway from settlement to set- 
tlement, the best of roads were provided in 
all its parts. These industrious new-com- 
ers were principall\- from Germany, though 
man}' came from Pennsylvania and the older 
states of this countr}'. As a class they are 
economical, industrious and good citizens, 
and to their efforts is due much of the pros- 
perity of the present. 

lucidcii/s. — One of the most stirrin<f 
events of early times in Armstrong town- 
ship was the kidnapping of the Gothards. 
Isaac Gothard was a poor Englishman, who 
drifted into the township and took his place 
in the community as a shiftless, easy-going, 
ambitionless fellow, with no particular men- 
tal or moral development. He had not been 
here long before his wife took the small- 
pox, and the entire neighborhood was 
alarmed for their safety. A mulatto was 
found who had passedsafely through a siege 
of the disease, and he was impressed as a 
nurse for the sick woman. He was so at- 
tentive to her wants that he soon ingratiated 
himself into her affections. During the pa- 
tient's convalescence their intimacy increased, 
but when she had recovered, Isaac, the 
husband, took his accustomed place in the 
household, and the mulatto went his way. 
At length, however, in 1819, twins made 
their appearance in the Gothard household, 
and both were mulattos. Isaac made no com- 
plaints, and continued to live in peace and har- 
mony with his faithless spouse. The children 
waxed strong as the years went by and be- 
gan to be quite interesting to the com- 
munit)-, when one day much to everybod^-'s 
chagrin, they were kidnapped and carried 
to Diamond Island in the Ohio river, where 
Patrick Calvert, the Rogerses, Caters and 



others went to rescue them. While attempt- 
ing the rescue, Mr. Calvert was struck on 
the head with a gun barrel by a desperado 
named Lynn, who was in league with the 
kidnappers, the blow causing a fearful cut 
which left a permanent, unsightly scar. 
Some time afterward Mr. Calvert was in 
Texas, when the scar attracted the attention 
of a ferryman to whom he related the story 
of the kidnapping. Somewhat excitedly 
the listener declared he had ferried the 
parties with the negro boys across the 
stream, and proceeded to give information 
which led to their discovery. They were 
brought back to Armstrong township as 
free children, and were bound out to Mr. 
Calvert and grew to manhood on his place. 
They were industrious, intelligent men; one 
was considered a genius as a cabinet-maker. 
In after years they removed to Illinois. 

Churches. — Until 1876 there was not a 
church in Armstrong township. It must not 
be inferred from this statement, however, 
that the people of the township were not 
many of them pious, devoted worshipers 
of the Divine Father. In early times there 
was frequent preaching at the school-houses 
and at the cabins of the settlers. The Bap- 
tists, Methodists, Presb\terians, Christians 
and other sects kept up the struggle for su- 
premacy here as elsewhere. The Regular 
Baptists were the most prominent in the 
township at first, but later gave way to the 
Cumberland Presb\terians. As the country 
became more thickly settled facilities for 
worship were supplied by churches built out- 
side of the township and 3'et near enougii the 
borders to have a large portion of their 
membership within the township. Cynthi- 
ana, in Posey county, has been the most fre- 
ijuented place by Armstrong township 
people. 

A union church was built in the extreme 
northwest corner of the township, in section 



675 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 



19, township 4 south, range 11 west, in 
1876, which is free to all Christian 
denominations, though used chiefly by the 
Cumberland Presbyterians and the Christian 
order. The community believing it had been 
without a church long enough, took the mat- 
ter up and soon after determining to build, 
the edifice was erected. It was named by 
the trustees " Calvert Chapel "' in honor of 
Mr. Leroy Calvert, much being due to his 
very munificent gifts in behalf of the building 
enterprise. The structure is a frame, 30x50 
feet, nicely furnished, and cost about 
$1,600.00. Rev. J. B. Hadlock was the 
first to preach to the Cumberland Presby- 
terian organization now using Union church. 
He was followed by Revs. N. F. Gill and 
H. D. Onyett, D. D. At the expiration of 
Dr. Onj-ett's ministry Mr. Hadlock was 
again called to the church. For the Chris- 
tian order congregation Rev. Collins was 
the last minister in charge. His predecessor 
was Rev. D. M. Schumaker. A union Sab- 
bath school with about thirty-five attendants, 
superintended by Mr. Leroy Calvert, meets 
every Sabbath in this church. 

In and about St.Wendell's, a village on the 
line between Vanderburgh and Posey coun- 
ties, reside a great number of Roman Cath- 
olics, whose house of worship is in Posey 
county. As early as 1841 a log church was 
erected there. Rev. Roman Weinzopfel 
regularly visited the church up to May, 
1842. Rev. Conrad Schneiderjans became 
the first resident pastor in October, 1842. 
Afterward, in 1845 and 1846, Rev. Charles 
Opperman and Rev. Martin Stable now 
and then visited the church and in April, 
1846, Father Weinzopfel returned and 
accomplished much good by his labors, re- 
maining until August, 1S58. The old church 
soon became too small for the rapidly in- 
creasing congregation. April 17, 1853, 
Bishop de St. Palais laid the corner-stone 



for a handsome new edifice, and blessed 
the new church October 22, 1854, assisted 
by the pastor, Rev. E. J. Durbin, Rev. A. 
Deydier, Rev. J. B. Chasse, and the Rev. 
Benedictine Fathers, Bede O'Connor and 
Ulrich Christen. The edifice cost, e.'^clu- 
sive of much labor and material contributed, 
$5,600. The congregation is in a flourish- 
ing condition. Its pastors have been: Revs. 
Paul Wagner, J. Kauffman, J. H. Deistel, 
J. B. Merl, Fr. M. Andres, C. Exel, 
N. Galweiler, Aloysius Daennhoffer, Joseph 
Schuck, John Stoltz and M. Heck. 

TcKviis. — Armstrong township boasts of 
no important towns. St. Wendell's, partly in 
the township and partly in the adjoining 
count}' of Posey, is the largest. It has a 
flouring mill, a store, blacksmith shop, and 
such other conveniences as are usualh' de- 
manded by an agricultural neighborhood. 
Raben & Sons are the principal business 
men, conducting the mill and the leading 
store. Joseph Ammon is the proprietor of 
the only store in the town, which is in Arm- 
strong township. In the village are centered 
the religious and educational facilities for 
the Catholic church in this part of the 
county. 

Aniistroiig, a station on the P., D. & E. 
R. R., was brought into existence b}' the 
construction of the railroad. William Kneer 
is the postmaster, and proprietor of the only 
general store at this point. Probably as 
early as twenty years ago, near the present 
railway station, a little village called Arm- 
Strong Cross-roads grew up. It is now 
wholly abandoned. It consisted of a post- 
office, a small store and a blacksmith shop. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Hon. Leroy Calvert was born Feb- 
ruary 4, 1 819, two miles north of Armstrong. 
His parents, Patrick Calvert, born in Ten- 
nessee in 1784, and Sarah Martin, born in 



A RMSTR ONO TO WNSHIP. 



673 



South Carolina in 1783, were married in 
Tennessee in 1804, and removed to Gibson 
count}' in 181 1, making their home for five 
years near Owensville, and then moving to 
the site of the farm on which Mr. Calvert 
now lives. The father was a soldier of the 
war of 181 2, under Gen. W. H. Harrison, 
and was in the famous engagement of 
Tippecanoe. After the war he resumed 
agriculture and followed that pursuit until 
his death, in i860. The mother died in 
1840. Leroy Calvert was the seventh of 
ten children, of whom he and a younger 
brother alone survive. His earl}- life was 
spent in attending the common schools and 
working on his father's farm, and at the age 
of twenty-four he was married to Miss 
Penelope Shelton, January 13, 1843. She 
was born in Mason county, Ky., September 
24, 182 1, and was brought to Indiana by her 
parents, when two years old. They have 
had seven children, Sarah E., Catherine J., 
Minerva J., Maria H., Andrew J., Henry T. 
and Luella F. Three of the daughters are 
deceased. In religious affiliations Mr. Cal- 
vert is a Cumberland Presbvterian, and he 
is a prominent member of the Masonic order 
and K. of P. His political career has been 
a notable one, and throughout such as to re- 
flect credit upon himself. He was a staunch 
democrat until 1884, when he voted for St. 
John for president. Under the old constitu- 
tion he served as clerk of the board of trus- 
tees. In 1848 he was elected justice of the 
peace, and served for two years, when he 
resigned to be a candidate for countv 
commissioner, to which office he was 
elected in 1850. During the erection 
of the court-house, in 1852, he occupied the 
responsible position of president of the 
board. From 1856 he served as township 
trustee until his election in i860 as county 
treasurer. He was a most popular officer, 
and was re-elected to a second term. On 



the expiration of this he returned to his 
farm, but was chosen by the people of his 
township as trustee again, and in 1868 was 
elected representative in the general as- 
sembly. In the session following his elec- 
tion, during the attempt to pass the fifteenth 
amendment, Mr. Calvert, with fifty-five of 
his fellow-democratic members, resigned 
and came back to their homes. A special 
i;lection was called by Gov. Baker, and Mr. 
Calvert was re-elected, and returned to the 
assembly, but the attempt being renewed at 
a special session, he felt it his duty to resign 
a second time, and he came home to stay. 
Upon his affiliation with the prohibition 
part}-, he was made their first nominee for 
congress in the First district, in 1884, and 
proved to be a strong candidate. In 1888 
he was selected as candidate for presidential 
elector for the First district on the ticket of 
the prohibition party. 

George Hoefling, sr., was born in the 
village of Stettin, Germany, December 26, 
1S29, and came to this county with his par- 
ents when he was eleven years of age. He 
was the third of nine children of Antony and 
Theresa (Lamprecht) Hoefling. The father 
was born April i, 1803, at Stettin, and the 
mother. May S, 1805, in the same country. 
They were married in Germany, and 
emigrated to America in 1840, coming di- 
rect to Evansville. They lived one year in 
German township, and then came to Arm- 
strong, near St. Joseph, where they have re- 
sided ever since. The mother died in 1877, 
at the age of seventy-two, but Antony Hoef- 
ling was still living, April, 1888, the oldest 
man in his township. George Hoefling, sr., 
until he was sixteen, worked on his father's 
farm, then for ten months was engaged in 
the Hvery stable of E. Garnett, at New Or- 
leans, after which he followed steamboaling 
for about seven years. Then he returned 
to his father's farm, and remained until he was 



674 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 



twenty-three when he was married to Chris- 
tine Behm, September 27, 1853. She was a 
native of Westphalia. To them were born 
six children: Mary F., Anna W., George 
A., Fred A., Catherine C. and Mary A. 
Mrs. Hoefling died in 1S75, ^^ the age of 
forty-one, and October 12, 1876, he was 
married to Barbara Drunk, who was born in 
Bavaria, September 15, 1846. The children 
of this union were Joseph A., John L., Louisa 
J., and John W. and Mary T., twins. He 
was elected township trustee in 1878, but 
soon after resigned. From 1878 to 1880, 
he held the important position of president 
of the Mutual Fire Insurance company. He 
is a member of St. Joseph congregation of 
the Catholic church, and has held many 
prominent positions in that organization, and 
is at present on the committee for the con- 
struction of a new church at St. Joseph. 

Christof Hoffman, one of the leading 
farmers of Armstrong township, was born 
September 15, 1835, '" Rhine-Pfalz, Bavaria. 
Eleven years later his parents came with 
their family to America, and settled at 
Evansville. After a year or more there, 
they removed to Armstrong, and thence to 
Mount Carmel, 111., where the father died 
in 1877, and the mother in 1887. There 
were eleven children, of whom Christof 
was the fifth, and five of them are still 
living. He gained his education in the 
schools of his native land and afterward in 
this countr}', and since attaining manhood, 
has alwaj's pursued the occupation of farm- 
ing. Politically he has been a republican, 
honored in the councils of the party, and in 
the way of social organizations, has been a 
member of the I. O. O. F. On November 
12, 1861, he married Elizabeth Frippon, and 
they had eight children, five of whom are 
living. His first wife died in 1876, and in 
1882, he was united in marriage with Cath- 

ine Kolle, of this township, and they have 



had three children born unto them, all of 
whom are liv'ing. 

William Martln was born January 30, 
1814, in what was then known as Knox 
county, now Vanderburgh, near Armstrong. 
His father was Charles Martin, who was 
born in 1791 in South Carohna, and came to 
Indiana territory in 1805. In 181 2 he mar- 
ried Frankie Rook, who was born in South 
Carolina in 1797, and they settled four 
miles from Armstrong. William Martin 
is the oldest of thirteen children, three of 
whom survive. He still resides on the farm, 
where he has labored since 1833. Mr. 
Martin was married October 3, 1833, to 
Miss Nancy Robinson, who was born near 
Knoxville, Tenn., May 3, 1813, and came 
with her parents to Indiana in 181 5. They 
are the parents of thirteen children, of whom 
three died in infancy. There are living: 
M. D., Charles S., Abner N., James T., 
Thomas A., Susanna, Jasper, William F., 
Naomi J. and Joseph L. Mr. Martin is the 
grandfather of forty-nine children, of whom 
but seven are deceased. He served his 
community as constable and trustee for a 
number of years. Mr. Martin and his entire 
family are, in religious matters. Regular Bap- 
tists, his grandfather having been a minister 
of that denomination. Mr. Martin is one of 
the few men who are almost uniformly well 
and hearty, and by wise and simple living 
gives promise of added years of activity. 

Hon. John F. Pruitt is the third of 
eight children born to William and Elizabeth 
Pruitt, among the earliest pioneers of the 
countv. The father was born December 10, 
1806, in Allen county, Ky., and the mother, 
whose maiden name was Elizabeth A. 
Spain, was born in 1816, near Harper's 
Ferr}', Va. In 1810 William Pruitt came 
with his parents, Moses and Phoebe (Will- 
iams) Pruitt, to settle in the Indiana woods, 
and in his youth labored as the old settlers 



AEMSTEONG TOWNSHIP. 



675 



did, gaining also the education to be ob- 
tained in the log cabin schools of those days. 
He was count)- commissioner for nine years, 
and major of the militia, then necessary for 
protection from the Indians. He died May 
9, 1S70, and his widow followed him on the 
5th of the next July. That year is sadly 
memorable in Mr. Pruitt's famil}'. Not 
only his father and mother, but two of his 
sisters, died in the four months beginning 
Ma_v .9. The children of William Pruitt 
were: Mar}- J., born Januar\' 25, 1S31; 
Elizabeth E., born May 7, 1833; John F., 
subject of this sketch, born Ma}- 14, 1835: 
James C, born July 24, 1S37; Joseph A., 
born August 10, 1S40; Julia A., born 
October 14, 1S44; Susan L., born March 
20, 1847, and Sarah E., born June 10, 1853. 
After receiving a common school education, 
Mr. Pruitt entered the grammar department 
of the E\ans\ille schools, and at the age of 
twent\-one began teaching school, and 
remained in that profession ten vears, also 
farming during the summer. Januar\ 16, 
1862, he married Sarah E. Calvert, daughter 
of Leroy and Penelope Calvert, and to them 
were born four children: Emma L., Cather- 
ine J., Lerov E., and Ann R., of whom 
Emma and Leroy survive. Mrs. Pruitt died 
June 28, 1874, '^^^ '^" J'Tiuary 2, 1876, he 
was married to L\dia E. Wilkinson, who died 
November 5, 1877. Ilis lliird marriage 
was to Elizabeth A. Calvert, April 17, 1879. 
In politics Mr. Pruitt is an earnest democrat 
and is an active worker. In 1S57 he was 



elected township assessor, served two j-ears, 
and in i860 was chosen trustee for one 
term. To this office he was appointed in 
1878, to fill a vacancy, and at the expiration 
of that term, was again elected, serving until 
1882, when lie was elected representative in 
the general assembly by the overwhelming 
majority of 1,085. His distinguished ser- 
vices assured his re-election in 18S4, and as 
chairman of the agricultural committee, and 
author of several important bills, he filled a 
responsible position in the assembly. Mr. 
Pruitt is a prominent member of the Cum- 
berland Presbyterian church, and belongs to 
the Master Masons. lie is still engaged in 
farming, with good health and constitution, 
and gives promise oi many more vears of 
usefulness. 

WiLLi.\.M Ri;i.M.\NN was born nearReich- 
enbach, Silesia, November 23, 1831. In 1S52 
he came with his parents from Germany, 
and has e\er since lived upon the farm near 
Armstrong, which they settled upon. His 
father died in 1855, but the mother is still 
living and makes her home with her son. 
The parents had \\\*i children, three boys 
and two girls. Four of them are vet livin<r. 
and are residents of this county. Mr. 
Reimann was educated in the schools of 
Silesia, and has a fine knowledge of the 
German language. Since childhood he has 
followed agriculture, and has been very 
successful. He is a member of the German 
Evangelical church at Darmst.idt, and in 
politics is a republican. 



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